The brain is an organ that plays an important role in controlling all body functions. Therefore, brain health is very important to always be maintained. If it is not maintained properly, various functions of the body's organs will be disrupted.
Brain function can decline with age. This can increase a person's risk of developing dementia, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in old age.
However, by living a healthy diet and lifestyle, brain health problems due to aging can be prevented.
How to Maintain Brain Health
Here are some ways you can do to maintain brain health:
1. Eat antioxidant-rich foods
There are various types of foods that are rich in antioxidants, including vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The antioxidant content in these foods is believed to improve memory, prevent the effects of free radicals, and reduce inflammation.
A study says that eating foods rich in antioxidants reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
2. Meet the intake of omega-3
Omega-3 is a type of fatty acid that is known to be good for brain health. Not only can improve memory, omega-3 is also able to prevent the decline in brain function due to aging. Omega-3 can be obtained by eating salmon and sardines.
3. Stop the smoking habit
Smoking habits can increase the risk of thinning in the cortex of the brain. The cortex is an important part of the brain associated with the ability to think, remember, speak, and perceive.
Therefore, if you are an active smoker, you should immediately stop the habit. In addition to damaging the cortex, smoking can also increase health problems in the brain, such as stroke, brain aneurysm, and dementia.
4. Doing physical activity
Not only beneficial for muscle and bone health, exercise can also improve the performance of small blood vessels in carrying oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
Several types of physical activity that can be done, such as walking, gymnastics, or jogging. Do it for at least 30 minutes every day. Physical activity or exercise can also trigger the development of new nerve cells and improve the relationship between cells in the brain to be more optimal.
5. Avoid foods high in cholesterol
Cholesterol is an important component of the human brain. However, consuming foods high in cholesterol in excess can increase levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body.
Excess cholesterol can trigger blockages in the blood vessels of the brain, so that the oxygen supply to the brain is reduced. This is what causes a person to have a stroke.
6. Limiting added sugar intake
Consumption of foods or drinks that are given added sugar can also cause disruption of the part of the brain that regulates short-term memory.
Therefore, to maintain brain health, you should limit the consumption of any food or drink that uses added sugar in excess.
Limiting the intake of added sugar can not only maintain a healthy brain, but also improve the health of the body as a whole.
7. Sufficient rest time
The main way to keep the brain working optimally is to give it enough rest. Adequate sleep is important to help the process of strengthening short-term memory so that it can be converted into long-term memory.
This ability is proven through research on the learning process of a group of children. In the study, children who got a good night's sleep scored better on exams than children who didn't get enough sleep.
Thus, to maintain the health and ability of the brain to store memories, it is recommended that you get enough rest time by sleeping 7-8 hours every night.
With increasing age and activities undertaken, the brain can experience health problems and even decline in function. Some of the ways above you can try to do to maintain optimal brain health and function.
If you experience an injury to the brain or feel any symptoms of a disturbance in brain function, try to see a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be carried out according to the complaints you are experiencing.
