is amazing how little we know what the brain is and how it works. It is reliably known that the brain is capable of generating electrical impulses and is capable of powering a 25 watt bulb! Now imagine how much effort and energy has been expended to keep all vital processes at the norm, how many resources are needed to control vital activity at the highest levels. How does this happen and why? And where does the brain find its energy for such powerful organizational work? Is it possible to prolong the tone and youth of the brain and how to charge the brain, we say in the article.
How the brain works
The brain is like jelly, and it is fragile jelly. To avoid injuries and damage, nature took care that he was reliably protected. First, a strong cranium, and second, a soft connective tissue membrane, which prevents the brain from hitting the skull walls. And finally, the cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull protects the brain from concussions and injuries.
What is the brain?This is about one and a half kilograms of "smart" mass in the human body, made up of billions of neurons, processes of nerve cells (axons) through which nerve impulses and signals are transmitted. Moreover, each signal is generated and received by a certain part of the brain. In order to prevent malfunctions in its work, the brain needs 20% of all oxygen carried by the body cells, fats and carbohydrates in sufficient quantities. Their absence leads to impaired concentration of attention, memory, provokes psychosis, depressive state and disables other systems and organs. Disorders are often seen in those who regularly experiment with diets and dietary restrictions. People who feel hungry are also among those who suffer mainly from brain cells - irritability and aggression appear.
What functions does the brain have?
The brain is everything to us! It depends on him whether we raise our hand, scratch the back of the head, cry or laugh, fall in love, remember or forget. Whether we live happily ever after or suffer, whether we are healthy or sick, depends on the quality of the processes that take place in the brain. Who we will become or will not become, what talents we will develop and what characters we will possess. The brain controls everything and even a little more than we think. As the main organ of the central nervous system, it has a clear hierarchy of functions. Each area is responsible for certain functions.
- The frontal lobby is responsible for conscious movements, for speaking and writing skills, for our willingness and desire to achieve results.
- Time zones are responsible for speech perception, auditory and visual information, long-term memory, facial recognition and is responsible for ear for music, rhythm and musical perception.
- The parietal area is responsible for spatial orientation, conscious movements, sensation of the body and its parts, recognition of objects, calculation in the mind, feeling of pain, touch, high and low temperatures.
- The occipital area is responsible for processing visual information. The eyes are a device that reads a view of the world around us from exposure to light. But the back of the brain transforms it, converting light into electrical impulses.
- The cerebellum is responsible for maintaining balance and coordinating movements.
The brain works all the time, all the time and all the time, and not 3-5%, as they say. Even in a dream. The statement that the brain rests at night is not entirely true. The work of the brain in a state of rest at night differs only in the activity of the regions. More precisely, the frequency of impulses in the cerebral cortex increases. But what is going on there? It is at the moment of sleep that the subconscious enters the stage, experiences, emotions and knowledge are listed and disseminated, and most importantly, the restoration of the body systems and organs. He argues that drowsiness is a signal from the body that it needs a "control" and recovery.
How many resources does the brain need each day
Realizing how much data is contained in the brain and how many functions it performs, a reasonable question arises - what is needed to improve the quality of the brain, to improve its capabilities and to prolong the youth of its cells? And is there any pill that, like in the movies, would turn the brain into a super computer?
Brain food
The brain consumes most of the resources that come in a day. So for daytime self-care at rest (we would assume this is a normal day in "light" mode, without physical exertion and costly intellectual activity), the brain will consume 250 kcal. If a person turns on the mode of increased complexity, the brain will receive the 750-1000 prescribed by daily calorie intake. Now imagine a dieter with a calorie intake of 1300-1500 will simply crash at the end of the day, even in light mode. After all, to go to work every day, to manage the baby at home, to do physical work, to exercise the abdomen, to cook food, to eat and digest, the body needs at least2000 kcal, not counting the cost of brain maintenance +500 kcal on average. You will definitely succeed in losing weight fast. But it is not necessary to say that a person with a limited diet will successfully overcome daily stressful situations and loads, and achieve good results in the professional field or in sports.
Vitamins for the mind
In addition to energy costs, the brain needs vitamins and minerals for normal functioning. Their absence in the body can be constantly created. The reason may be regular physical activity, unhealthy diet, diet, stress, lack of sleep, change of seasons, disturbances in the functioning of certain organs and systems (gastrointestinal tract or endocrine system), for which again the brain is responsible.
Do you remember this famous phrase - all diseases come from the nerves? This is absolutely true! And the leader of the whole nervous system is the brain! So by controlling the brain, feeding it regularly, you can not only pump the nervous system, but also protect yourself from many diseases.
