Our brain is the “control center” of our body. It controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. Don’t let it fend for itself - give it some love with these seven tips! 

So what kind of things can we be doing to help in this department?                                          Let’s take a look… 

Our brains need fuel to function optimally. But not just any ol’ fuel - proper fuel. Our brains need foods rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. These provide the brain with energy and protection, as well as support a healthy gut and inflammation response. A healthy gut means the hormones and neurotransmitters that affect cognitive function are working properly - the cycle can operate the way it should.

Try incorporating these foods into your diet: avocados; beets; blueberries and other berries like strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries; bone broth; broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts; celery; coconut oil; dark chocolate; egg yolks, extra virgin olive oil; green leafy vegetables; rosemary and other herbs; salmon; turmeric; walnuts and other nuts. 

Yum! Which of these do you want to eat first? 

Regular cardiovascular exercise increases your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body. According to a recent study, individuals who were highly physically active showed 38% less risk of cognitive decline, and those who did low-to-moderate level exercise also showed a significantly 35% reduced risk. I know that I can tell a difference if I have been sedentary too much and not getting enough exercise - it positively impacts my sleep too!  So don’t be afraid to break a sweat - it’s good for our brain! 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3786463/

What form of exercise would you most like to start incorporating? 

The brain needs exercise to stay in shape, right? So challenge it daily with activities that stimulate it and keep it sharp. Research has shown that challenging your mind in this way can boost your memory, concentration, and focus. It can even make daily tasks quicker and easier if you make it a regular thing. So what kind of activities can you do?

Put together a jigsaw puzzle, do a crossword puzzle, or play sudoku. Engage in a card game like solitaire, bridge, rummy, or poker. Play an instrument. Don’t know how to play? Pull up videos online and learn! Read a book - or two. Research has shown it strengthens your brain by improving connectivity. 

Which activity could you incorporate that you would enjoy most? 

You can absolutely use essential oils to love on your brain. First of all, let me share this amazing nugget of information with you. Our sense of smell is the only one of our senses that connects to the limbic system, the emotional control center of our brain. This system supports things like behavior, motivation, and long term memory. It’s even connected to the parts of the brain that control heart rate, hormones, blood pressure, breathing, and stress. So grab those essential oils and use them! Purity matters which is why I use Young Living.  Diffuse them or apply them topically and inhale! Did you know that anything that we put on our skin or inhale will be in our bloodstream in about 20 minutes!

Brain Boosting oils to try:

💧 Frankincense - cleans the receptor sites making communication much simpler.

💧 Cedarwood - BRAIN CHANGING OIL! Supports oxygenating in the brain, allowing the proper neurons to fire more quickly together and speed up communication.

💧 Vetiver - In India it's known as the "oil of tranquility". Yes please! Grounding and stabilizing, Vetiver affects the parathyroid gland.

💧 Peppermint - purifying & stimulating to the conscious mind 

💧 Rosemary - creates an environment conducive to work or study

💧 Clarity - promotes feelings of stability, focus, & a sense of productivity

💧 Brain Power - creates clarity & stability for an environment conducive to work or study

💧 M-Grain - creates an atmosphere conducive to releasing tension & daily stressors

💧 Geneyus - promotes an atmosphere for inspiration, productivity, & positivity

💧 Common Sense - promotes feelings of clarity & stability

Which essential oils would you like to help boost your brain power?

Ideally, you would get all the nutrients you need to support your brain from the food and drinks you ingest. However, that’s not always practical nor achievable for all. You might want to consider adding in some quality supplements to your daily routine. Young Living has plenty to offer in this department, plus they’re essential oil-infused, which makes them even more powerful. Here are some you might want to look into… 

Supplements to try:

• MindWise - supports cognitive health using CoQ10, ALCR, GPC ingredients, turmeric, fruit, & premium essential oils

• NingXia Red - an antioxidant drink that provides a nutritive infusion for whole-body support

• OmegaGize³ - combines the power of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D3, & CoQ10 along with essential oils to support normal brain function 

• NingXia Nitro - a delicious wolfberry drink that increases cognitive alertness & enhances mental fitness

• Master Formula - a full-spectrum supplement that provides vitamins & minerals that supports brain function and more

• Super B - a comprehensive B-vitamin supplement that supports a healthy mood & cognitive function

What supplements do you take now to support these aspects of your brain health and/or which ones would you like to try?

When keeping brain health at the forefront of your mind, getting plenty of rest should be a top priority.  Sleep deprivation or non-restorative sleep can have quite a negative impact on your cognitive functioning - things like memory and judgment impairment, mood swings, headaches, and clumsiness. When you are sleep-deprived, you can actually over-exert a portion of your brain that can impair things like concentration, alertness, and coordination. Too little sleep can negatively impact our emotions and physical energy too!  So how do you ensure you get enough rest? Here are some suggestions… 

• Get around 7-9 hours a night of sleep; preferably around the same time every day.  Some studies suggest that sleeping between 10pm-7am give the most optimal sleep for most.
• Get regular exercise. Not only can it help increase the effectiveness of your sleep, it can help you release tension and stress. 
• Spend time without screens and other technology distractions. Meditate, stretch, read… give yourself time to unplug as you end the day.
• Have a nightly routine that will signal your brain that it is time to start winding down and prepare for sleep mode.  WHY does this help?  Q. When you get out a dog leash, what does a dog know is about to happen?  A.  Yep, it's time for a walk outside.  Our brains work the same way.  A nightly routine like stretches or other bedtime ritual signals our brain that it is time for sleeping.

If you don't already have a nightly routine, what "wind down" regimen could you incorporate to signal your brain to start preparing for sleep mode?

The emotional health of your brain matters too! Depression can actually lead to impaired brain function, learning, memory, and attention. It can even reduce the speed at which your brain processes information and lead to other things like poor psycho-social skills. Sometimes it can cause people to withdraw from others which can magnify the feelings of depression.

I believe in holistic health so adding the above mentioned exercise and a healthy diet are also great for helping boost our emotional health. I find that praying, reading God's word, and journaling help with challenging negative thoughts and renewing my perspective about my circumstances.  Encouraging music is also a great way to shift one's focus from negative and hopeless thoughts that can overshadow the good things in our lives. If you are feeling stuck in making progress with any of these tools, talk to a close friend, family member, mentor, or pastor about what your are experiencing. Try to balance work and other stressors with activities that you enjoy.  Sometimes it is wise to seek the help of a licensed healthcare professional when other practices are not helping.  Here is a great article about exercise and depression but do get professional help if you need it!

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression

What activities do you enjoy that may have gotten pushed off your priorities because of an unbalanced schedule?  Reassessing how to implement these in to your schedule for a more balanced life or taking time to seek professional help is well worth your emotional health!

If you would like help with any of these goals or suggestions - or trying to decide on any of the mentioned products - feel free to message me and I will be happy to give some guidance with this.  I believe in holistic health and can help with prioritizing these goals!

Also, if you want to try any of the suggested oils or supplements I have found that the most cost effective way to order Young Living products is with a subscription that gives you rewards points that can be used to buy other products.  I essentially switched what I was buying at the drugstore to my subscriptions and get product points towards other products I need.

Here's to your brain AND whole-body wellness.  You are worth it!