Save Your Brain
by Henri Roca, MD, Clinical Functional Medicine Specialist
“I can’t lose my brain,” a patient said tearfully. ”Without it I am nothing. With it I can do anything.” Sometimes we don’t recognize how valuable a skill is until we're losing it. Rather than delaying interventions to strengthen brain health, maybe we can begin much earlier.
The human brain is made up of neurons surrounded by cell membranes and wrapped with insulation. It is infused with blood vessels and supported by cells that create the neurons’ framework and help to govern their action. Neurons join in ways that reflect the conscious and unconscious experiences we have and, in turn, help us interpret the world. Everything we have ever experienced is stored in our brains.
Our brains are electrical. They are magnetic. They mirror the actions of those around us. They bond to those we love. They synch with the brains of others with whom we connect – whether over a lifetime or for a moment. And our synched brains actually change in response to the experience of those with whom we are bonded, even if they are large distances away.
Our brains make us the individuals that we are and also contribute to creation of a larger living entity – that of the community.
So how do you save your brain?
Pay attention to the parts and how well they function together. Here’s a list of things that we, as individuals and as a community, can do.
Individual / Community
Eat healthy fats especially DHA / Reconsider menus in schools and senior centers
Evaluate and remove toxins / Advocate for a healthy environment
Choose a vegan diet rich in protein / Include nutrition education at all school levels including medical school
Exercise every day / Maintain school physical education; Create programs for community exercise including bike trails
Replace nutrient deficiencies / Encourage basic blood testing and nutritional or supplemental replacement of deficient vitamins and minerals
Identify and remove excess inflammation / Train stress resilience, healthy eating, and movement across the lifespan
Reduce stress and enhance relaxation / Unplug, slow down, eat home-cooked meals together, try yoga or mindfulness
Be aware of and responsible for your thoughts / Have mental health resiliency a focus of education across the lifespan
Connect with self, nature, and others / Focus activity and effort on creating community and bringing people together Institute mandatory early childhood education
Provide a very varied learning environment / Start exposure to enriched environments very early in childhood
Keep learning new skills / Encourage music and language education
Maintain balance and movement / Classroom and community yoga and tai chi
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