Food plays an important role in brain function, and just like any other organ, healthy eating supports its development, while unhealthy eating is harmful.
Dietitians emphasize that the most important strategy is to follow a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Try to get protein from plant-based sources and fish, and choose healthy fats like olive oil or canola instead of saturated fats.
Your brain needs proper production of proteins and fats to strengthen new connections. This happens through digesting proteins and fats from food and using amino acids and fatty acids to create new proteins and fats.
Without the right amount and balance of specific “building blocks,” your brain won’t function properly. A deficiency (too little) or an excess (too much) of essential nutrients can affect the nervous system.
Although not as large as other organs, the brain uses 20% of the body’s energy resources. Burning carbohydrates converts them into glucose, which is the primary sugar substance needed for the body’s functioning.
Glucose is the type of sugar the brain uses as fuel.
Studies have shown that a lack of glucose can negatively affect attention, memory, and learning, and that adding glucose may improve these aspects of cognitive function.
Depriving or over-consuming these building blocks can affect the body in complex ways, causing chemical deficiencies or overdoses, which greatly impact brain function.
What should we eat to keep our brain healthy?
Leafy greens like kale, spinach, onions, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients such as vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene.
Studies have shown that these plant-based foods help slow cognitive decline.
effective exercises for brain health, supported by science and recommended by neurologists and mental health experts:
1. Puzzles and Brain Games
- Examples: Sudoku, crossword puzzles, chess, memory games
- Benefits: Improve problem-solving, memory, and concentration
- Why it works: Challenges different parts of the brain and encourages neural plasticity
2. Learning Something New
- Examples: New language, musical instrument, coding, painting
- Benefits: Strengthens cognitive flexibility and memory
- Why it works: Learning stimulates the formation of new neural connections
3. Physical Exercise
- Examples: Walking, cycling, dancing, swimming, yoga
- Benefits: Boosts mood, increases blood flow to the brain, reduces cognitive decline
- Why it works: Physical activity stimulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports brain cell growth
4. Meditation and Mindfulness
- Examples: Focused breathing, guided meditation, yoga nidra
- Benefits: Improves attention, emotional control, and memory
- Why it works: Reduces stress and strengthens the prefrontal cortex
5. Social Interaction
- Examples: Group discussions, volunteering, spending time with friends
- Benefits: Enhances emotional health, memory, and cognitive processing
- Why it works: Stimulates multiple brain regions including language and emotional centers
6. Journaling or Reflective Writing
- Examples: Daily thoughts, gratitude journaling, storytelling
- Benefits: Improves emotional regulation, memory recall, and clarity
- Why it works: Engages language and executive function parts of the brain
7. Listening to or Playing Music
- Examples: Learning an instrument, singing, listening attentively
- Benefits: Enhances memory, mood, and coordination
- Why it works: Activates both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously
8. Switching Hands
- Examples: Brush your teeth, write or eat with your non-dominant hand
- Benefits: Improves brain flexibility and coordination
- Why it works: Engages the non-dominant side of your brain
Vau.ge – Your Daily Guide for Practical Advice!
Vau.ge is a place where caring for your health, beauty, and daily routines becomes a natural, accessible, and enjoyable experience. Our main goal is to provide you with reliable information about natural remedies, homemade recipes, and practical tips that help you live a healthier life, look better, and simplify your everyday tasks without unnecessary expenses.
Our tips are easy to incorporate into your everyday life — whether it’s skincare, haircare, health-boosting remedies, or small tricks to save time. This knowledge will not only improve your own life but also allow you to share the experience with others, giving more people the chance to live a balanced life naturally and economically.
Please note: The articles on our website are for informational purposes only and do not replace professional medical advice. If you have serious health concerns, please consult a qualified specialist.
