Five tips to brain health
Maybe you found by the end of 2020 you were moving through the days with all mindfulness out the window. Sometimes life happens, and we forget that we have more power in how we feel than we think we do! I believe brain health/mental health is one of the foundational elements of our overall health! If we feel foggy and down, how are we supposed to thrive and carry out our purpose with vibrancy! Here are five practical things you can add in to your daily rhythms to focus on brain health!
1) Meditation - When we meditate our brain is literally changing. It reduces inflammation, the part of the brain that experiences anxiety gets smaller, and it increases memory, attention, and our all around ability to learn! It can seem super complicated and can feel like you never know if you are doing it right, but it is really about permitting yourself to quiet your mind. Don’t take the time to wonder if you’re doing it the proper way, but rather just show up and commit to your practice!
2) Evaluate relationships-The people we hang out with either build and support mental health, or tear it down. How do the people in your world make you feel? How do YOU make others feel. Are your relationships life giving? I always encourage my clients to ask this simple question. What do you crave more of in this area of primary food, and what do you want less of/what can you crowd out of your life!
3) Heal from trauma-When we have gut issues, instead of gaining fear about that, go deeper and ask yourself what in your life needs healing. I truly believe that as we heal our inner world, our physical bodies also go into healing mode. In my personal life I have seen my gut issues, and food sensitivities heal when I heal. The deeper I go, the more I feel connected to my body, and the more it is responding!
4)Gratitude- This is a simple tool that will keep your mind in the positive. What is NEW & GOOD. Keep your mind on these things. I personally love the five minute journal, and the Integrative nutrition journal. Check those out! They are great tools, and a great place to start. Try committing to five days in a row and watch your mind shift!
5)Add in enough healthy fat & protein- We literally cannot thrive in our brain health without enough healthy fat and protein! When we run off processed foods or a carb heavy diet, our blood sugar gets very confused. Imbalanced blood sugar can mimic anxiety in the body. Grab a handful of nuts when you before you get ravenously hungry instead of that bagel! We need the amino acids in proteins. The protein you eat directly impacts the levels of neurotransmitters in our brain which impacts mood!