How do food, alcohol, exercise, and intellectual stress affect brain function? Numerous studies allow not only to answer this question, but also to understand how to activate the brain activity of an ordinary person.
15:19 15.02.2013
Scientists have not yet solved all the mysteries of the human brain. Unfortunately, diseases such as Alzheimer's disease remain one of these mysteries. But still, researchers can help those who want to keep their thinking organ in shape. This is completely within your power - the doctors' advice is very simple. The main thing is to remember that the result will be noticeable if you exercise yourself regularly.
Check yourself!
This simple test will help you understand whether your brain needs help to take action in time.
1. Do you forget names, dates, phone numbers, keys?
2. Do you often doubt that you closed the door or turned off the iron?
3. Do you remember long-ago events better than what happened yesterday?
4. Can’t focus or concentrate?
5. Do you have increased workload or stress at work?
6. Are you worried about frequent headaches, dizziness, or tinnitus?
7. Do blood pressure rise?
8. Have there been cases of atherosclerosis with memory impairment in your family?
If you answered “NO” to all the questions, you have nothing to worry about - your brain is functioning perfectly!
If you answered “YES” to questions 1 to 5: you need to help your brain. A proper diet and 2-3 weeks of a healthy lifestyle will bring results.
If you answered “YES” to 6-8: your brain urgently needs help. Don't delay decisive action. Watch your diet, get more active movement in the fresh air. To prevent problems, consult a neurologist.
Cleaning the vessels
There are many reasons for body pollution: air, food and water containing harmful substances, tobacco, alcohol, medications. To restore brain function, it is necessary to cleanse the blood vessels and blood.
The passage of blood through capillaries and their walls is possible only with good permeability of cell membranes and blood fluidity. There are four main dangers that await us. The first is contamination of cells and cell membranes. The second is blockage of blood vessels and capillaries with atheroslecrotic plaques (80% of people over 30 have them!). The third is compression of blood vessels, arteries and veins by fatty deposits, which leads to a decrease in their diameter and, as a consequence, to impaired cerebral circulation. The fourth is a slowdown in the speed of blood flow, including due to insufficient fluid intake.
Please note: during the day you should drink at least 2.5 liters of liquid: this can be water, juices, tea, compote.
Before lunch, it is useful to drink a glass of apple, cabbage or carrot juice.
During lunch and dinner, try to be sure to eat onions, a clove of garlic, carrots, cabbage salad with horseradish and parsley, or a portion of buckwheat porridge. These products play the role of a kind of “broom”.
Onions, garlic and preparations made from them are very useful. They destroy atherosclerotic plaques that impede the movement of blood through the vessels of the brain.
And here is an excellent anti-sclerotic recipe: In the morning on an empty stomach, drink a glass of water with soda and lemon juice to dissolve cholesterol deposits. The next day - a glass of herbal decoction of linden blossom, clover leaves, oregano, St. John's wort, strawberries, currants, taken in equal parts, with a spoonful of viburnum and rowan jam.
Purifying the blood
- Pour a tablespoon of horseradish pulp into a glass of sour cream. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day before meals.
- Mix a glass of onion juice with a glass of honey. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day an hour before meals for at least a month.
- Pour 50 g of dry elecampane root into 0.5 liters of vodka, leave for 2 weeks, strain, take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day before meals for at least three months.
- Pour boiling water over lemon balm leaves, leave in a thermos, drink 40-50 g 3 times a day.
- To cleanse blood and blood vessels, try a special collection. It includes: mulberry - 5 parts, chicory, horsetail, hawthorn flowers - 4 parts each, walnut leaves, sundews, stinging nettle - 3 parts each, motherwort and flax seeds - 2 parts each, immortelle - 5 parts. One tablespoon of the mixture is poured into 200 ml of water and boiled for several minutes. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course lasts 30 days.
The brain needs oxygen!
Exercises, thanks to which the blood and brain cells are saturated with oxygen, are very important! Let's learn some simple techniques!
Research by scientists has confirmed that training to hold your breath creates the most favorable conditions for the absorption of oxygen by the blood and proper nutrition of the brain. Practice holding your breath as you exhale, trying to gradually increase the time. Every second gained prolongs life: the alveoli in the lungs open more fully, the blood is saturated with oxygen and, enriched, enters the brain. It is advisable to perform this exercise daily.
