Did you know that our brain constantly changes throughout our lives? It grows, synapses form through learning processes and movement, and the structure of the brain changes as well. On a mission to help us understand our environment and enable daily activities, it works nonstop – 24/7.
How our brain works
The brain consists of interconnected cells that work together so you can perceive the environment with your senses, move and communicate, learn and think, feel emotions, and make decisions.
Small but mighty – that perfectly describes the brain, because in an incredibly large network of over 100 billion nerve cells connected by over 100 trillion contact points – called synapses – the human brain processes all the information it receives from us daily, all within a volume of only 1,350 cubic centimeters, about the size of a large mango!
At the synapses, electrical impulses from a sending nerve cell trigger the release of chemical messengers, which are received by downstream nerve cells and converted back into electrical signals. This principle of chemical signal transmission forms the basis of communication among all nerve cells, which, in the form of networks, control all body functions.
Even now, as you read this blog article, the interconnected cells in your brain are working at full speed, exchanging information so you can see, read, and understand the text. All this information is then linked with existing knowledge and stored so it can be retrieved later.
To best support all these incredible processes and brain Health, it is important to provide the optimal conditions for all its tasks.
We have summarized the most important points on how you can do something good for your brain!
The best support for your brain – our top 5
While there is some genetic risk for problems with brain function, many factors you can influence yourself!
The most important thing – use your brain! Exercise, social contacts, learning new things, facing challenges, and the right nutrition are all things that make it harder for the brain to become lazy and instead help it stay fit. 😉
1. Regular exercise, such as walking, is an important factor in maintaining brain Health. This increases blood flow throughout the body, including the brain, which means extra oxygen and nutrients. The result? Neurons and new connections can be formed better again. According to studies, exercising three times a week can reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 38% over six years!
2. Another factor is social contacts. They act like a growth promoter for the brain by stimulating new brain cells and strengthening existing connections. Socializing can also lead to the formation of new cells in memory-related regions! Some studies suggest that being a member of a club, meeting friends, or volunteering can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 38% in people over 65.
3. Learning new things acts like a mental fountain of youth! Overcoming mental challenges, such as a higher difficulty level in crossword puzzles, can help keep the brain mentally fit longer. Important: It should be fun! Otherwise, stress can occur, which negatively affects brain Health.
Studies on this topic show that solving a crossword puzzle at least twice a week, regularly playing cards, or going to the cinema and theater can reduce the risk of dementia by 50%.
4. Facing challenges and learning new things further strengthens connections in the brain.
5. The right nutrition is also a crucial factor for brain Health! Drinking 2-3 liters of water per day, carbohydrates from grains, legumes, and potatoes to prevent stress, fruits for performance, and enough iron, for example from green vegetables or red meat, support the brain in its work!
Especially important are omega-3 fatty acids, specifically the two fatty acids EPA and DHA, which keep mental performance sharp.
Omega-3 – for a strong brain
30% of the structural fats in the brain consist of DHA, making omega-3 a central building block of the brain’s structure and thus its functionality.
Some studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids could increase cognitive flexibility in older patients with dementia, meaning the ability to consciously switch between different tasks or activities.
It is also believed that people who consume omega-3 have a more developed anterior cingulate cortex, a brain area important for cognitive flexibility.
Professor Dr. Aron Barbey from the University of Illinois and head of one of these studies says: “Our findings show that higher omega-3 fatty acid consumption is associated with a larger volume of the anterior cingulate cortex. Ultimately, we were able to show that the larger volume of the anterior cingulate cortex appears to be a link between omega-3 fatty acid consumption and cognitive flexibility.”
If too little omega-3 fatty acids are consumed, the flexibility and permeability of brain membrane cells decrease, and the communication speed between brain cells slows down – in short – this can lead to concentration difficulties and memory gaps.
As Prof. Dr. Clemens von Schacky so aptly said: “Once you reach the second half of your 80s, you find that you are either dead, demented, or have your omega-3 levels in the green zone.”
To reach the green zone, the WHO recommends a daily minimum intake of 250 mg DHA and EPA – that would be about 75 g of wild-caught salmon or 900 g of wild-caught cod per day! But let’s be honest: who manages that?
To ensure adequate omega-3 supply, omega-3 supplements can be used.
vabon oh!mega is the solution – combining 600 mg omega-3, including 362 mg DHA and 148 mg EPA, in just one tasty jelly – for intact brain function well into old age!
Sources:
http://hirngesund.at/
http://www.hellobrain.eu/de/
https://www.brain-effect.com/magazin/omega-3-fettsaeuren
https://www.swr.de/wissen/1000-antworten/wissenschaft-und-forschung/Hirnforschung-Wie-veraendert-sich-das-Gehirn,1163207-100.html
https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laneur/PIIS1474-4422(17)30332-0.pdf
https://www.medmix.at/omega-3-fettsaeuren-bei-demenz/?cn-reloaded=1
Note on the product advertising text according to the European Health Claims Regulation:
A daily intake of at least 250 mg EPA + DHA contributes to normal heart function. A daily intake of at least 250 mg DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision.
