Brain M.A.S.T.E.R.Y.

With everything that is going on today, how is your mental health?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I think it's really important that we check in from time to time on our mental health. After all, it affects everything that we do.

Dr. Daniel Amen says that "You can make your brain better - and it can change everything in your life! Brain aging is optional - IF you're serious! You're not stuck with the brain you have!"

The habits you have of eating and drinking, will in fact, have an impact on your health. They will also have an impact on your brain!

I'd like to share Dr. Amen's Seven Steps to Create Mastery Over Your Brain and Body.

On M.A.S.T.E.R.Y. ...

Mindset - focus on one step at a time

• 80% of the time is a win
• Celebrate wins
• Aim for 95%

Training and habits - write down when you fail and learn from it

• Read food labels
• Exercise

Assessment

• Check height, weight and BMI
• Check what you're eating/how you feel

Sustenance

• Sugar makes you fat and foggy-headed
• Protein and healthy fat makes you feel full, focused and lean
• Veggies are like finding a great bargain
• Fiber, water, and supplements turbo-charge success
• Some strategies:
  • Salad with protein instead of sandwiches
  • Veggies instead of rice
  • Lettuce/coconut wraps not bread
  • Make healthy treats/muffins without sugar
  • Have a travel plan

Essence/Responsibility - turn your plan into purpose

• Help and support others - your behavior influences others
• Live the message. This is going to be how others will believe you

Years-long - master your health forever and allow your body to heal.

Optimizing/healing the brain only requires 6 words: "Brain envy; avoid bad; do good."

Avoid anything that hurts the brain...

• Head injuries (the brain is soft like butter)
• Drugs and alcohol
• Obesity
• Toxins
• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• Nicotine/caffeine
• Diabetes/high blood pressure
• Low hormones
• Infections
• Cancer chemo
• Processed diets/sugar
• Chronic stress
• Untreated depression
• Lack of exercise
• Poor decisions
• Unhealthy peer group
• Not knowing your brain's vulnerability

These foods harm the brain...

•  Gluten (hidden in salad dressings, sauces, processed foods, and even cosmetics)
• Exorphins (acts like a drug - a morphine-like compound found in gluten)
• Dairy (undigested lactose ferments in the gut)
  • Use goat milk - it is better than dairy but still contains lactose
• Industrial/processed meats
• Corn
• Sugar and sugar substitutes

On good brain habits...

• Good decisions
• Positive peer group
• Clean environment
• Physical health
• Healthy weight
• Getting 7-8 hours of sleep
• New learning
• Great diet
• Killing negative thoughts
• Stress management
• Exercise
• Simple supplements

Knowing what to do is only part of optimizing/healing your brain. The second part is taking action. I have provided the questions below to help you begin taking action.

Questions to consider: What are ways you can avoid items or behaviors that are bad for the brain? and What habits do you need to change or create that will build up my brain reserve?