The brain gets sick because we do not protect it. We isolate ourselves with our mobile devices, we do not socialise, and we do not provide our brain with positive experiences. Even some simple breathing exercises in the morning, after waking up, would have an immensely positive effect on the brain.
Our brain also suffers if we are stressful at breakfast, eat junk food, talk too much on the phone and do not get enough rest, says neurosurgeon Vlad Ciurea, who has been studying brain health for more than 50 years.
“The brain needs clean air, healthy food, healthy fats and healthy sweets, such as honey. The brain loves chocolate, but it also needs fresh water and lots of smiles,” he continued.
We get sick because we do not talk enough and live isolated!
The neurosurgeon has performed nearly 23,000 brain surgeries, so he literally knows the brain inside and out.
His advice for a healthy brain: “Get up as early as possible in the morning, open the window wide and do some breathing exercises. A Russian professor told me that the air in Siberia is so good that it can help you live for 150 years. The air gets into the lungs and helps the brain circuits to kick in. After doing breathing exercises, you should drink 2 glasses of water at room temperature. The first one flushes out all the toxins from the body and the second one gets the ‘engine’, that is the entire body, going.
The brain dislikes fatty foods and smoking but loves dark chocolate. Cigarettes are as bad for the brain as they are for the heart. The neurosurgeon also says that lean meat is much healthier for the brain than bacon.
“The activity of the brain peaks two times during a day: between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm, and then between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. If you feel tired, have some coffee, but only in moderation, and sweeten it with honey instead of sugar,” he adds.
The brain’s best friend is not Facebook but smiling
“Be open to new experiences, do not close yourself off; walk, travel, be present in the world, do things that make you happy. Write, read, do crossword puzzles, keep yourself in motion, do not get stuck in one place. Exercise and dance; dancing has been shown to help prevent the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Today, more and more people are suffering from fatigue because of an overworked nervous system. We worry too much, we do not get enough sleep, we get tired, we overwork ourselves until we finally have a stroke and wonder what caused it.
“Get enough rest, for your own sake. The brain is best able to clean out all the junk between 10 and 12 pm, so it is important to get to bed early, and if possible, avoid watching TV and using any electronic devices,” the doctor advises.