Nourish your brain and unleash your cognitive potential. Explore our herbal blends that enhance memory, sharpen focus, and support overall cognitive function.
Why is brain health important?
Our brain is complex, fragile and the command center of our body. The brain plays a critical role throughout the body, including breathing, digestion, neurological, mental, and metabolism. It enables thoughts, memories, and emotions. By maintaining a healthy brain during one’s life, a person can increase their longevity.
Why is mental health important?
Most people experience sadness, moodiness, or blues at some point in their lives. But a mental illness is more than that. A mental illness is a health condition that includes changes in thinking, feelings, and behaviour and affects one's ability to function. But, if you're experiencing mood swings for more than two weeks and it prevents you from going about your daily life (work, school, socializing) then there's a chance that you're suffering from a mental illness. They include disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, phobias, excessive sleeping and eating, dementia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and many more. 50% of mental illness begins by age 14, and 3/4 begin by age 24.
What are the red flags of mental illness?
Consider following up with a mental health expert if several of the following things happen.
- Dramatic changes in sleep or appetite, or a reduction in personal hygiene.
- Rapid or drastic swings in mood, sad sentiments, or increased irritation.
- Recent social retreats and a loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities are examples of withdrawal.
- A sudden decline in functioning at work, school, or in social situations, such as quitting a sport, receiving a poor grade, or having trouble doing routine chores.
- Difficult-to-explain issues with focus, memory, logical thought, and speech.
- Heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, scents, or touches; avoidance of circumstances that are too stimulating.
- Apathy is the absence of initiative or motivation to engage in any action.
- A generalized experience of being cut off from oneself or one’s surroundings; a false sense of reality.
- Insane reasoning
A mental disease cannot be predicted by one or two of these symptoms alone, but they may point to the need for more testing. A person should contact a doctor or mental health expert if they are experiencing numerous at once and the symptoms are seriously impairing their capacity to learn, work, or interact with others. People who have suicidal ideas or plans to hurt themselves or others require quick assistance.
How can we deal with mental illness?
Taking Action, and Getting Help is the key to restoring mental health.
We must motivate patients to:
- See a mental health or other health care professional or counselor to evaluate the condition and to seek appropriate treatment and advise
- Understand and know more about mental illness, including signs and symptoms not just for the patient but also for ourselves and our loved ones. This helps us to be more empathetic toward the people suffering
- Get encouraging therapy about daily issues and stress-reduction techniques.
- Be closely watched for any conditions needing more intensive care.
- Realize that stigma may be a major deterrent to getting help.
- For optimal mental health, keep an eye on your food and exercise routine.
Individual and family counseling regularly, educational and career support, participation in a multi-family problem-solving group, and medication as needed to prevent early symptoms from progressing to serious illness are all part of comprehensive treatment. Family members should be included as valued partners whenever possible.
List of brain-healthy foods?
Eat consistently. This can prevent a dip in blood sugar levels, which can make you feel lethargic and irritable.
- Brain-healthy elements like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta-carotene are abundant in green, leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli. These nutrients are excellent for safeguarding our brains and keeping them sharp since they may decrease cognitive decline.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are important components of the brain and are abundant in fatty fish like salmon, trout, and sardines. Vegetarian sources: flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts. “Omega-3s perform a powerful role in safeguarding your brain from deterioration, sharpening memory, and elevating mood.”
- The major ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are beneficial to the brain.
- Flavonoids, caffeine, and antioxidants are among the ingredients in dark chocolate and cocoa powder that have been shown to enhance cognitive function.
- Your brain can benefit from caffeine and antioxidants, which are the two main components of tea and coffee. “Enjoy that cup in the morning for increased concentration.”
- Remain hydrated. Your mood, energy level, and attentiveness can all be negatively impacted by even minor dehydration.
- For optimal brain function, you need to consume good fats. Olive oil, grapeseed oil, almonds, seeds, oily fish, avocados, milk, and eggs are examples of healthy fats. Avoid trans fats, which are frequently included in processed or packaged meals and can be detrimental to your mood and heart health.
- Increase your intake of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. These provide the vitamins and minerals that your body and brain require to remain healthy.
