Rebuilding what you lose
Did you know that your brain can rebuild itself? We recently encountered the story of a 10-year-old boy who was struggling with severe epilepsy. The doctors saw no option but to remove a part of his brain. This part was responsible for recognizing people. Miraculously, he recovered and regained the ability to recognize faces and make new friends. Doctors eventually discovered that other parts of his brain took over this function! After recovering, he cognitively caught up with other kids his age. This made us think, “What other fascinating things can our brains do?”
1500 new brain cells every day
Are you aware of your brain’s capacity to generate up to 1500 new brain cells daily? This is important for our brain’s health and affects the decisions we make in our daily lives. Neurons are our brain’s fundamental units. They allow us to think, feel, move, dream, speak, and much more. Typically, we are born with around 100 billion brain cells. Old cells naturally perish as we age, and new ones are formed. This is especially important in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and storing memories. ¹
Neurons are also responsible for communication between our brain and body. They allow us to send messages all throughout our bodies via electric and chemical signals. This helps knowing what is happening in our bodies and in the world around us. We can feel the wind or a breeze going through our hair, or the touch of a friend as they brush up against us.
It’s no secret that we can gather knowledge by reading books, making new experiences, playing games, and even by looking at others. But did you know you can boost this process? Yes, you can train your brain better and faster than you ever thought you could!
Lifehack: Brain training
Until recently, we believed we were born with a fixed number of brain cells. We can compare this to a team of soccer players with no substitutes on the bench. If somebody got injured, the team would become smaller, and players would have to cover more positions, so the group became less effective. But this comparison is not entirely accurate. Scientists discovered that aerobic exercise could help us grow new neurons.
So, now we know our coach can have new players that he can put on the field to strengthen the team in key positions once they become tired. This process is essential for our physical and mental health. Regular aerobic exercise can also decrease the chance of becoming depressed and even improve our memory!
The reason is that higher volumes of blood packed with nutrients and growth hormones are sent to the brain when we are active. This promotes a healthy brain, helps us de-stress, and makes us happier. Feeling motivated yet to get up and get moving?
How much physical movement is enough?
At least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week is recommended to maintain good brain health. Aerobic workouts are very effective at getting your heart pumping; examples include running, cycling, swimming, power walking, and dancing. There’s truly something for everyone. And don’t forget about strength and stability exercises. They can also benefit specific brain regions responsible for controlling your movements.
And hey, if you’re looking to level up, consider participating in the Happy Nation Games coming Autumn 2023. For 21 days, we will take part in physical and mental exercises as well as acts of kindness. Join us because you will surely notice positive changes in yourself.
Hacks beyond physical movement
Aside from doing sports, there are other ways to increase the number of newly grown neurons. A healthy and happy brain can be maintained by sleeping 7-8 hours a night, munching on plant-based foods, trying out intermittent fasting, de-stressing, and making awesome friends.
It is important to note that these factors work hand-in-hand with regular exercise to promote a healthy lifestyle. However, to keep your brain in top shape, It is recommended to limit stress, processed foods, alcohol, and inadequate sleep. Don’t worry, though. There is still hope for that glass of red wine, which may have a neutral effect due to its abundant antioxidants. ¹ Your brain will thank you…
Adjust your eating habits
Here’s an unexpected trick to grow some more brain cells – cut back on how much you eat by 20-30%. ³ We suggest doing this two days per week to get started. If you’re a beginner, you could also try intermittent fasting; it’s a good way to ease into it!
Another way to encourage neurogenesis is to load up on more omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods like walnuts and salmon, as well as flax and chia seeds. Including foods like blueberries, purple grapes, dark chocolate, peanuts, and dark green leafy vegetables in your diet can also have amazing results because they are rich in antioxidants. Bon appétit! ⁴
A lot to learn
It is difficult to measure how “smart” someone is. IQ tests only measure a small part of intelligence. They do not capture your capacity to be social, learn a new language, or move in a certain way. We can still learn a lot about how our brains work. But here’s what we know for now – your brain renews itself daily and is remarkably good at it if you make the right choices.
Exercise, healthy food, enough sleep, and close friends can help your brain stay healthy and happy. Try to avoid too much alcohol, processed food, and stress because it might cost you more than you think. And during the weekend, it might be wise to opt for a glass of red wine instead of a beer. With these tips, you can boost your mental and physical well-being and create a strong foundation for the future. Cheers to brain-boosting choices!
Brain training: Get physical and smarter at the same time!
