Top 10 Brain Damaging Habits

I came across this article somewhere in the net. Natawa ako habang binabasa ko. Kumusta naman ang mga law students?!?

No Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel its glucose levels, also known as blood sugar, after eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack. Glucose is essential for the brain and is the main energy source. People who do not take breakfast are going to have lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

(Buti nalang, I eat breakfast. Sabi nga ng nanay ko, wag ka na kumain ng ibang meals, wag lang kalimutan ang breakfast. Buti nalang din nakinig ako sa nanay ko. Hehe.)

Overeating

The brain works closely with the stomach. If the digestive organs experience weakness, depression or congestion due to hunger-related ailments, it gives signal to the brain for help. In return, the brain aids the digestive organs by telling you "it's time to eat". But when overeating happens, the brain-nerve energy is benumbed and becomes almost paralyzed. It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

(Oooppsss... guilty. Sarap kasi kumain, lalo na lately na-observe ko sobrang takaw ko)

Smoking

Did you know that a single cigarette stick contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known carcinogenic (cancer causing) compounds and 400 other toxins, some of it known to man? These toxins causes numerous ailments which include heart attacks and stroke brought to by the blocking of the carotid artery, thus cutting the blood supply to the brain cells. It also includes emphysema, cancer and multiple brain shrinkage that may lead to Alzheimer disease.

(Buti nalang ulit tinigilan ko na ang bisyong ito. Hehe. =) Friends, nakakaubos ng brain cells.)

High Sugar Consumption

True to what was mentioned in the first habit, glucose (which we can also get from sugar) is essential for the brain and is needed to fuel the body. Regulation is the key here. Too much sugar can cause the release of adrenal hormones (called "sugar high") that squeezes stored sugar from the liver, sending blood sugar levels up. This will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with the brain's development.

(Naku, guilty nanman ako. Good bye chocolates na ba ito? Wag naman. :( Huhu.)

Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air (with nanoparticles) causes inflammation and abnormal protein deposits in brain tissue, decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency. A latest research claimed that fine particles like those found in air pollutants can switch on the tumor genes that some people inherited, thus, jump-starting the disease process which results in brain tumor.

(Patay! Pano yan, commuter ako at nakatira ako sa Maynila? Sana kung sa probinsya ako nakatira na maraming greeneries diba? Makapagtanim na nga ng mga puno.)

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is needed to refresh certain parts of the body, especially the brain, for it to function optimally. Long term deprivation from sleep causes neurons to malfunction, diminish mental performance and accelerates the death of brain cells. People who regularly do not get enough sleep becomes less sensitive to insulin. This increases the risk for diabetes and high blood pressure -- both serious threats to the brain.

(Eh nagkukulang na din tulog ko e. Average 6 hours na nga lang ako lately. Dati I still can afford to have full 8-hour sleep. Good luck talaga sa law at med students.)

Head Covered While Sleeping

Are you fond of wrapping your whole body (from head to toe) with the blanket? Or simply covering your head with a pillow for reasons of shutting off unnecessary sound or light? Well, take note that sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide on the covered area. With it, decreases the concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

(Naku, ako ulit to! Tsk, tsk.)

Working Your Brain During Illness

Have you observed that when attacked by an ailment, you cannot think properly? All you seem to think about is the sickness that you are feeling or having -- this stresses the brain. All the more, working hard or studying with sickness surely leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of the brain, as well as, damage the brain.

(Bakit? Pag may sakit ka ba tumitigil ang recits at exams? Di naman diba? Lalo na pag prof mo ang prof ko sa umaga. Hmpf.)

Lacking In Stimulating Thoughts

Have you heard of the phrase "mental growth"? Thinking is the best way to train and develop our brain. Activities such as constant communication, socializing, and reading are good in keeping our brain stimulated. A lack in brain stimulation thoughts or activities may cause brain shrinkage -- making it dull.

(Thinking...thinking...thinking....)

Talking Rarely

It is a common notion that when you rarely talk, it means you don't care about the subject or you have no idea about it, at all. In relation to the ninth habit, intellectual conversations promote the efficiency of the brain. It stimulates and trains the brain to find reasons and answers amidst questioning and provoking.

(Eh, pag nagbabasa ka at lahat ng kasama mo sa coffee shop o library e nagbabasa rin. Panu un? Pag kinausap ko ba sarili ko, pwede yun?)