- To improve impaired memory and related conditions, herbal remedies have been traditionally utilized for centuries.
Living with mental illness, tips for overcoming the blues
10 tips to overcome psychological blues are as follows:
1. Treat yourself with care and respect, and refrain from criticizing yourself. Scheduling more of your favorite pursuits and activities such as solving crossword puzzles every day, gardening, dancing, learning instruments, or mastering a foreign language.
2. Take good care of your body: Maintaining good physical health can help you stay mentally healthy. Ensure you:
- Eat balanced and nutritious meals
- Don’t smoke or vape; see cessation Help
- Drink a lot of water.
- Get adequate rest. Lack of sleep, according to researchers, is a factor in the high occurrence of depression among college students.
3. Surround yourself with positive people: Those who have supportive social or familial ties tend to be in better physical and mental health than those who don't. Plan events with empathetic family members and friends, or look for opportunities to socialize with new people at a club, class, or support group.
4. Give of yourself: Invest your time and efforts into helping others.
7. Establish attainable goals. Decide what you want to accomplish academically, professionally, and personally. Then, identify the measures you must take to get there. Aim high, yet remain grounded and avoid over-committing.
5. Learn coping mechanisms for stress: Exercise, go on a nature walk, play with your pet, kids, or friends, attempt One-Minute Stress Strategies, or try journal writing as a stress reliever. According to studies, laughing can improve your immune system, lower stress, relax your body, and lessen discomfort.
6. Calm your mind: Try mindfulness exercises, meditation, or prayer. Prayer and relaxation techniques can enhance your mental health and view of life.
7. Establish attainable goals. Decide what you want to accomplish academically, professionally, and personally. Then, identify the measures you must take to get there. Aim high, yet remain grounded and avoid over-committing.
8. Break up the monotony: Routines increase our productivity and give us a sense of comfort and safety, but a little change of pace can brighten up a boring schedule. Change up your jogging routine, make travel plans, go for a stroll in a different park, hang some new art, or try a new eatery.
9. Limit your usage and stay away from alcohol, smoking, and other addictive substances.
10. Ask for assistance when you need it. This is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Conclusion
We all go through ups and downs emotionally. Treatments and support are available to help with these conditions; however, the sooner you seek assistance, the better. Herbal medicine is also one such alternative that helps to overcome such conditions. Follow the tips, and help yourself recover if you do. Seeking help from an expert can help us cope with these conditions.
Reference:
- Wang Y, Pan Y, Li H. What is brain health and why is it important? BMJ. 2020 Oct;371:m3683.
- National Institutes of Health (US); Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. NIH Curriculum Supplement Series [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health (US); 2007. Information about Mental Illness and the Brain. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20369/
- National Health Mission Department of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. Available at: https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=2&sublinkid=1043&lid=359 Accessed on: Dec 22, 2022.
- Dhyani A, Gaidhane A, Choudhari SG, Dave S, Choudhary S. Strengthening Response Toward Promoting Mental Health in India: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2022 Oct 18;14(10):e30435.
- American Psychiatric Association. Warning Signs of Mental Illness. Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/warning-signs-of-mental-illness Accessed on: Dec 22, 2022.
- Harvard Health Publishing (HHP). Foods linked to better brainpower. [Last updated on: March 6, 2021; Accessed on: Dec 22, 2022.] Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower
- University of Washington. How Nutrition Impacts the Brain and Mental Health. [Last updated on: March 2, 2020; Accessed on: Dec 22, 2022.] Available at: https://thewholeu.uw.edu/2020/03/02/nnm-2020-nutrition-and-the-brain/
- Perry G, Michigan State University Extension. Eating well for mental health. [Last updated on: Sept 15, 2022; Accessed on: Dec 22, 2022.] Available at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eating-well-for-mental-health
- Halder S, Anand U, Nandy S, Oleksak P, Qusti S, Alshammari EM, El-Saber Batiha G, Koshy EP, Dey A. Herbal drugs and natural bioactive products as potential therapeutics: A review on pro-cognitives and brain boosters perspectives. Saudi Pharm J. 2021 Aug;29(8):879-907.
- The University of Michigan. Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health. Accessed on: Dec 22, 2022. Available at: https://uhs.umich.edu/tenthings