The second important technique is rhythmic breathing. It is performed on average for 10 minutes: inhale for 8 pulse beats, hold your breath for 8 beats, exhale also stretches for 8 beats, and is followed by a new hold for 8 pulse beats.
These two exercises are enough to improve cerebral circulation if done regularly for several months. It is very useful to do this in the fresh air, for example in the country or while walking in the park.
!After finishing the breathing exercises, calmly breathe in the aromas of plants, which stimulate and normalize the functioning of the heart and brain. Pepper, cloves, bay leaves, dill, coriander, fresh parsley or basil are suitable for this.
Healing aroma
Breathe often in the air filled with the aroma of roses, rose hips, bird cherry, lily of the valley, linden, oregano, mint and hops. Whenever possible, place a drop of rose oil or tea tree oil near your nose and continue with your business. Make it a rule to place a bouquet of flowers on your desk. In spring - bird cherry, lily of the valley or blooming linden, in summer - roses. And in winter, a bouquet can replace a few drops of rose oil dissolved in a cup of water.
5 most common misconceptions
The human brain, one of the greatest creations of evolution, still remains a great mystery to scientists. Scientists who study the brain say it is less knowable than space. It's no surprise that there are many misconceptions about how the brain works.
1. The opinion that the larger the brain, the smarter the person, still exists among the people. This is wrong. By the way, the largest brain weight is found in mentally ill people. By the way, research by the German scientist T. Bischof, who 120 years ago studied the mass of gray matter in two thousand representatives of various social strata, showed that the heaviest brains were not possessed by scientists or nobles, but... by workers!
2. It is also not true that developed peoples have heavier brains. For example, the British have an average brain mass of 1,346 grams, the Buryats - 1,481 g, and the Kenyans - 1,296 g, more than the French - 1,280 g.
3. The popular opinion among the people that a person’s intelligence depends on the number of convolutions of the brain and their depth is also untrue. As in the case of brain weight, it turned out that idiots have the most convolutions.
4. Neurophysiologists have completely refuted the previously held opinion that the human brain is a hopeless lazy person and only 10% of nerve cells work in it at the same time. Although individual neurons take a day off from time to time, for the most part almost all of them work diligently, even while we sleep.
5. And about one more misconception related to the work of our brain. It is generally accepted that brains differ only in mass, but are similar to each other, like enlarged or reduced photocopies of the same device. This is also a mistake - the brain of each of us is unique not only in content, but also in form.
Physical activity - yes!
Have you noticed that after active movements you think better? Blood begins to actively circulate in the body, which significantly improves brain function. At rest, the blood vessels of the brain are filled with blood only 10-20%.
Avicenna also noted that the brain is best supplied with blood, and the brain vessels are best trained when performing bends. They not only increase blood flow and improve the elasticity of blood vessels, but also promote the formation of new neural connections necessary for productive mental activity.
Do the exercises carefully at first - our blood vessels are so weak that even simple bending can cause dizziness and “floaters” flashing before the eyes. Very soon you will get used to it, and nothing will bother you. By the way, doctors have noticed that those who do headstands usually do not have strokes or other diseases associated with cerebrovascular accidents and cerebral vascular spasms.
Tilts and head rotations. Stretching your neck, throw your head back, then sharply lower it forward, trying to touch your chin to your chest. Alternately tilt your head to your left and right shoulders, trying to touch them with your ear. Also perform full head rotations, first clockwise, then counterclockwise, gradually increasing their number from 1-2 to 10 times.
Asynchronous rotations. This exercise is best done while standing, but it can also be done while sitting, since only the hands are involved in the work: the right hand is rotated towards oneself, and the left one - away from oneself. Such asynchronous movements train both hemispheres of the brain, one of which is “responsible” for logical thinking, and the other for imaginative thinking.
Nutrition for the brain
Of the 20 known amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins, 8 are considered essential. This means that the body cannot synthesize them, but receives them from the outside, with food. Consequently, for the normal functioning of the entire organism, and the brain in particular, these amino acids must be supplied in sufficient quantities.
