We often ignore our brain, but it’s our most vital organ in the body as nothing can work properly without the brain functioning at its typical level. There are some things that you can do to increase blood flow to your brain, and thus improve its function. You need proper brain function to reduce the chances of serious brain issues like stroke, loss of memory, or other mental problems.
1. Aerobic Exercise
One of the easiest things you can do to increase circulation in the brain is to get some aerobic exercise a few times per week. This helps improve oxygen levels in the body which in turn helps the brain. You can do some simple exercises like walking, biking, and even yoga to improve blood flow and oxygen in your brain. As long as you get some moderate activity for about 15-30 minutes a few times each week, this will significantly improve brain health and ability in the long run.
2. Food
You can also increase circulation to your brain by eating the right foods. Your brain needs healthy fats like those found in avocado, fish, olive oil, and oils from nuts. Whole gains like brown rice, barley, oats, and quinoa are also good for the brain. You need to eat large portions of fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, citrus fruits, asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, and kale. Eggs and other dairy foods are also good for the functioning of your brain.
3. Supplements
Certain brain enhancing herbs have been shown to improve blood flow in the body and in the brain in particular. Ginkgo biloba is one of the most widely used herbal remedies for brain health. It can be found in hundreds of over-the-counter brain pills. You can also try multivitamins, fish oil, and other natural formulas developed for brain enhancement.
4. Lose Weight
Weight plays a major role in your health, and if you are overweight your brain will suffer along with the rest of your body. You should seriously consider losing weight as this will improve the health and functioning of your brain. Your mood and happiness will also improve as you get leaner and healthier.
5. Drugs and Alcohol
If you drink a lot or use drugs like tobacco, you want to quit or cut down. Drugs and alcohol will impair many of the brain’s functions and neural pathways. The nicotine in cigarettes will mess up your hormone balance and stimulate the adrenal gland to release the adrenal hormone. An increase of this hormone can cause hypertension or high blood pressure and it can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels too. All these problems will hinder blood flow and proper functioning of the brain.
6. Brain Exercises
In addition to exercising your physical body, you can do simple exercises to stimulate your brain. Memory puzzles or mathematics help stimulate cognitive and mental skills. You can even do simple crossword puzzles to keep your brain sharp. These sorts of puzzles are perfect for elderly people who may already have impaired brain function.
Conclusion
These are just some of the things you can do to improve circulation to your brain. You need to eat right, get lots of exercise, and reduce stress in your life. These simple measures will impact your brain in a positive way and work to keep it healthy and strong as years pass.
Anna Leake is a health blogger that focuses on topics related to nutrition, fitness, and mental health. She was born in New York City but at age 6 moved to the Midwest where she spent her childhood exploring nature with friends and family. Anna graduated from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with degrees in psychology & human development.
