Let’s break this down👇

(Brain health facts you may not know!)

1️⃣ 60% of the human brain is fat

Ever think about what happens to fats from your diet once you eat them? They become building blocks for things like cellular membranes, nerve cells, and brain matter! That means eating healthy fats is one of the best things you can do for your brain.

2️⃣Sleep removes toxins from the brain.

The brain actually has a self-cleansing mechanism that creates waves of fluid to clear metabolic waste. These waves are most active during sleep, so you can think of sleep as a form of detox for the brain.

3️⃣Gut microbes signal the brain and affect behavior.

The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication network between the gut and the brain that is largely influenced by the gut microbiome. Studies have even linked specific probiotics to stress and mood.

Is any of this making you think about the brain in a little different way?

Truth is that brain health is about so much more than memory. Brain health depends on our everyday habits and influences our overall health.

Want to learn more about how to optimize and boost your brain?

REFERENCES:

Chang CY, Ke DS, Chen JY. Essential fatty acids and human brain. Acta Neurol Taiwan. 2009;18(4):231-241. [link]

Berding K, Vlckova K, Marx W, et al. Diet and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good Mental Health. Adv Nutr. 2021;12(4):1239-1285. [link]

Jiang-Xie LF, Drieu A, Bhasiin K, Quintero D, Smirnov I, Kipnis J. Neuronal dynamics direct cerebrospinal fluid perfusion and brain clearance. Nature. 2024;627(8002):157-164. [link]

Want a bigger brain?

A new study out of Washington University School of Medicine found that more physical activity correlated with larger brain size in healthy adults 🧠

This was based on MRI brain scans of 10,125 men and women (average age 53). The more days they exercised, the larger their brains were in key areas.

Most of the study participants exercised 4 days per week, but the researchers said that even small amounts of exercise (like walking 4000 steps per day) were beneficial.

We don’t always see the results of our efforts immediately, but taking care of our health will pay off in the long run 👟

Reference

Raji CA, Meysami S, Hashemi S, et al. Exercise-Related Physical Activity Relates to Brain Volumes in 10,125 Individuals. J Alzheimers Dis. Published online December 7, 2023. [link]

Brain Facts You Don’t Know

A Simple Way to Boost Your Brain

Reference