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Grow Your Brain
By Stephen Bucaro
In the past, scientists believed that we were each born with about 100 billion brain
cells, and that after we reached adolescence our brain started dying at a rate of
about 10,000 per day, and these cells could not be replaced.
New research has proven that the brain CAN produce new cells and that we can grow
our brain throughout our lives. We can improve our mental alertness and master new
skills no matter how old we are. But to grow your brain you must take the steps
described in this article.
Recently it was discovered that the brain grows during sleep. Most of the growth
occurs between the sixth and eighth hour of sleep. This illustrates the importance
of getting eight hours of sound sleep each night.
The most important step to ensure sound sleep is to maintain a regular schedule of
when you go to sleep and when you rise. Staying up late on weekends is not good for
your brain. Studies have found that people who receive eight or nine hours of regular
sound sleep each night are more mentally sharp.
Blood flow is another important factor effecting brain growth. Blood carries oxygen and
nutrients to the brain's cells. Exercise is the way to increase blood flow to the brain.
Aerobic exercise like walking briskly, bicycling, and jogging are the best exercises
for growing your brain. A University of Illinois study found that people who walked
briskly for 45 minutes three times a week improved their cognitive speed by 15 percent.
The brain functions by communicating between cells through branches called dendrites.
Nerve impulses are relayed across the gaps between dendrites, called synapses, by chemicals
called neurotransmitters. When your brain is challenged with new information or new concepts,
synaptic activity increases. A brain that is constantly challenged grows new dendrites.
The way to grow more dendrites is to learn new information and new concepts. The best
way to learn is to take up a new challenging activity like computers, music, or learning
a new language. You can also challenge your brain by working puzzles, solving brainteasers,
playing strategy games, or by teaching others.
It is now known that stress takes a heavy toll on your brain. When you are under stress
your body experiences the "fight or flight" syndrome. When ancient cave man was being
chased by a Saber Toothed Tiger, the last thing his body needed was to allocate resources
to grow more brain cells. In response to a threat, real or imagined, your body produces
hormones that stop the growth of brain cells.
To avoid stress, make an honest assessment of the things that are causing your stress.
Are they really life threatening, or are they merely an annoyance? Most of the time an
impending event that we are stressing over never comes to pass.
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