The Energy Equation: Drainers, Diet, and the Daily Decisions That Shape Brain Health
NeuroTip #14 | 27th June 2024
Our purpose is to ‘shape minds to make each day a good day’ meaning all the information we share with you is directly linked to our “why” for you.
Brain health is the continuous preventative promotion of the brains optimal on-going development. Many factors influence how we Thrive all of which are connected and support each other.
These include our relationships, emotional regulation, drainers and energisers, good sleep, laughter, reflection time, exercise, diet etc.
But why? What are they doing for us that if we don’t practice them to become habits will negatively impact our life.
In our ‘NeuroMyth’ Neuroletter we are looking at 3 areas on how to stay adaptive to mental wellbeing by caring for your brain and nervous system, specifically:
§ The drainers and energisers
§ The brains superhighway connectors
§ Processed foods
Drainers and Energisers
Recent direct brain to brain communication DBBC in addition to our 5 senses, have been studied amongst humans and other animals. A substance called cryptochrome (Superman doesn’t get all the good stuff), which exists in the retina and mid-brain have been found to convert electromagnetic energy into neuronal emotional action and reaction, meaning that direct feelings can be conveyed from one brain to another.
Whilst common wisdom has always known this, we now have the support of scientific evidence, including mirror neuron theory. Immediately this has important implications on two fronts:
1. For our social brain and sense of mental wellbeing, we should be mindful of those who are energy drainers by balancing time spent with them against those who energise us.
2. As individuals, we can easily drain others, especially in leadership roles, impacting their resilience, wellbeing, and performance. Something to be mindful of.
State of Mind and Brain Health
Our mindset is inextricably linked to our mental wellbeing. Prosocial behaviour across so many studies has been linked to better health, longevity and protection against brain diseases.
A recent study from Columbia University is linking the brains mitochondria, whose purpose is to supply energy to the brain, and how it is boosted in older adults who experience less psychological stress during their lives and enjoy positive psychosocial experiences.
The study collected subjective psychosocial information from the participants for over two decades of their lives. Caroline Trumpff who led the research commented that "Greater well-being was linked to greater abundance of proteins in mitochondria needed to transform energy, whereas negative mood was linked to lower protein content,"
Eat, Drink and be Merry!
The link between our gut and brain health is well known, and evidence for a healthy low processed diet is growing. A diet high in ultra-processed foods has been linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and a weakened immune system.
Human studies are limited but recent observational human studies appear to support the damage that can be done to the gut’s microbiome and immune system, and which via the Vagus Nerve can impact our Brain Health.
This is supported by a new study that suggests that resilient individuals show improved brain function and healthier gut microbiomes, better emotional regulation and lower inflammation which leads to Improved Cognition.
One Actionable Neuro-Hack
The three factors above which all impact brain health are linked by the Social Brain and the positivity of relationships. To protect your ability to thrive:
1. Many of us are exposed through our work to minds that can easily drain us. But ultimately like so many other areas of our lives we have a choice about what or who we choose, and when we need to leave work at work. Give your brain a visual hack metaphorically or visually. Draw a line on the floor and at the end of your day focus on stepping, leaping or jumping over it, leaving the old space behind for a new one and creating the balance you need for your mind and brain health.
NeuroMyths of the Month
“Brain Cells don’t regenerate”.
Oh yes, they do! It was once believed that they declined as we aged. However, by exercising, having a healthy diet, good psychosocial relationships and positive mental-wellbeing Neurogenesis the formation of new brain cells, takes place in certain regions of the brains like the hippocampus, throughout life.
Wednesday JULY 3RD Brainy Podcast Episode 6 ‘The Human Advantage’ hits the airwaves again!
Tracy and I have been busy recording Series 2. of ‘Brainy Podcasts: Talking Creativity and Innovation’ Brainy Podcasts Live!, to inspire individuals, businesses and organisations to confidently stay ahead in our bold new world!
We’ve chatted to some fascinating and informed new guests from an Oxford Professor of Leadership to an Australian Psychosafety Neuroscience expert and many moretrailblazerss and thought leaders in their fields discussing CEO Mental Wellbeing, Education, Menopause, Parenthood, Industry norms, and much more!
We’ve dug deeper and wider in our human exploration and knowledge of how to use the power of creating, innovating, ideating, remaining curious and asking the right questions. We’ve even used it on ourselves to sharpen our critical thinking and pioneer a new strategy that will help you and your teams achieve so much more!
Don’t miss it! Sign up on your favourite platforms and listen to Tracy Filler and Soraya Shaw with our 6th episode guest Dr. David Wilkinson and what makes the Human Advantage!