Ever wanted to become smarter? Brain training is not complicated at all. Move your body more – that’s all it takes! In this article, we will tell you all you want to know about this simple but powerful lifehack.
Rebuilding what you lose
Did you know that your brain can rebuild itself? We recently encountered the story of a 10-year-old boy who was struggling with severe epilepsy. The doctors saw no option but to remove a part of his brain. This part was responsible for recognizing people. Miraculously, he recovered and regained the ability to recognize faces and make new friends. Doctors eventually discovered that other parts of his brain took over this function! After recovering, he cognitively caught up with other kids his age. This made us think, “What other fascinating things can our brains do?”
1500 new brain cells every day
Are you aware of your brain’s capacity to generate up to 1500 new brain cells daily? This is important for our brain’s health and affects the decisions we make in our daily lives. Neurons are our brain’s fundamental units. They allow us to think, feel, move, dream, speak, and much more. Typically, we are born with around 100 billion brain cells. Old cells naturally perish as we age, and new ones are formed. This is especially important in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and storing memories. ¹
Neurons are also responsible for communication between our brain and body. They allow us to send messages all throughout our bodies via electric and chemical signals. This helps knowing what is happening in our bodies and in the world around us. We can feel the wind or a breeze going through our hair, or the touch of a friend as they brush up against us.
It’s no secret that we can gather knowledge by reading books, making new experiences, playing games, and even by looking at others. But did you know you can boost this process? Yes, you can train your brain better and faster than you ever thought you could!
Lifehack: Brain training
Until recently, we believed we were born with a fixed number of brain cells. We can compare this to a team of soccer players with no substitutes on the bench. If somebody got injured, the team would become smaller, and players would have to cover more positions, so the group became less effective. But this comparison is not entirely accurate. Scientists discovered that aerobic exercise could help us grow new neurons.
So, now we know our coach can have new players that he can put on the field to strengthen the team in key positions once they become tired. This process is essential for our physical and mental health. Regular aerobic exercise can also decrease the chance of becoming depressed and even improve our memory!
The reason is that higher volumes of blood packed with nutrients and growth hormones are sent to the brain when we are active. This promotes a healthy brain, helps us de-stress, and makes us happier. Feeling motivated yet to get up and get moving?
How much physical movement is enough?
At least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week is recommended to maintain good brain health. Aerobic workouts are very effective at getting your heart pumping; examples include running, cycling, swimming, power walking, and dancing. There’s truly something for everyone. And don’t forget about strength and stability exercises. They can also benefit specific brain regions responsible for controlling your movements.
And hey, if you’re looking to level up, consider participating in the Happy Nation Games coming Autumn 2023. For 21 days, we will take part in physical and mental exercises as well as acts of kindness. Join us because you will surely notice positive changes in yourself.
Hacks beyond physical movement
Aside from doing sports, there are other ways to increase the number of newly grown neurons. A healthy and happy brain can be maintained by sleeping 7-8 hours a night, munching on plant-based foods, trying out intermittent fasting, de-stressing, and making awesome friends.
It is important to note that these factors work hand-in-hand with regular exercise to promote a healthy lifestyle. However, to keep your brain in top shape, It is recommended to limit stress, processed foods, alcohol, and inadequate sleep. Don’t worry, though. There is still hope for that glass of red wine, which may have a neutral effect due to its abundant antioxidants. ¹ Your brain will thank you…
Adjust your eating habits
Here’s an unexpected trick to grow some more brain cells – cut back on how much you eat by 20-30%. ³ We suggest doing this two days per week to get started. If you’re a beginner, you could also try intermittent fasting; it’s a good way to ease into it!
Another way to encourage neurogenesis is to load up on more omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods like walnuts and salmon, as well as flax and chia seeds. Including foods like blueberries, purple grapes, dark chocolate, peanuts, and dark green leafy vegetables in your diet can also have amazing results because they are rich in antioxidants. Bon appétit! ⁴
A lot to learn
It is difficult to measure how “smart” someone is. IQ tests only measure a small part of intelligence. They do not capture your capacity to be social, learn a new language, or move in a certain way. We can still learn a lot about how our brains work. But here’s what we know for now – your brain renews itself daily and is remarkably good at it if you make the right choices.
Exercise, healthy food, enough sleep, and close friends can help your brain stay healthy and happy. Try to avoid too much alcohol, processed food, and stress because it might cost you more than you think. And during the weekend, it might be wise to opt for a glass of red wine instead of a beer. With these tips, you can boost your mental and physical well-being and create a strong foundation for the future. Cheers to brain-boosting choices!