3 weird ways to keep your brain healthy — one you can do in the shower

No request to overthink brain health!

Our noggins return a floggin’ pinch age, starring to reduced encephalon volume, little effective connection betwixt neurons and decreased humor flow. These changes tin impact learning, memory, processing velocity and different cognitive functions.

Now, you astir apt already cognize that eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting capable sleep, managing accent and staying socially connected tin thief support brains young.

There are besides immoderate offbeat strategies to prosecute your encephalon — you tin study an instrument, usage your non-dominant manus for tasks and return a different way home.

Harvard-trained neuroscientist Kevin Woods — head of subject at Brain.fm, a euphony streaming work designed to power brainwave activity — has 3 different elemental suggestions to complement patient routines. No brainstorm required.

Gum chewing

Chewing gum tin provender nan encephalon successful a number of ways, though nan nonstop mechanisms are unclear.

Some studies propose that chewing gum increases humor travel to nan brain, which intends much oxygen and glucose for nan prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, areas captious for representation and learning.

This accrued humor travel tin besides enhance attraction and attention and trim accent and anxiety.

As for types of gum, Woods told The Post that “it should beryllium a gum pinch decent spirit that doesn’t slice excessively quickly — and 1 that doesn’t autumn isolated complete time.”

A dentist mightiness urge a sugar-free gum that doesn’t harm teeth.

There could beryllium an moreover better, if not unconventional, option. A caller study recovered that chewing difficult substances for illustration a wood pencil tin boost levels of nan antioxidant glutathione successful nan encephalon — chewing gum did not supply nan aforesaid effect.

If you’re worried astir splinters, bony harm and digestive issues pinch woody material, time off it to beavers.

Walking backwards

“Backward walking enhances encephalon wellness by challenging nan brain, focusing attraction and strengthening neural connections while perchance forming caller pathways,” Woods said.

“Studies person recovered that backward stepping increases cognitive control and even memory recall,” he added.

Also known arsenic retro walking, this believe tin amended balance, coordination and posture, fortify definite muscles, trim little backmost symptom and pain much calories than stepping forward.

Experts recommend starting slowly, choosing a way free of obstacles and uneven pavement, keeping nan caput and torso upright, engaging nan core, stepping toes first and being mindful of surroundings.

Humming

Humming tin easiness accent and beforehand relaxation by stimulating nan vagus nerve, a analyzable web of complete 200,000 fibers that connects nan encephalon and awesome organs.

Research indicates that humming tin besides summation nitric oxide levels successful nan nasal cavity, perchance improving humor travel to nan encephalon and elevating mood.

“Studies on choir singers show enhanced bosom complaint variability and cognitive function,” Woods explained. “Plus, nan activity power required for sustained notes exercises nan aforesaid neural networks progressive successful attraction regulation.”

Woods recommends doing these 3 activities often, uncovering a accordant regular that useful for you.

Since nan encephalon is nan power halfway for thinking, emotion and acting, taking attraction of it is important for wide wellness and well-being.

“While subject tin show america useful things to try, to immoderate extent, different brains request different things to attraction best,” Woods said.

“What you find helpful, personification other whitethorn find distracting,” he added. “So don’t beryllium acrophobic to trial what useful champion for you!”