Scientists agree that the average human life expectancy is greatly underestimated. In reality, in ideal conditions, healthy sleep, high quality food, regular meditation practices (a tool for relieving stress, improving the nervous system, intellectual and spiritual growth), Homo Sapiens can reach it at 150. Of course, only vitamin supplements will not make you lively, but they will definitely be able to help in the way of the coveted figure.
Vitamins for the mind
Intelligence, like the triceps, can be pumped. And to ensure the youth and plasticity of the mind, its clarity and freshness, it is better to pump it every day. What vitamins can help in this difficult but extremely important issue?
B vitamins - ensure the normal functioning of the transmission of nerve impulses from neuron to neuron, improve blood supply to the brain and with it, increase access to oxygen - one of the brain's main sources. They nourish the nervous system, preventing insomnia, depression and fatigue, which directly affects the quality of brain cells, the quality of nerve connections and the impulses transmitted.
Vitamins of group P. Today, 5000 substances are known that are identical in their properties with vitamins of group P. These include flavonoids, anthocyanidins, isoflavonoids - powerful antioxidants. Group P vitamins protect the brain and blood vessels, improve their tone. They slow down oxidative processes in the body, improve cell metabolism.
Omega-3 is a source of docosahexaenoic, eicosapentaenoic and linolenic acids, which the body cannot synthesize on its own. And they have an important function - neuroprotective. Omega-3 helps increase and maintain mental alertness, especially in the face of stress and seasonal blues.Vitamin C - lack of which causes connective tissue degeneration in the body, slowing down or stopping collagen production. Due to the lack of vitamin C, the balance of enzymes necessary for the functioning of organs and systems is disturbed. The vitamin acts as a catalyst for metabolic processes. Protects the body and brain, protects against mental or physical overload.
Vitamin E is a valuable cell membrane substance in brain cells. Due to the vitamin, the body produces the biomarker DHA-PC, the lack of which increases the chances of being affected by Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin E prevents the significant loss of molecules very important to the brain and the death of neurons.
Multivitamins and medicines that improve brain activity and nourish brain cells with proven effectiveness: dry Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, glycine.
How to improve brain function
As long as I think, I live. Indeed, a reasonable man is capable of moving all mankind with the power of thought and thanks to thought. But, there is also a weakness of the medal. Thinking too much is really harmful. The stream of haunted thoughts can de-energize the brain in the state of "squeezed lemon". After all, every thought is wasted energy if it does not take on physical embodiment. And the constant energy gap in the head is not able to give strength to do something real and valuable instead of thoughts. Thus arises laziness, depression, internal aggression, the brain begins to work differently and certainly not for the better. Learn to stop the flow of faces, memories, dreams, dialogues within yourself, learn to relax and meditate. Special exercises to develop attention and concentration will help you do this.
Feed your brain. In all senses. Do not offend or deprive him, because he contains you, and you - him. A one-goal game ends sooner or later with a loss. Give your brain a good intellectual dinner, eat a nutritious breakfast, play educational games for lunch. And very soon he will respond to your care 10 times stronger. It will give new ideas, strength, a good figure and youth, good sleep, good mood and harmonious relationship. That's what you want, right? Then feed your brain with nuts, fish, yummy books, and smart people.
Stimulate pleasure centers. The brain really needs pleasure. For him, he is the engine of progress. The best helper in this matter is serotonin. Take it every day: any creativity you enjoy, your favorite hobby and self-realization, sports, laughter, walking, singing, dancing. And if you think you do not have time for this, then it will be useful for you to learn about it.
Learn something new every day. A new foreign word, a new country and its capital, a new word from an explanatory dictionary, new useful information. This can be easily done by special mobile apps that will show you a new word every day. Teaching is easy. And this is the case when the brain generates it in the form of energy for all desires and achievements!
Sport is also capable of pumping the brain and, moreover, protects neurons and neural connections. Surprisingly, a potato in bed reading a book will recall less information than someone who regularly goes to sports and reads "smart" books in their spare time.
In any ambiguous situation - sleep! This joke has the right to life, because in a dream, the brain regulates, regulates, heals not only itself but the whole body as a whole. What do you usually do when you do not know the way out of the current situation, what is the best solution? You are wasting energy! Give your brain enough sleep to give you the best dead end solution and the correct answer to your life question. The answer will come quickly and you will definitely find a way out. Lack of sleep, accompanied by endless thoughts before you fall asleep, can lead to bad consequences.