The essential amino acid phenylalanine is required for the synthesis of the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine, which are responsible for the speed of the reaction. The main suppliers of phenylalanine are products of animal origin: meat, fish, poultry, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese and eggs. In the course of research, scientists found that people who ate only lean foods for a month had a decrease in reaction speed. Vegetables contain very little phenylalanine, so vegetarians need to take special measures to replenish it.
For optimal brain function and maintaining a normal mental state, especially in old age, the essential amino acid tryptophan is necessary. Some scientists believe that tryptophan prevents aging - a sufficient amount of it in food allows you to stop the aging process of cells. A lot of tryptophan is found in chicken and turkey meat, fish, cottage cheese, nuts, dates, figs, dried apricots, bananas, and grapes.
An important amino acid for the brain is lysine. The body must have enough of this essential amino acid if a person wants to think quickly and clearly into old age. The thinking process can be activated by consuming foods rich in lysine - dark chocolate, cocoa, corn, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouted wheat and oats. Oatmeal broth is especially useful. There is a lot of this substance in products of animal origin: meat, chicken, turkey.
The essential amino acid leucine helps stimulate mental activity and strengthen memory. You need to eat more low-fat cottage cheese, sprouted rye seeds, and also drink milk (preferably goat's), eat yogurt and kefir. There is a lot of leucine in lean meats and liver.
For proper cholesterol metabolism, the body requires the amino acid methionine. Sources of methionine include egg yolks, fish, legumes, buckwheat, cabbage, carrots, green peas, oranges, watermelons and melons.
It’s not for nothing that people have a saying: “Keep your feet warm and your head cold.” Training the brain vessels with cold (washing with cold water, dousing) is also an excellent gymnastics for the brain vessels.
The head must work!
To prevent the brain from aging, it is necessary to give it work. During intense mental activity, oxygenated blood actively enters the brain cells.
For those who constantly use their intellectual potential, some deterioration in brain function occurs only in old age. Everyone knows that to strengthen muscles they need to be loaded and trained. The same thing happens with the brain: its normal functioning is possible only with daily intellectual stress. The brain of a person who reads, thinks, and reflects a lot is in a stable trained state.
But as soon as you stop loading your brain, the cells responsible for mental functions begin to die off as unnecessary. The French philosopher B. Pascal did not forget any of his magnificent aphorisms, and he had more than two thousand of them. Knowing many languages, he claimed that he never forgot a word he once learned. Seneca could repeat two thousand words after hearing them only once, in the same order in which they were spoken.
Guineas, the ambassador of King Pyrrhus in Rome, memorized the names of those gathered so well during the day that he could greet the senators and people, calling everyone by name. There is nothing incredible about this. Every person can develop such abilities through regular training. You need to start with the easiest exercises, for example, solving crossword puzzles. This perfectly trains memory, increases erudition, makes you strain your gyrus, increasing their mobility.
Try to develop figurative memory. In the evening, in a calm environment, close your eyes and remember in detail what brought you special pleasure during the day, for example, a delicious dish. You need to feel its aroma, taste, remember how the table was set, mentally examine the plates, forks, napkins, their color, shape... Gradually you will record those phenomena or objects that you had not paid attention to before. For example, a drop of dew playing in the sun, a petal of a blossoming rose, a rainbow after the rain. It is advisable to write down the most vivid impressions.
5 of your principles
Why do these simple tips work? There is serious medical research behind them!
1. Eat foods that are good for your brain
We are what we eat, at least for the brain this is true. A diet of unhealthy foods high in trans fats can be detrimental to the functioning of your brain's synapses. Synapses create connections between neurons and are extremely important in learning and memory processes. On the other hand, a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in marine fish (salmon, mackerel, salmon), walnuts and kiwi) can improve performance.
2. Play sports
Doctors say that by training the body, we make the brain work better. Physical activity is stress for the body. As a result, more energy goes into working the muscles, forcing the brain to make do with less energy. At the same time, special substances are released that make neurons stronger and healthier. Half an hour of exercise in the gym every two days is enough.
3. Puzzles
Not only the muscles of the body must work, the brain must also tense up sometimes. Puzzles, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, memory games, or intellectual games like “brain ring” are quite suitable for this. Even closely watching a political debate activates systems that control attention and learning that are deeply wired into the brain.
