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7 bad habits that are killing your brain cells

September 25, 2019 09:10 IST

An unhealthy diet combined with inadequate sleep can affect the way your brain cells function, warns Vipul Jain.

An unhealthy diet can affect your brain cells

Image published for representational purposes only. Photograph: Kind courtesy amanda dias/Creative Commons

The human brain is considered to be the most delicate part of the body with the highest functional attributes.

A small damage to the central nervous system can have a dangerous impact on the overall well-being of a person.

Your overall health is the sum of your habits.

When you allow your daily routine to be dominated by bad habits; your path towards healthy living will surely be impeded.

It is commonly believed that a chain of bad habits is too light to be felt, until it is too heavy to be broken!

As per the recent release of World Health Organization, the most dangerous habits that can damage your brain are as follows:

1. Skipping breakfast

Breakfast is an important part of your nutrition system.

After a long break for the whole night, your body needs an immediate supply of glucose to be supplied for different systems to work continuously.

When you skip breakfast, your body’s blood sugar level can be disturbed, leading towards an insufficient supply of nutrients to the central nervous system, eventually causing nerve damage.

2. Overeating

Consumption of a fatty diet more than a specified limit may cause hardening of brain arteries, which may, in turn, block the circulation of oxygenated blood towards the brain.

Due to lack of properly oxygenated blood, the functional power of the brain is found to be decreased, with increased susceptibility to the neurodegenerative disorders.

3. Smoking

Smoking has been identified to be the worst of all habits with multiple damaging effects on various important organs of the body, including brain.

Studies have suggested that smoking can cause your brain to shrink, and also maybe lead to serious health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Air pollution

The human brain needs a constant oxygenated blood supply for its normal functioning. However, inhalation of highly polluted air can deprive brain of oxygenated blood supply; thus, decreasing overall brain efficiency to a significant level, accounting for its early degeneration.

5. Lack of sleep

Sleep is important for resting your body, allowing its instant rejuvenation.

It repairs cellular damage, restores energy levels and reduces stress.

If the body fails to get adequate sleep and rest for a longer period of time, it can damage healthy brain cells, making it less functional.

6. Too much sugar intake

Sugar is found to be the leading culprit of every possible ailment we face in our lives.

Sadly, it is present in everything we love to eat or drink.

Studies have suggested that increased blood sugar level minimises the absorption of nutrients at the cellular levels.

As a matter of fact, brain cells may die and/or degenerate slowly and gradually due to lack of proper nutrition.

7. Lack of stimulation

Stimulating your brain cells for healthy and fruitful work may be helpful in keeping them functional for a longer period of time.

Research has indicated that stimulation of brain cells activates new pathways and better communication of brain cells network, allowing them to be more productive.

The more you talk, think and stimulate your brain cells; the more efficiently it will work.

Vipul Jain is CEO, Advancells, a company that uses stem cells to cure chronic health diseases.

Vipul Jain