Should you be selective about your friends to keep your brain healthy?

Our brain, unlike any other organ in the body, is the most complex organ, enabling thought, memory, movement, emotion, intelligence, and behavior. While it's difficult to train, maintaining its health is paramount. Dr. Amna Ramzan, a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, identifies two key aspects of brain health: "mental and behavioral brain health" and "neurocognitive brain health." Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is paramount for maintaining brain health. Dr. Ramzan suggests the following strategies for brain health.

1. Reduce processed foods and increase whole grain foods

One of the most important factors in maintaining brain health is what we eat. Foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, and trans fat, which we frequently consume through our diet, negatively impact the brain and blood vessels. Conversely, whole grain foods strengthen the brain.

Other brain-healthy foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, mono- and polyunsaturated fats, and lean meats. Among these, many experts recommend the Mediterranean diet. People who eat this diet have been shown to have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.

2. Move more and sit less

 

Several studies have shown that physically active people are less likely to experience brain decline and have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it's recommended that adults engage in 30 to 60 minutes of regular exercise per week, including activities that increase heart rate.

 

Dr. Ramzan also explained that mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. He emphasized that activities like playing games, reading, learning new skills, and meditating can improve memory, attention, brain speed, interpersonal skills, intelligence, and sense of direction, and are therefore recommended for occasional engagement.

 

3. Get quality sleep

 

Sleep is a crucial part of brain health. It plays a role in recovery, energy conservation, memory, immunity, and emotional regulation. Sleep deprivation can lead to fatigue, decreased memory and concentration, mood swings, increased appetite, and weight gain. In fact, going without sleep for more than 24 hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of 0.1%.

 

4. Choose a healthy environment

 

The habits we adopt in our environment are also important. Dr. Ramzan explains that maintaining a good environment is paramount in maintaining a healthy brain. The environments we surround ourselves with—family, friends, work, and social circles—affect our mental and physical health. Humans tend to resemble those we frequently interact with.

 

Within the groups I belong to, I tend to subconsciously learn and imitate their words and actions. We must cultivate the habit of avoiding negativity and embracing the positive.

 

Interpersonal relationships, in particular, have a significant impact on mental health, making them especially important. Maintaining social interactions can reduce stress and depression, which can help prevent memory decline and maintain cognitive function as we age.

 

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Good health habits also depend on the efforts of good friends and family.

Healthy food is also shared with close friends

I think it would be good to eat them together

 

The environment is also very important~

A bright and positive person rather than a person with a gloomy mood

Being together helps me a lot emotionally.