Increase Your Brain's Reserve - Healthy Brain Functioning Article

[liveweyerd]

thank you! This will be one to re-visit!

[historyteach]

Woops!
There was a problem with the new upgrade, and this got wiped out cuz it was posted on multiple forums. I managed to find it cuz the name was still here.
Sooooo, here's the post that Live answered. Unfortunately, I cannot put it first, so that the thread makes sense! LOL! Sorry 'bout that! But, at least we're able to see it!

Posted by londonvanpelt origenally:

Increase Your Brain’s Reserve

Have you ever wondered why certain stresses or injuries affect some people and not others? I have. I have wondered why some people get depressed after losing a parent while others, although sad, keep going; why some people, after a minor head injury, seem to really be affected, while others don’t; or why some people can work many hours straight, while others are completely spent after a short period of time. Several years ago, after looking at many thousands of brain scans, I started to think about the concept of “brain reserve.” Brain reserve is the cushion, margin or extra neurons that we have to deal with unexpected events or insults. The more reserve we have, the more stresses or injuries we can handle. The less reserve, the more vulnerable we are.

When we are conceived, let’s say, we all start with the same reserve. Many things can erode it, many things can boost it. For example, if your mother smoked, drank much alcohol or was under constant stress when she was pregnant with you, she decreased your brain’s reserve. If she took fish oil, listened to classical music and mediated every day, likely she increased your reserve. If you fell down a flight of stairs at age three, were exposed to chronic stress from an alcoholic mother or father during childhood, were sexually molested as a child or teenager, drank too much alcohol or used drugs you decreased or limited your brain’s reserve. On the other hand, if you were fed a healthy diet, took fish oil, were raised by loving, consistent parents and were exposed to many different kinds of learning your brain’s reserve was likely increased.

Anything that harms brain function, starts to erode your brain’s reserve. Here are some factors known to decrease brain reserve...


Prenatal or birth injuries
Brain injuries
Excessive alcohol
Drug abuse
Negative thinking
Poor diet
Environmental toxins
Chronic stress
Lack of sleep/sleep apnea
Smoking
Excessive caffeine
Too much television or violent video games
Lack of exercise
Likewise, maintaining a brain healthy life will increase your reserve or hardiness to deal with pending stresses or trouble. I always want to be increasing my brain reserve, to deal with the crises that inevitably will come my way. Here are a number of ways to do it...


Positive social connections
New learning
Healthy diet
A daily multiple vitamin
Fish oil
Learning music
Regular exercise
Dancing (of course, without drinking)
Positive thinking
Gratitude
Meditation
If you wish to stay healthy during stressful times, you need adequate brain reserve. Start working today to add more neurons to your life.

Live,
I agree, it's a keeper!

London,
Thanks for posting.

Shalom!