The brain is made up of about 100 billion cells. This trivia that’s mind-blowing (pun intended) is a testament to the fact that your brain is indeed one of the most vital organs you have.
Without your brain, you won’t exist. And this is why it’s so important that you really take good care of it.
Scientists say that the brain is just like a muscle — the more it is used, the stronger it gets. Alas, there are a number of everyday habits that are known to wreak havoc on your brain, and you can come across some of these seemingly-harmless pursuits by reading on.
Smoking cigarettes
Everyone knows that smoking is bad for the heart and lungs. Beauty-conscious people are well-aware of the fact that this nasty habit can speed up the aging process and make the skin shrivel.
Did you know that cigarette smoking is also bad for your brain in that it can cause it to shrink? And when that happens, experts say that you are sure to encounter some really serious mental health, cognitive and behavioral problems.
Consuming Lots of Alcohol
Moderate alcohol consumption is said to offer an assortment of health perks, according to scientists. Drinking a glass of it per day if you’re a woman and up to 2 glasses of it per day if you’re a man is said to be good for your waistline, blood sugar, heart and brain.
However, it is a completely different story if you’re someone who tends to consume alcohol as though it’s your last time on the planet — just like cigarette smoking, numerous studies confirm that excessive consumption of alcohol can cause the brain to shrink.
Not Drinking Enough Water
It’s no secret that we should drink about 2 liters of water every day in order to keep the body hydrated. Constantly supplying your body with water is vital due to the fact that water is necessitated by your cells, tissues and organs for them to be able to carry out their tasks.
Did you know that the brain is made up of about 75 percent water? It’s because of this exactly why being dehydrated is bad for the brain — it can in fact shrink if you fail to drink enough water.
Eating Lots of Sugary Treats
The main energy source of your brain is glucose, which is a type of sugar. It is said that up to 50 percent of all the glucose in your body is utilized by your brain for fueling itself — that’s how hard-working the human brain is!
Unfortunately, the presence of too much glucose is also bad for your brain. Studies show that the consumption of lots and lots of sugar can damage the junction between two brain cells (synapse) and also deprive the brain with oxygen and nutrients due to the damaging effects of elevated sugar levels to the blood vessels.
Not Having Enough Sleep
Experts say that per night you should obtain 7 to 9 hours of restorative sleep. Such enables the vital organs of yours — including most especially your brain — to get rested, repaired and revitalized.
Needless to say, being deprived of sleep can wreak havoc on your brain. Experts agree that constant failure to get a good night’s sleep can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the brain and also speed up the death of your brain cells.
Sleeping With Your Head Covered
Just because you are getting plenty of sleep per night doesn’t mean right away that your brain is out of harm’s way. Do you like spending your time in dreamland with your head buried under the covers or your pillow? Then you could be harming your brain big time.
Such causes you to breathe in once more air that you breathe out, which is carbon dioxide. And breathing in carbon dioxide only means that your brain is not being supplied with enough oxygen — your brain needs plenty of oxygen for its proper functioning.
Before you go, share this article on your various social media sites so that your family members and friends may also be able to quit doing the above-mentioned everyday habits, thus keeping their brain out of harm’s way.
