Chapter 2 of ‘Secrets of women’s healthy ageing’ focuses on the phenomenal power of our brains.
Chapter 2 of ‘Secrets of women’s healthy ageing’.
This chapter focuses on the phenomenal power of our brains. The author, Prof Cassandra Szoeke, mentions cases where the brain enabled her patient to have what might be described as super-human powers of hyper-hearing after experiencing epileptic seizures. As the control centre of everything, from our motor skills to our senses, it’s vital to maintain its health. It’s anatomically created to be the most protected organ in our body, encased in bone and cushioned in cerebrospinal fluid, and protected by the blood-brain barrier. However the brain is vulnerable to oxygen deprivation. Just 3-6 hours of poor oxygen supply leads to irreversible cell death, which means we need to maintain a healthy cardio-vascular system (and overall good health) in order to preserve the health of our brains.
Mental health and cognition (how we think) are inextricably linked, so if one suffers, so will the other.
Good brain health relies on being “well fed” – to be covered later in the nutrition section, but essentially means eating foods that maintain a balanced glycemic level, a high HDL (high density lipoprotein-aka “healthy cholesterol”) & avoiding processed foods.“Use it or lose it” means we must continue to challenge the brain. Research suggests that continuing education, working, exercising and good hearing is beneficial. Finally, good “sleep is mandatory”! The author briefly discusses tips for a good night’s sleep and confirms that it’s vital to reduce inflammation and fight infection.