4. Memory tricks
Remembering and retrieving memories can also be a matter of practice as you age. For example, confidence in one's abilities may actually affect memory performance, especially in older people. As we get older, we become more and more tempted to attribute everything to age, without even trying to truly remember anything. You can also improve your memory if you prepare in advance. If you have a rough idea of what you might need to remember after some time, the likelihood of successfully remembering everything is higher.
5. Rest
Sleep gives the brain time to process memories and transfer them from short-term memory to long-term memory. One study suggests that these processes occur much faster during sleep than during wakefulness. A 90-minute nap at lunchtime can help strengthen long-term memory, including the skills you're trying to learn.
Original message by Irzeis Thanks a lot!At what percentage does the human brain work?
Today no one can give an exact answer to this question. Although this question has been interesting to many for a long time. All we can say is that each person uses a different percentage of their brain.
There are more and more options and assumptions every year, the maximum assumption: the human brain works at 18%, and the minimum - 3%.
It is said that in an average person, the total number of activated brain clusters is approximately 2-4% of its total mass. The only thing that is reliably known is that no one uses the abilities of the brain 100% of the time. The human brain consists of two hemispheres, one of which is dominant, i.e. leading, and the second is not. Thus, the hemisphere that is not dominant is simply underdeveloped, because We practically don’t use it. Humanity has not yet learned to fully use the full potential of the brain.The volume of a person's brain and his mental abilities are not directly related. If desired, mental abilities can be developed by giving the brain work.
An exercise to activate the brain and intellectual abilities, which has been known in India for many centuries. This simple technique, popularized throughout the world by Master Choa Kok Sui, quickly increases intellectual potential, sharpens memory and concentration.
Two minutes of exercise will change your life!
Yoga exercise to activate brain activity
For more “advanced” yogis, an ancient Yoga exercise is recommended, which allows them to increase the flow of blood to the brain and enhance the development of centers responsible for superpowers: o).
Moreover, this ancient exercise, taken from Kriya Yoga, is the ultimate secret of eternal youth for yogis. The fact is that inverted yoga poses activate the activity of the pineal gland, which is responsible for all hormonal activity of the body. This is precisely what enhances the release of the youth hormone melatonin, which in people who do not engage in such practices ceases to be released by the age of 24...Technique:
There are two main variations of this exercise. It can be performed against a wall or without it.
Place a blanket or rug against the wall.
Lie on the mat in such a way that your legs could be placed on the wall, lie there with your legs raised until you feel a slight rush of blood to your head.
Then lift your body so that it forms a 45-degree angle from the floor.
Support yourself with your hands under your lower back, with your palms facing your fingers away from your body.
The first time, do it for 30 seconds, the next day for one minute. So you can increase the time you spend in this pose by 30 seconds every day.
To keep track of time, you can use the electronic alarm clock on your mobile phone.After just 30 days, you can easily stay in this mudra for 15 minutes. And this, in turn, will significantly increase brain activity.
Your memory, logical thinking, and intuition will improve. Creative abilities will increase and new talents will be discovered.
The skin of your face will rejuvenate every day, you will no longer need expensive creams and plastic surgeries. Truly, one can endlessly continue to describe the advantages of this exercise...Attention!
After completing this asana, it is not recommended to stand up suddenly to avoid pressure drop and adverse consequences. You need to lower your feet to the floor, relax and lie on your side for a few minutes. Only after this can you sit down, and only then can you gradually get up.
Contraindications:
Brain activation
It is common knowledge that the left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for logic and rational thinking. The right hemisphere is responsible for imaginative thinking and intuition.
How can you develop lateral thinking by activating parts of the brain that were not used before? Brain training does not require much time from you, it is enough to spend only 15 minutes during the day.
There is a simple way to look at the capabilities of your brain differently. Take 4 white sheets of paper. On the first one, write something in your usual hand from left to right. On the second - also with the usual hand, but in the opposite direction.
On sheets 3 and 4, do the same with the other hand.The first sheet is the template you should aim for. Repeat your attempts day after day and you will see that you begin to think differently.
This simple exercise stimulates areas of the brain that are not used in everyday life.
