Living a long and healthy life is something many people hope to achieve. And right now, brain health has become more important in helping achieve that long-term goal than previously understood.

Knowing how to keep yourself healthy from head to toe is key to improved quality of life, particularly for those in recovery from addiction. One way to do this is to focus on the connectivity of mind, mood, body, and food, especially when considering the impact of nutrition and alcohol on the brain.

Why is Brain Health Important?

The brain is essential to the overall condition of the human body. When it isn’t working properly, critical functions can become damaged or, in some cases, cease to perform.

Keeping the brain healthy sets up the rest of our body’s systems to do their designated work. Without a fully operational control center, we run the risk of damage that extends body-wide.

Essentially, the brain acts as a hub for the rest of the body, directing the operations of varying systems we rely on every moment we are alive. Some of the major functions include:

Cognitive (i.e. thinking, reasoning, memory, and communication)
Motor skills (i.e. body movement coordination)
Sensory (i.e. the five senses)
Autonomic (i.e. breathing and heart rate)

The health of the brain is important. When things go wrong and the brain becomes diseased, this can eventually lead to a variety of illnesses, including diseases such as dementia.

Learning how to strengthen your brain’s health now can help you live a longer, happier life down the road. Factors that can positively impact the functionality of this vital organ includes:

Regular physical exercise and/or mindful movement
Prioritizing sleep
Monitoring/decreasing stress
Nutrition and hydration
Positive interactions/relationships with others
Avoid drugs and alcohol
Avoid smoking

How Nutrition & alcohol Impact the Brain

The connection between what we eat and how our brain performs is obvious. Eating a variety of foods with whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins provide necessary fuel for our brain, along with having a diet rich in the right nutrients to prevent a decline in cognitive functions. These nutrients include:

Vitamin D
Vitamin B
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Antioxidants

Additionally, when used excessively, alcohol can have lasting and damaging effects on the brain. In the short-term, some obvious signs include a slower thought process, delayed reaction time, slurring speech, and impaired judgment.

In the long-term, the brain can be impacted in ways like:

Brain damage (both permanent and temporary)
Memory loss
Balance and motor coordination
Damage to blood vessels (which can lead to high blood pressure)

We know that alcohol can negatively affect our daily mental health and how we feel through:

Lowered inhibitions
Mood swings
Loss of concentration
Feeling tired/altered energy
Depression
Shakiness

The good news is that in recent years, more and more people are beginning to turn down alcohol and its not-so-popular side effects. With health at the forefront, the “sober curious” trend has gained major popularity with non-alcoholic alternatives now being offered in restaurants and bars, allowing individuals to choose a tasty mocktail instead of booze to support their health goals.

Let Us Help Improve Your Brain Health Today

March is National Nutrition Month in the United States. People are encouraged to learn how to make beneficial food choices through various events, activities, and publicized information. Developing healthier eating habits for the long term (vs a short term diet) can change your life.

Wherever you are in your health journey, Focus Integrative Centers is ready to help provide you with the space to nurture your brain to its healthiest abilities of your life. Our treatment approach considers your recovery needs, head to toe.

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Why is Brain Health Important?

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Lauren Sterritt