Brain Health & Brain Cells
Our Brain is incredibly complex and despite being only two percent of our body mass it accounts for 20% of our energy (oxygen) demand and use. Part of the reason for this is its cellular density, so I thought I would use this Blog to break down the main cells in our Brain, what they do and how we can nourish and nurture them.
Neurones (Brain Cells) include unipolar, bipolar, multipolar, Purkinje cells. Collectively their primary role is to act as information messengers to process and transmit chemical and electrical signals within different areas of the Brain and between the Brain and Spinal Cord and indeed the whole body. They communicate via synapses, (which are akin to junctions; the closest analogy I can think of is the transition from an A Road onto the slipway of a Motorway), where signals are transmitted to communicate thinking, memory and behaviour instructions. Thus Neurones are responsible for our sensory experience, our motor physical functioning and the links between sensory and motor commands, effectively determining our balance, co-ordination, (one of the little-known earliest signs of Alzheimer’s Disease is loss of balance and disorientation), learning, memory and receiving and translating environmental information through our senses – again, an often disregarded risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease is hearing loss. (I created an Instagram Post on ‘Dementia and the five senses’ so if you’re interested have a look at eat.drink.think.nutrition)
Glial Cells include Astrocytes, Ependymal, Microglia, Oligodendrites and Schwann cells. Their collective function is to maintain and support Neurone function and regulate the Brain’s environmental surrounding homeostasis (this is a fancy word for keeping everything in a balanced and stable equilibrium state for optimal functioning), thus they are also responsible for supporting the Blood-Brain-Barrier and facilitating Neuronal signalling – Neurotransmission. Oligodendrite Glial Cells also form Myelin with the Schwann Cells then generating the Myelin Sheath which is a protective ‘blanket’ around our Neurones providing insulation and upholding efficient signal transmission.
Should these cells suffer damage, this is when learning and memory may become impaired, thus exacerbating the risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
It is also worth briefly mentioning the Mitochondria – the powerhouse ‘battery’ of every Brain Cell. Again this is a complex area, but in a nutshell the primary role of the Mitochondria is to generate energy. To recall what I mentioned at the start of this Blog, our Brain takes up 20% of our whole body’s energy reserves, therefore if Mitochondria become compromised or weakened this may result in suboptimal energy production inside our Brain Cells … and without sufficient energy, Brain function in totality may be severely compromised and the risk for developing Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease proportionally exacerbated.
So after a brief overview of the roles of our major Brain Cells, (to re-emphasise, this is a whistle-stop tour, the reality it is far more complex and nuanced), the question is how to we nurture our Neurones to minimise the risk of compromising their function or damaging their structure? Here are three simple ideas you can adopt immediately to support your Brain Cells;
Enjoy foods rich in Omega essential fatty acids support Brain cell structure, keeping them elastic and supporting blood flow to and in the Brain. They are also anti-inflammatory and as we know if excess inflammation builds up in the Brain and/or the rest of the body this may drive the Brain into over-protective mode, potentially exacerbating the development of β-Amyloid plaque or Tau protein mis-folding – amplifying the risk of developing Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Include a daily portion of green (leafy) vegetables in your diet. These contain neuroprotective nutrients aplenty.
Avoid environmental pollutants as much as possible – this includes noxious gasses and particulate matter, heavy metal and toxic chemicals, mould, and highly overly-scented artificial air fresheners. Environmental pollutants heightens the risk of neuroinflammation (potential β-Amyloid plaque development), Brain cell demise.
As I hope this post has highlighted, this is a highly complex and personalised area contributing to a much bigger picture of systemic health, so if you feel you, a friend of a family member needs bespoke and personalised support please do not hesitate to get in touch.
In the meantime, don’t forget Eat, Drink, Think Nutrition and spare a thought (no pun intended) for your Brain health. Losing your Brain power can be even more devastating to you and those around you than losing an aspect of your physical health, so why wouldn’t you start to look after your Brain right away since diet and lifestyle modifications actioned NOW could save a lot of distress and heartbreak later in life.
REMEMBER: if you are taking any medications always consult a Registered Nutritional Therapist as well as your Doctor before making significant dietary or lifestyle changes. This blog post is written for educational purposes only and in reference to ‘food’. It is NOT advocating taking dietary supplements. It is very important to please always consult a Registered Nutritional Therapist or your Doctor before introducing any dietary supplements into your health regime as these qualified professionals will be able to offer personalised recommendations.
If sleep, Brain, cognitive and/or memory are issues which you are struggling with and you want to discover the inspiring & sustainable diet & lifestyle programmes offered by Nutritional Therapy, get in touch via the Contact Me page on this website, or directly on info@eatdrinkthinknutrition.co.uk for more information about 1:2:1 Consultations with Eat Drink Think Nutrition®.