As a result, such training will allow you to make non-standard decisions and find a simple way out of even the most difficult situations, which will be required repeatedly at work and at home.Activating and balancing both hemispheres of the brain
Psiactive audio program - the use of sound to awaken the limitless potential of human brain development.
It is believed that each person has his own capacity for processing the amount of information in the right hemisphere of the brain. The majority of human society is dominated by the left hemisphere, which is very energy-intensive and consumes large amounts of vital energy.
The right hemisphere provides and regulates energy-informational processes of the whole organism, because by its nature it is associated with visceral (internal) systems.
Using the sound method of activating the right hemisphere, you can increase the energy capacity of the brain several times.
Preferably listen before bed and through headphones!
Some numbers about the brain
The volume of the human brain is 91-95% of the capacity of the skull.
The thickness of the cerebral cortex is 1-2.5 mm.
The brain of men weighs 100-150 grams more than the brain of women.
The speed of signal transmission from one neuron to another is 200 times per second.
Each neuron can store 1 kilobyte of information, and there are 100 billion neurons in the brain.
So, what percentage of the brain is used by a person? To satisfy his natural needs: thirst, hunger, and for reproduction, a person uses 3-4 percent. Communication skills will require another 5 percent, and training another five. If you like to solve puzzles, logic problems, write and learn poetry, read books, solve in your head and not on a calculator and force your brain to work, then you have passed the 14% mark.
25.12.2009
BRAIN ACTIVATORS
You don’t need any sociological surveys or statistical data to say: the majority of the adult population of large cities (and not only large ones) are engaged in mental work. Add to this a whole army of schoolchildren and students who are naturally entitled to this. In other words, both at work and during study, the main load falls on the brain. Are we able to help him deal with it? The interview with Candidate of Medical Sciences Sergei Aleshin began with this question.
- Sergey Valentinovich, it is known that the strength of the mind determines success in study, work and in life in general. It is no coincidence that, making up only 2% of the total weight of the body, the brain consumes 25% of all energy! So, does he need appropriate food?
– The brain is extremely sensitive to dietary patterns. The brain needs activators and vitamins, and more precisely, special biologically active substances. Before talking about them, a small digression. Simply put, the mental activity of the brain can be divided into two areas:
1. Intelligence – memory, attention, thinking, etc.
2. Emotions – feelings, will, courage, mood, level of anxiety, etc.
The course of both intellectual and emotional processes depends on special chemicals in the brain - neurotransmitters. Nerve cells (neurons) exchange signals with each other. Along the processes of neurons, like through wires, these signals are transmitted in the form of electrical excitation. The junctions between nerve cells are overcome with the help of those same neurotransmitters. So, the health of the brain and its performance depends on the balance of various neurotransmitters. When it is disrupted, intellectual and emotional disturbances occur. You can get rid of the deficiency of neurotransmitters in the brain structures by consuming the foods from which they are formed.
– What products are these? Apparently, we are talking about the usual bread, milk or meat?
- You're right. If we are talking about the mental powers of the brain and the power of the intellect, then we primarily mean lecithin and arginine. The importance of the first of them is determined by its role in the construction of nerve cell membranes and the production of acetylcholine, the most important neurotransmitter through which signals are transmitted between nerve cells. It is worth emphasizing that lecithin is not one substance, but a mixture that includes: choline, inositol, phospholipids, phosphatidylinositol, polyunsaturated fatty acids, etc. For example, students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took 3 g of choline per day. They showed significant improvements in the results of the memory test and recall of the vocabulary list.
Arginine is better known for its sexual properties. The joy of sex is truly greater because this product is a source of nitric oxide or nitric oxide (NO). It, in turn, dilates blood vessels, which promotes blood supply to the male and female genital organs. But nitric oxide is an important neurotransmitter for the course of intellectual processes in brain structures. It is especially important for long-term memory - the basis of intelligence. This was conclusively established back in 1991 by four independent groups of researchers: T. O'Dell and O. Orancio from Columbia University, E. Schumann and D. Madison from Stanford University, P. Chapman and employees of the University of Minnesota, G. Boehme and colleagues from France.
– But why do problems still arise: exhaustion, lethargy, fatigue and brain sluggishness? Visible reasons on the surface: great mental and emotional stress during work and study. What is the mechanism of the processes occurring in the body?
