Supplements for a healthy brain:

Most of us think about our physical health, weight reduction, skin health, and gut health. But mostly ignore the most important part of our body, the brain health.

We usually do not bother to think about how our brain is tortured, which foods and nutrients are needed for its health. That is the reason we, nowadays,  people suffer more from disorders related to the brain, such as poor memory, declining cognition, the major reason is that we do not focus on our brain health.

As the human brain is the most powerful component of the body, it is connected to all systems of the body; any disturbance in the brain’s health may lead to a major trauma to the whole body’s functions.

Moreover, the brain, besides supporting and helping our physical health, also works with our emotions. All the orders our body receives are coming from the brain. Therefore, we should take care of our brain and mental health as we care about our physical health.

What are the different functions of the brain?

The human brain plays an important role in coordinating the whole body’s systems. And it works in a very balanced chemical environment. However, a minor alteration in the brain environment can lead to a major disturbance in the whole body. That’s why it is very much necessary to keep the brain away from the harmful side effects of harmful substances and keep it healthy.

The following are some major functions a human brain carries out:

• Body coordination:

 The human brain helps in body coordination, maintains movements, keeps the balance of movements such as walking, running, speaking, and helps in the smooth flow of words if a person speaks. In case there is any alteration in the memory, a person will not be able to speak and respond properly. In case of brain damage, all the systems, such as the coordination process, are altered. A person will not be able to walk if the brain is injured.

• Passes sensory information:

 All five senses, vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, are regulated by our brain. If there is any damage to the brain, a person will not be able to sense the smell or taste of anything, and will not be able to feel cold and hot or see objects.

• Controls major organs such as the heart, lungs, and digestion, and these systems work with each other in coordination. For example, a person with end-stage liver disease will suffer from a state of confusion because of the accumulation of toxins in the body.
• Controls cognition/thinking: The major function of the brain is to control emotions and store memory, which may include stories and events in ongoing life. But if the brain is weak, a person will not be able to store and recall memories.

Factor that altered brain function:

The brain is so protected that it isn’t disturbed so easily. But if there is excessive pressure, either physical or emotional, then it can affect. The following are some diseases and conditions in which brain health is affected.

Medications:

 As the brain is so protected, it cannot be disturbed so easily; it has a protective covering of layers and a barrier known as the blood-brain barrier. Means that everything in the blood cannot pass through this layer. That’s why it is highly protected. However, there are some medications that pass through this barrier and alter its functions. These medications are as follows.

• Some chemotherapeutic medications
• Some antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals
• Medications to treat depression
• Medicine used to relieve pain
• Medicine is used in general anesthesia

If the above-mentioned medications are used for any specific indication, they should be used with caution. .never ever use such medications without the advice and recommendation of your healthcare provider. The caution should be taken regarding the dosses, indication (reason for which the medication is being advised), and time of course.

What will happen if a medication reaches the brain?

As every medicine has some side effects besides its therapeutic effects, so medication that reaches the brain may also have some side effects, such as causing fits/seizures, confusion, which may alter mental status, for example, a person could be detached from the real world. In medical terminology, it is called psychosis. The psychosis could be as follows:

Visual hallucinations: A person in this state of mind will see objects that are not really present in their surroundings

Auditory hallucinations: A person in this condition will hear sounds that do not exist in his /her surroundings.

Seizures /Fits:  If a patient is on such medications, which tend to cause fits or seizures, precautions should be taken by adding an antiepileptic in addition to the specific medicines.

Excessive emotional trauma/stress:

 As the human brain deals effectively with emotions, it has the ability to filter the good and bad emotions. However, if the brain is continuously exposed to a stressful environment, the chemical balance in the body alters, which negatively affects the thinking and emotional health of the brain.

What will happen if the brain is continuously dealing with a stressful environment?

On continuous exposure to a stressful environment, the impact on the brain will be as follows:

• Decrease in the ability to think and respond.
• If the brain or mental health is disturbed, it starts showing its effects on physical health, such as body aches/ pain, usually called myalgia. If the pains are in joints and muscles, it is referred to as fibromyalgia. In some cases, people who have suffered prolonged emotional stress exhibit symptoms as headaches known as migraines.

Electrolyte imbalance:

Electrolytes play an important role in maintaining brain health. The major electrolytes are sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

These electrolytes help in maintaining fluid balance in the brain, which is necessary to avoid or prevent fluid accumulation inside the brain.

Secondly, these electrolytes help in carrying out all physiological functions of the brain, such as transferring neurotransmitters to the cells of the brain called neurons.

Therefore, any increase or decreases in the levels of these electrolytes alter the basic function of the brain. So, electrolytes must be in balance to carry out normal brain functions.

Alcohol:

Alcohol has some negative effects on the brain, as it interferes with the normal brain functioning and pathways. Therefore, alcohol drunk for prolonged drinking of alcohol can cause damage to neurons, the basic cells of the brain tissue, leading to other health issues. The effects of alcohol on the brain lead to the following symptoms:

• Unable to speak properly
• Lack of coordination between words and movements
• Unable to recognize their own  relations or things
• Altered thinking capacity/ability

What is a healthy recommended diet for a sharp and healthy brain?

Diet plays an important role in maintaining good brain health, such as the following:

• Diet enriched with electrolytes:
• The diet contains Omega-3 fatty acids. As most of the brain is made up of fatty tissues containing omega-3 3cells. Food containing omega-3 is as follows:

Fish

Spinach

Kiwifruit

Chia seed

Soy seeds/ oils

Cod liver oil

Proper hydration:

Brain cell works well in proper hydration, so keep yourself well hydrated by drinking healthy drinks and water. People who drink alcohol become dehydrated. This leads to low blood pressure, high pulse rate, and hangover.

How to prevent poor memory and the factors?

Hence, brain health plays an important role in overall health. A little disturbance in the brain health causes major disabilities and disturbances in general health. Taking a proper diet and doing positive activities helps in nourishing brain health.