The brain, which belongs to the central nervous system, which is the most important part of the body, is the organ that controls each part of the body. Neurons that make up the brain constantly exchange information to control the heart, muscles, and digestive organs, as well as perform high-level mental functions such as movement, sense, language, and memory. The brain, which plays an essential role in life activities, is greatly affected by lifestyle habits that are usually performed unconsciously. In particular, the continuation of bad lifestyles not only deteriorates brain function, but also accelerates brain aging, accelerating the degeneration of cognitive abilities and memory. Prolonged use of this habit also affects the development of degenerative brain diseases such as dementia. Therefore, it can be said that it is important to understand the lifestyle habits that lower the brain function and change the habits to improve them. So today, let’s take a look at some of the habits that lower brain function. Habits that reduce brain function
1. Excessive intake of processed and instant food
The first habit that lowers brain function is the habit of consuming too much processed and instant foods. Chemical seasonings and high fructose sugars contained in processed foods change the brain’s ability to learn and can cause a decrease in brain function, so excessive intake should be reduced. Excessive intake of fast food and instant food, which are high in calories but low in nutritional value, can also be a problem. In fact, people who ate a lot of hamburgers, fries, soda, and potato chips had fewer brain regions related to learning, memory and mental health. On the other hand, blue-green fish, nuts, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and berries have a good effect on activating brain cells and helping improve brain function, so it is recommended to eat them in a balanced way.
2. Lack of exercise
Lack of exercise and a lifestyle with low activity can also become habits that cause deterioration of brain function. It is said that a small amount of exercise prevents the flow of blood that should be supplied to the brain smoothly, and can cause problems in the normal creation and connection of brain cells, which can lead to a decrease in brain function. In addition, lack of exercise causes problems with blood sugar and cholesterol control, which increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. Therefore, it is recommended to do aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, and cycling about 3 times a week. However, it is recommended to refrain from excessive exercise using heavy equipment as it can cause damage to blood vessels in the brain.
3. Lack of sleep
Irregular and insufficient sleep patterns are also habits that adversely affect the brain. Even a slight lack of sleep can cause your brain to stop working properly, causing confusion in your ability to think logically. In addition, if this sleep-deprived lifestyle continues, it will have a significant impact on memory and the efficiency of daily work. And if you get enough sleep, waste products are removed from the brain smoothly. In a study conducted by American researchers in Atlanta, they found that older adults with irregular sleeping habits had poorer image memory. In addition, it is important to minimize factors that interfere with sleep and create a comfortable environment in the bedroom.
4. Extreme Stress
Stress is a risk factor that adversely affects our body to the extent that it is called the root of all diseases. Extreme stress and mental tension cause hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, overactivating the parasympathetic nervous system, and reducing the normal blood supply to the brain. Severe stress can also cause deterioration of memory and cognitive abilities. Therefore, it is good to find the cause of stress in life and improve it as much as possible, and it is desirable to properly implement habits to relieve stress through leisure activities or hobbies.
5. Habit of doing several things at the same time
In our daily life, we often eat, watch TV, and do several electronic devices at once. This multitasking habit of doing various things at once is said to cause distraction, further impair memory, and cause brain dysfunction. According to a research team at the University of London Psychiatry Research team, multitasking with various electronic devices affects the IQ drop. Therefore, it is better to get into the habit of focusing on one task rather than doing several things at once.
Other Habits Habits of raising the volume of headphones or earphones too loudly or excessive use of smartphones can also cause brain function deterioration, so it is recommended to be careful. In addition, as it is known that an isolated life pattern with low social activity and low bonding can also cause brain function decline, form good social relationships and socialize with other people regularly. It is recommended to continue. Other than that, it is known that if you do not get enough natural light, the brain’s rotation speed can be slowed down, so it is recommended to bask in the sun for a certain amount of time a day.