– There are two amino acids that can have a strong effect on the brain’s lethargic-vigorous state. These are tyrosine and phenylalanine. It is from tyrosine (or L-tyrosine) that the well-known adrenaline and norepinephrine are formed. These are neurotransmitters, which, in particular, have a tonic effect on the brain. It is with a lack of adrenaline and norepinephrine that feelings of mental fatigue, lethargy, lethargy, etc. arise. In particular, under stress, norepinephrine is used faster than it is formed in the body. In the end, the person experiences complete exhaustion, not only physically, but also intellectually and emotionally. Phenylalanine (in the form of DL-phenylalanine) causes a feeling of vivacity, a surge of strength, and emotional uplift. At the same time, unlike drugs, it is not addictive. If coffee depletes norepinephrine reserves and after 5-10 cups a day leaves a person in a state of emptiness and irritation, then the amino acid phenylalanine helps to be at the peak of capabilities and successfully cope with stress, danger and excitement. At the same time, emotional uplift is important not only in itself, but also because emotions are the engine of intelligence.
– Is it also possible to influence the exact opposite states - sadness and melancholy, which sometimes become so overwhelming that there seems to be no way out - while performance is close to zero. Why does this happen?
– There is simply no serotonin in the brain structures. More precisely, we are talking about 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) - an amino acid that comes from tryptophan - the precursor of serotonin. Serotonin is the very neurotransmitter of happiness, satisfaction and calm. This is why 5-hydroxytryptophan, which promotes serotonin production, is the best natural remedy for depression and anxiety. It is not inferior in strength to synthetic antidepressants. Moreover, melatonin is also formed from 5-HTP. This hormone regulates the sleep-wake cycle, ensures natural sleep and is the best natural sleeping pill.
In a word, the opportunity to help the brain, to activate it, exists (you can learn more about products containing the above substances on the website of Sergei Aleshin www.ortho.ru). You just need to use it wisely.
"PROproducts for the brain"
Arginine rich in nuts, gelatin desserts, chocolate, brown rice, oatmeal, raisins, sunflower and sesame seeds, wholemeal bread and all protein-rich foods.
Lecithin found in many foods, for example, soybeans, cereals, brewer's yeast, fish, egg yolk, etc. Lecithin is present in human milk, which ensures the normal development of the nervous system of infants, but it is not found in cow's milk.
Tryptophan found in brown rice, meat, cottage cheese, milk, fish, turkey, bananas, dates, cheese, peanuts and soy products.
Phenylalanine enters the body with foods such as soy and bakery products, cottage cheese, almonds, peanuts, pumpkin and sesame seeds.
Title: Brain Activators
Number of impressions: 1255
Instructions
Train your memory whenever possible. For example, lotto, chess, checkers, and cards not only optimize memory, but also develop ingenuity and intelligence. No less useful for memory training is solving puzzles, mathematical problems and solving crosswords. Study foreign languages - one of the difficult but effective ways to “wake up” your brain. This influences well, develops associative thinking, and improves communication skills. However, you can start memorization training small - for example, memorize phone numbers, but not only those that you need in everyday life, but also those that you call quite rarely. If you are prone to imaginative thinking, you can try to learn a long fable or poem. The more you “load” into your cranial “computer”, the higher its performance and output will be.
A few years ago, the French psychologist Francis Rocher did something that produced the “Mozart effect.” Listening to the musical works of the great composer Mozart can improve mathematical thinking. The experiments were carried out on rats, the results and scientific works were published in many languages of the world. Thus, rats overcame obstacles and mazes much faster after listening to Mozart than after noisy music, for example, by the composer Philip Glass. Music is not only the most harmonious way to increase your mental abilities, the scientist is convinced, but also to improve your health in general.
Not only intellectual and musical food is important for us, but also good nutrition from the inside. By consuming natural foods, you help your brain renew cells by ensuring that the circulatory system constantly delivers nutrients to the brain. Construction materials include fatty acids of plant origin (for example, vegetable oil, nuts) and minerals, namely: phosphorus, copper, sulfur, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron. Phosphorus, which promotes the formation of new brain cells, is found in abundance in legumes, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, radishes, and soybeans. Sulfur, which ensures the saturation of brain cells with oxygen, is present in cabbage, garlic, carrots, figs, onions and potatoes. Zinc, which increases mental abilities and improves blood composition, can be supplied to the body by sprouted wheat and wheat bran. And calcium and iron, which are responsible for hematopoiesis, a sufficient level of hemoglobin and blood composition, are found in apples, apricots, beets, cabbage, green vegetables, tomatoes, legumes, and rice. And finally, magnesium, which is responsible for the normal functioning of the entire nervous system, enters the body along with almonds, mint, chicory, olives, peanuts and whole wheat grains.
