Even though human beings 5,000 years ago had significantly larger brains than we do today it doesn’t mean they were brainier than us
This is because brain power has nothing to do with the actual size of your brain. What is interesting though is that although the brain only accounts for about 2% of body weight it uses over 20% of the oxygen in our blood. In other words the brain is a real energy sapper and needs maintaining and training in order to keep it sharp.
If you keep your brain in shape and stay sharp it will serve you better in the long-term
It may not surprise you to learn that teenage brains aren’t fully formed. The gray matter in the brain peaks just before puberty but studies show that the parts of the brain that deal with things like multitasking don’t fully develop until the age of 16 or 17, explains a lot. With this in mind it’s also an interesting fact that…
Brains never stop changing!
Scientists and medical professionals alike once held that when a person reaches adulthood the brain is unable to form any new neural connections. Numerous studies have now proven though that the brain never stops developing and that there is a direct correlation between this and keeping the brain active through exercises and brain training.
1: Eat Healthy Food
You may be surprised to know that the things you eat and the diet you keep can radically change how sharp and functional your brain is. Things like fruits, vegetables and especially omega-3 oils are very beneficial for keeping you alert and energized. The protein in eggs is also thought to be good as long as you don’t have cholesterol issues.
2: Get Plenty Of Sleep
It is vital for good brain function that you get the requisite amount of sleep per night that the experts recommend. When you sleep your body removes all the toxins that have built up during the day, it also regenerates cells. Studies show that the best time to get to sleep is between 9 pm and midnight and to get at least 7-8 hours good quality, undisturbed rest.
3: Don’t rely on technology
Whether it’s your smartphone, computer, GPS or calculator being too reliant on these things is bad news for your brain. This is because your brain becomes less efficient and lazy if you reach for an easy, quick answer all the time. See if you can resist the urge to reach for your phone every time you have a simple calculation to do and use your God given internal machine, your brain! Little steps like this can help to keep your brain working and productive throughout the day.
4: Train Your Brain
There are many great ways to train your brain and keep it working and in check. It’s a good idea to set yourself small brain tasks such as memorizing phone numbers, credit card numbers or driving license etc. For some more in depth tips on how to train your brain check out “10 ways to improve your memory and boost brainpower” by Julie McCormick of lifehack.org.
5: Exercise Plenty
Physical exercise is a key aspect to introduce into your daily routine if you want to improve your energy and brain alertness. Exercise actually enhances neurogenesis which essentially populates the brain with neurons. It’s a bit technical but if you want to read more about this interesting subject you can do so on wikipedia.
6: Write it down
It has been proven that writing down little notes and reminders for yourself actually helps to increase your brain power and is good for you. There are certain parts of the brain that are responsible for memories and memory. Writing notes creates oxygenated blood flow to these areas. Writing a journal, blog or email reminders can increase your brain capacity and ability to memorize important events or tasks.
