During a neuroanatomy lecture in medical school, one of our professors related his own experience of blanking out during an exam on this very topic.
He related how he sat there, becoming more and more stressed, with the clock ticking as he racked his brains for answers.
Stumped, he finally relaxed a little, sat back, folded his arms behind his head and simply said to himself: "So, tell me about yourself!" Only about half the class got the joke, but that's another story.
But seriously, if our brains could talk to us, what do you think your brain would like to discuss? Well, I imagine it would give us some advice...
namely, on how to take better care of it.
Here are some basics I think all brains collectively would appreciate us paying attention to...
oThe brain is more susceptible than any other organ to oxidative stress (inflammation).
oWhen under chronic stress, your brain is both subject to the effects of inflammation and is less able to deal with them.
oDitto for chronic mental illness, such as autism or Alzheimer's.
oCertain disorders (for example autism and ADHD) are associated with impaired defense mechanisms against such stress.
For example, certain essential chemical reactions that occur at the cellular level may happen at slower rates or not at all.
This compounds oxidative damage.
oThe brain has many different mechanisms to combat the stress and inflammation, and uses a variety of vitamins, cofactors, amino acids, and food/plant-based antioxidants to do so.
oSome of the antioxidants' job is to replenish other antioxidants by taking on their free radicals.
For example grape seed extract can be up to 15x more potent when combined with Vitamin C.
This is why a variety is both necessary and synergistic.
oThis is yet another important reason to eat a variety of fruits and veggies.
To do so builds up an army of antioxidants, all with different roles, helping each other out! oThe other important category of brain nutrients is the Essential Free Fatty Acids.
The big ones are the omega 3's and omega 6's.
Most people get enough omega 6 and need to the supplement the omega 3's.
Fish oil and flax seed oil are two easy ways to supplement.
oThe brain is mostly fatty tissue.
The fatty material coats the neurons (brain cells) and helps regulate electrical signals.
This coating is called a myelin sheath, and various mental disorders, including ADHD and bipolar disorder, may benefit from improved regulation of signaling.
oOmegas 3 fatty acids are also antioxidants! You can see why the supplement industry has exploded with omega 3 and fish oil product lines.
oHeavy metals such as mercury, lead, and aluminum are toxins, as are certain preservatives and pesticides, and cause oxidative damage.
Certain antioxidants, such as alpha lipoic acid, attach to, or "chelate" heavy metals naturally and flush them out of the system.
oAlthough toxins are widespread in our environment, avoiding highly processed food, eating fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies, and using preservative-free (or self preserving) self-care items minimizes the brain's toxic "load".
It has enough to deal with already! oEat "certified organic" if you can, but for most people this issue pales in comparison to getting enough nutrients in the first place.
oFeed your brain what it likes.
Foods like berries, spinach, almonds, olives, green tea and broccoli are all rich in potent antioxidants.
Olive oil, avocado, salmon, and nuts are good sources of omega 3's.
Supplement as well as our soil is depleted these days: take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin/mineral and fish oil or flax seed oil, daily.
oPhysical exercise increases blood flow and encourages exchange of nutrients and waste products.
oBrain exercises like crossword puzzles and suduko, taking up new hobbies (art, music, sports), and learning a new language all serve to keep the brain vibrant and happy.
Continually creating new networks lowers your risk of dementia! In summary, take special care of your brain! Give it proper nutrition and supplements, exercise and stimulate it, protect it from toxins and stress, and allow rejuvenation.
It is our most complex organ, and is most sensitive to influences-both good and bad.
Your brain will say thank you!