Oxygen is the best way to activate the brain. It is enough to take a few deep breaths, preferably fresh air (on the street, not in an enclosed room) at the moment when you need to “think through your brain.” It is better to breathe through your nose and sit up straight. Experiment: try solving a simple math problem in your head while sitting in a slouched position with your mouth open, and then solve another problem while sitting up straight and closing your mouth. The difference will be obvious. By the way, light exercise will be enough for blood to flow more actively to the brain. Just ten squats, jumps and bends will “wake up” your brain. Surely you have noticed that during a fast walk or jog the flow of thoughts is more active.
The ability to think logically, notice and remember facts, and build chains of conclusions is what distinguishes humans from animals. The work of the brain is a subtle biochemical and electrochemical process. Attention, memory, freshness of perception primarily depend on the state of nerve cells - neurons and their nutrition. It is common to think that enhancement drugs are only needed by older people, but this is not the case. Memory and thinking disorders are possible at any age and are due to a number of reasons.
Causes of brain disorders
Doctors do not recommend self-treating even minor weakening of brain function, primarily because this may be a sign of a serious illness. Memory, attention, and learning ability may deteriorate for the following reasons.
- Poor blood circulation in the brain - long-term uncomfortable posture, atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis, hypertension, vascular thrombosis, ischemia, stroke.
- Improving brain function is problematic when smoking and drinking alcohol, since nicotine and alcohol are strong vascular poisons. When they enter the body, the brain is the first to suffer - after all, it needs sufficient blood supply more than any other organ.
- Traumatic brain injuries, general intoxication of the body, previous infectious diseases.
- Stress, lack of sleep, lack of rest.
- General exhaustion of the body, malnutrition, dietary restrictions. In this case, the body develops a chronic deficiency of vitamins and minerals necessary for brain function.
In order for brain function to improve, it is necessary to normalize the regime of active activity and rest, eat right and perform gymnastics to normalize blood circulation in the cervical spine and head. It is useful to do exercises that stimulate mental activity: master new activities, solve crosswords and puzzles, etc. In case of serious memory problems, you should consult a doctor. Currently, there are various drugs to improve brain function, but they must be prescribed by a specialist. The doctor will conduct an examination, select the optimal medicine, dose and determine the course of use.
Memory tablets
All medications to improve brain function can be divided into several categories.
- Nootropic drugs are drugs that regulate metabolism in the brain and increase its resistance to oxygen deficiency.
- Drugs that improve blood flow to the brain.
- Vitamins necessary for biochemical processes in the brain.
- Amino acids involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and the production of biologically active substances.
- Herbal remedies that have a stimulating effect on the body as a whole and higher nervous activity in particular.
It should be borne in mind that of all the above, only vitamins and amino acids are relatively harmless. All other drugs have contraindications and can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Many of them are used for serious mental disorders, organic brain lesions and have side effects.
All drugs, with the exception of stimulants, must be taken in long courses. It is wrong to think that memory and attention will improve immediately after taking the Piracetam tablet. The duration of treatment ranges from several weeks to six months. Sometimes it is necessary to conduct several courses, taking a break between them.
Nootropics
These are drugs to improve brain function, belonging to the group of psychotropic drugs. The mechanism of action of nootropics has not been sufficiently studied. It has been revealed that they have the ability to facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses, stimulate blood supply to the brain, improve energy processes and increase the body’s resistance to oxygen deficiency. As a result, memory improves, learning ability increases, mental activity is stimulated and the brain is resistant to aggressive influences.
Unlike other psychotropic drugs, nootropic drugs are characterized by low toxicity and do not cause circulatory problems.
