The brain which represents the principal organ of the nervous system is also a vital organ of the body. Seats of cognitive functions and emotions, the brain helps to regulate many processes and functions in the body. It receives a large amount of information and has a long list of responsibilities. Care is essential to ensure its proper functioning. Only certain habits that one adopts can affect it, or even damage it.
Here are the 9 habits that can damage your brain:
1 - Skip breakfast:
Breakfast is probably the most jumped meal of the day. For lack of time or to reduce its caloric intake in order to lose weight, the two reasons remain invalid! Skipping breakfast is a big mistake. In the morning, our body needs nutrients to function properly, especially since it has been deprived of it for an entire night. Starting your day without breakfast, is synonymous with low energy levels, which also affects brain function.
According to many scientific studies and research, breakfast is essential to boost cognitive functions.
Try to take your breakfast 30 minutes after waking up.
2 - Eating large quantities:
In addition to the weight gain and bloating that accompany overeating, this habit can also cause cerebral problems. Indeed, consuming large amounts of food, especially one that is high in sodium, can cause an increase in blood pressure, which affects the arteries of the body and those of the brain. When the walls of the arteries that irrigate the brain are damaged, plaques form on them and make them less supple. This affects nerve cells in the brain and can even lead to a stroke.
Remember that hypertension is one of the main risk factors for stroke.
3 - Smoking:
We know all the effects of tobacco on health, especially on the lungs, but did you know that it can also affect the brain? Indeed, smoking increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's, because it accelerates the cognitive decline related to age. Intellectual performance decreases in the elderly, which may signal the onset of cerebral degeneration.
A study by King's College in London, published in the journal Age And Aging, corroborates these facts. Researchers have demonstrated that tobacco can indeed promote cognitive decline and may even increase the risk of dementia.
4 - Consume lots of sugar:
Sugar is the number one enemy of the line, of health, but also of the brain! According to a study by the University of California in the United States, a diet rich in fructose can slow down the brain, which will affect memory and learning abilities.
5-Pollution:
Pollution is a problem we face on a daily basis. The outside air as well as the air that circulates inside our houses contains many polluting substances that affect the overall health and especially that of our brain.
Recall that as the whole body, the brain needs oxygen to function properly. Only, when the air is very polluted, it can not use it. The result: a lack of oxygen that can cause a decrease in brain function.
In addition, a study by a team of English scientists at the University of Lancaster in England found that pollution could "penetrate the brain". The researchers discovered the presence of magnetite nanoparticles in the brain of some deceased people who had suffered from neurodegenerative diseases.
According to scientists, these nanoparticles that are breathed through the nose can reach the brain and cause damage to it. These may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
6 - Lack of sleep:
A short night's sleep affects the whole body, but everything goes back to normal habits. On the other hand, when sleep deprivation becomes frequent or permanent, as is the case with insomniacs, this can cause irreversible damage to the brain.
Indeed, not enough sleep causes destruction of the brain cells. According to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and conducted on mice, lack of sleep can cause a loss of 25% of neurons that play a role in the cognition process.
7 - Cover your head during sleep:
Some people have the unpleasant habit of covering their heads while sleeping. Error ! This gesture causes a reduction in oxygen supply, which can affect brain function. Moreover, this habit increases the risk of inspiring large quantities of carbon dioxide.
8 - Working the brain when you are sick:
Too much work when sick affects our overall health and especially our brain. To heal and regain its strength, our bodies and our brain need to rest. But when they are made to work, this can not only slow down the healing process but also impact them.
9 - Lack of stimulation of the brain:
Lack of flow of ideas can cause regression of the brain, because it is not stimulated enough. Thinking is essential for brain growth and development, as is social life and conversations.
Participating in intellectual conversations nourishes the mind and strengthens its effectiveness.