5 Everyday Things You May Be Doing That Are Unhealthy For Your Brain
anjala farahath .
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Where the universe is composed of galaxies, planets, and a galactic network, the brain is connected to an intricate network of neurons, neurotransmitters, and a neural network. Just like the universe, our brain is a complex structure. Nonetheless, both can leave you bewildered and stupefied. (The irony lies in the fact that I’m sitting in this twisted universe and using that very tricky brain to cough up this analogy).
All the structural details aside, we know that our brain is the crux of our body. No matter how much we pamper our bodies with physical embellishments, it all becomes a futile attempt to hold up the fort. So, amidst the myriad of tasks we do, day after day, on repeat, we tend to overlook the effects it has on our brain. It is essential to provide utmost care to your brain and abstain from indulging in habits that can adversely affect your control center. After all, you don’t want your system to crash, do you?
In that sense, take a look at the 5 habits that take a toll on your brain’s wellbeing:
1. Giving Breakfast A Miss
A wise man once said that one shouldn’t miss a good breakfast even on a doomsday. The first meal of the day is essential for your neurons to get working. Studies have shown that skipping breakfast directly affects our cognitive ability (1). Denying your body a good meal after a long night’s fast results in a drop in the blood sugar level, which directly affects your noggin, and may also trigger diabetes in the long run (2).
Breakfast is the fuel that your brain needs to get itself started. Without that, there is tiredness, loss of concentration and memory, and low intellectual ability (3). For those of you who take some time out to gorge on a good breakfast before you run the daily errands, you guys give us goals. And then there’s us, running out of the door every day sans breakfast.
2. Smoking Your Lungs Out
It’s no secret that smoking is linked to a heightened risk of lung diseases and cancer, but researchers have now found that excessive smoking can result in thinning of the cortex of the brain too (4). And a thinning cortex leads to mental decline, often making way for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Smoking reduces the brain matter and also the oxygen supply to the brain considerably (5). Furthermore, long-term smoking causes consequential sperm DNA damage (6).
3. Pushing Oneself To Work When Unwell
When you are sick, it’s your body’s way of telling you to pause and take some rest. Because your body deserves it. If you force yourself to work even when your body is not up for it, it strains the brain. Studying or engaging in intense physical or mental tasks deviates the body’s energy from healing (7). It’s going to be a no-win situation. You need to give your brain some rest and save yourself from a breakdown. So, take that sick leave and give yourself time to bounce back.
4. The Sugar Overdose
We all love a daily dose of sweet nothings. And we also love a wholesome dose of sweets and sugar. Sugar isn’t just the refined white granules you find stacked in a jar in the kitchen. Glucose, fructose, honey, corn syrup, and maple syrup are all forms of sugar. While consuming sugar in limited quantities is harmless, going overboard is what spells trouble (8).
Adding on to the long list of diseases gifted by overconsumption of sugar, here’s another: sugar saps your brain power too. Studies have found that excessive sugar consumption leads to aging of your brain. It makes the brain hazy and leads to mental and cognitive deficiencies (9). It impairs our memory and our learning skills. Ergo, the next time you pick that donut, remind yourself that you are dropping some brain power.
5. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Have you noticed the crankiness that sets in after a sleepless night? Maybe you should pay heed to it. Getting a good night’s sleep does more than just banishing under-eye circles and boosting your mood. Depriving oneself of sleep speeds up the aging process of brain cells over a short-term, which will keep you tired and in a bad mood all day. An average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep for the brain to restore and rejuvenate. While you sleep, your body heals. And this is why no matter who says sleep is for the weak, go hit the sack and get that much-needed slumber. If that’s not enough reason, then just sleep to save your brain! A lack of sleep can result in cognitive deterioration, making you emotionally deficient, and can hamper your mental growth vastly.
So, if you haven’t been paying attention to your mental wellbeing, now is the right time. Scrutinize your daily habits and delete those that are unhealthy. Work towards a healthier and wiser you!
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