Amazing Examples of How We Influence Our Brains

Many studies and much research has been invested into the how and why behind our everyday actions and interactions. The results are revealing. If you are looking for a way to supercharge your personal development, understanding the psychology behind our actions is an essential first step.
The human brain is probably the most mysterious organ in our body. Scientists constantly learn new facts about its work, but it still hides lots of secrets.

Chronic lack of sleep worsens memory :
Scientists from the University of California at Berkeley have found convincing proof that a lack of sleep can worsen memory and cause Alzheimer’s. During a full night’s sleep, brain cells remove toxic compounds dangerous for our brain. If a person never gets enough sleep, it has a devastating effect on their brain cells.

The Effects of Chronic Stress on Your Brain :
While stress and cortisol take a toll on your body, they take an equally high toll on your brain.
Some of these brain-related stress symptoms will be obvious to you, like memory problems, anxiety, and worry.
But most of these effects of stress on your brain are “behind the scenes.”
You don’t notice they’re happening but you will notice the side effects … eventually.
Here are 12 ways chronic stress impacts your brain health and mental well-being along with simple steps you can take to counteract the damage.

Love and hate have a lot in common :

British scientists found out that love and hate originate in similar brain areas. However, unlike hatred, love significantly reduces the activity of the areas responsible for judgment and logical thinking. Click here to get acquainted with other details of the study.

The brain is sensitive to dehydration :

Our brain is almost 80% water. Therefore, even a moderate loss of fluid (about 2%) reduces concentration and vigilance and leads to the deterioration of short-term memory and other cognitive abilities.

Reading perfectly trains the brain :

Oxford scientists proved that the process of reading trains the cognitive abilities of the brain. It also activates areas that aren’t used at other times. When reading, blood enters the brain areas responsible for concentration and cognition. It’s noteworthy that this effect doesn’t occur when watching TV or playing computer games.

I wouldn’t leave you with all this bad news with no solutions.

Minimizing stress and protecting your brain against its effects is easier than you might think.

Here are five simple tips to stop stress in its tracks and overcome its harmful effects on your brain.

Stop free radical damage by eating a diet high in antioxidant-rich foods like fruit, vegetables, dark chocolate, and green tea.
Increase levels of brain-boosting BDNF by getting daily physical exercise. It doesn’t have to be strenuous. Walking is excellent. So are exercises with strong mind-body orientations like yoga, tai chi, and qi gong.

Start a daily meditation practice. Meditation not only reduces stress, it’s a proven way to keep your brain young by keeping telomeres long. (52) Meditation is also the best tool for learning how to master your thoughts. Stress does not come from events in your life as much as it comes from your thoughts — your automatic negative reactions and cognitive distortions — about these events.

Try one of the many mind-body relaxation techniques such as self-hypnosis, biofeedback, or autogenic training.
Look into taking an adaptogenic herbal remedy. Adaptogens increase your resilience to stress while supporting overall health. They promote balance between feeling energetic and feeling calm. Examples of adaptogens include ginseng, holy basil, Arctic root, and bacopa.