Oxygen Is Vital For Brain Health
Did you know that something as simple as deep breathing could improve the health of your brain? This is because getting adequate amounts of oxygen to your brain is necessary for your brain to function optimally.
When we are not getting adequate oxygen; one of the first signs and symptoms is poor brain function.
Signs and symptoms of low oxygen to the brain may include, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, frequent brain fog, depression and mood changes, fatigue, and poor concentration.
What Can Impair Oxygen Flow To The Brain?
There are a number of reasons that you may not be getting adequate amounts of oxygen to your brain. Some risk factors for poor oxygen flow to the brain include such medical conditions as, asthma, emphysema, anemia, Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, prior stroke, head injury, as well as previous use of recreational drugs, smoking cigarettes, poor posture, and lack of physical exercise.
What Can You Do To Improve Oxygen To The Brain?
There are a number of simple things that you can do to improve oxygen flow to your brain starting with the most obvious.
Take A Few Moments To Breath
For starters, start breathing deeply a few times a day, whether you are just sitting at your desk at work, just getting up in the morning, or right before going to bed.
Sit quietly and begin consciously breathing; slowly allow the oxygen to be fully taken into your lungs and then slowly released. Do not hold your breath–as this can cause you to feel panicky—but simply breathe deeply in and out at a slow and calm pace. Spending a few minutes every day to engage in deep breathing can dramatically improve brain health.
Clean Up Your Diet
Poor quality food can have a huge impact on brain health, and it can increase your risk for several medical conditions like diabetes, which in turn can impact brain health and oxygen flow to the brain. Diabetes has been shown to be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease. For that reason, we encourage people to eat a diet that is nutrient dense and minimally processed.
Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Always remember that when it comes to brain health, never forget heart health. What is good for the heart is good for the brain too. Many of the same risk factors for heart disease are also risk factors for brain disease.
This is because the heart requires an ample supply of oxygen in order to function properly. Eating a diet low in saturated fat, exercising on a regular basis, reducing caloric intake, consuming a diet rich in Omega-3’s, and eating a diet that is mostly unprocessed and plant-based, can dramatically improve heart health. And ultimately increase blood flow to the heart and the brain.
Exercise On a Regular Basis
Exercising on a regular basis increases oxygen to the brain for the simple fact that it increases respiration. Most research suggest that engaging in a cardio activity, like brisk walking, for up to 30 minutes a day is associated with better brain healt
Supplements That Can Improve Oxygen Flow To The Brain
There are a few supplements I do prescribe for people wishing to improve circulation and oxygen to the brain starting with Perfusia-SR Plus by Thorne Research. This product contains arginine, an amino acid that helps increase oxygen to the brain, and is also beneficial for heart health. I advice people take 2 to 3 capsules a day for optimal results.
A high quality fish oil, that has been molecularly distilled to insure that it contains no mercury, is one of the best things that you can take for your brain. Not just because the brain requires DHA, a type of omega-3 found in fish oil, for healthy brain function. But also because fish oil acts as a natural blood-thinner, allowing the blood to move freely carrying oxygen to the brain.
My favorite Omega-3 for brain health is the Ultimate EPA/DHA by Nordic Naturals, and I advice taking 2 capsules a day.
C-Q10 can be very healthful to brain function and to heart health as well. This is because CoQ10 not only acts as a great anti-oxidant, but it is vital to healthy mitochondrial synthesis of ATP in aerobic respiration. What that means in plain english si that our cells require Co-Q10 in order to make fuel from oxygen. Without this ability, oxygen would be unable to help create fuel for the brain, and this in turn leads to cell death.
I chose Q-Best by Thorne Research as my favorite C0Q10, because Q-best is 300 times more absorbable than regular CoQ10. Q-Best is made using nano-technology; creating smaller particular that make this Co-Q10 highly absorbable.
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I look forward to working with you.