The most famous representatives of this group are drugs:
- "Piracetam" ("Nootropil"),
- "Picamilon"
- "Phenibut"
- "Aminalon" ("Gammalon"),
- "Pantogam"
- "Acephen."
For the treatment of chronic conditions, tablets to improve brain function are prescribed 1 tablet 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks to 2-6 months. The therapeutic effect is observed two weeks from the start of treatment.
Drugs that improve blood circulation
In this case, due to poor condition of the blood and blood vessels, antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants are prescribed to improve brain function. Antiplatelet agents include the following:
- "Nitsergolin"
- "Xanthinol nicotinate" ("Complamin"),
- "Ticlopidine"
- "Tiklid"
- "Courantil"
- "Pentoxifylline" ("Trental"),
- "Acetylsalicylic acid",
- "Clonidogrel."
For anticoagulants:
- "Solcoseryl"
- "Heparin"
- "Cerebrolysin"
- "Actovegin"
- “Vazobral.”
Drugs to improve brain function in this group have side effects.
Nerve stimulants
Stimulants have an undoubted advantage - the result of their use is visible almost immediately. Unfortunately, you have to pay for everything. When stimulants are abused, improvements in brain function occur for a short period of time; over time, addiction develops and an increasingly larger dose is required. It also depletes the brain, which can lead to extreme fatigue and headaches.
The most accessible stimulants are found in food.
- Coffee contains caffeine and L-theanine, which improve blood flow to the brain and stimulate transmission
- Chocolate and cocoa. The antioxidant flavanols contained in cocoa powder improve biochemical processes in the brain and protect it from the effects of stress factors.
Vitamins
With increased mental activity, it will be useful to take vitamins to improve brain function.
- Choline. In addition to improving the digestibility of fats in the liver, choline is involved in the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses. To stimulate mental activity, choline is taken 0.5-2 g per day, depending on individual tolerance. Overdose may cause headaches.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are used by doctors for complex therapy of age-related depression of brain function. They are found in fatty fish, legumes, and walnuts. Daily consumption of 1-2 capsules of fish oil completely covers the body's need for Omega-3 acids.
Amino acids
In addition to vitamins, a number of amino acids are needed to synthesize neurotransmitters and supply brain cells with energy:
- Acetyl-L-carnitine is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and releases intracellular energy.
- Tyrosine. Use with caution for diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Glycine improves brain function, increases efficiency and normalizes sleep. Relieves nervousness, normalizes mood.
- Creatine regulates energy processes in brain tissue.
There are medications that include several vitamins and amino acids that are aimed at improving brain function and memory.
Complex drugs
- The drug "Biotredin". Tablets to improve brain function containing threonine and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
- The product "Brain Booster" is a colloidal preparation of complex composition containing plant materials and a number of neurotransmitters - substances that improve the functioning of neurons.
Dietary supplements and herbal remedies
For minor disorders, tablets are used to improve brain function based on plant extracts.
- The product "Ginkgo biloba" - flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids from Chinese Normalizes microcirculation, has a vasodilating effect, prevents fat oxidation and has the ability to increase tissue resistance to oxygen deficiency. Do not use simultaneously with other drugs that improve blood circulation during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- The drug "Vinpocetine" is an alkaloid of the periwinkle plant. Improves blood circulation in the brain and has anticoagulant activity. Contraindicated for children, pregnant and lactating women, as well as for cardiac dysfunction, in the acute phase of a stroke.
- “Biocalcium for the Brain” product is a set of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants.
- Asian ginseng has a general stimulating effect on metabolism, improves blood circulation and glucose metabolism. Recommended for improving brain activity during fatigue, bad mood, and increased nervousness.
- Rhodiola rosea affects the production of dopamine and serotonin in the central nervous system, which has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body, memory, attention, ability to concentrate and visual perception.
All of these drugs to improve brain function can be taken for preventive purposes. As with other herbal remedies, the course of treatment is long - at least 3-4 weeks, and on average - 2-3 months.
Precautionary measures
Deterioration in brain activity can be caused by a disease that requires examination and serious treatment. Therefore, before taking pills, consult your doctor for advice. For preventive purposes, take herbal-based medications and amino acids. Stimulants are used to quickly short-term improve thinking processes. They should not be abused, since long-term use has the opposite effect and consumes brain resources without recovery.
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