Take Care of Your Brain!
By Dr Tony Croke, chiropractor
 
Chiropractic care has some amazing benefits. Not only is it great for helping with all sorts of aches and pains, but chiropractic can also help all our organs and systems work in more harmony.  Free flow of nerve messages along the spine allows the brain to communicate with your body better, leading to better health, energy and performance.  Of course, we need a brain that's in good shape too.
 
So how do we take care of it?  Here are a few tips from Dr Daniel Amen, a US brain researcher.
 
Protect it - Your brain is the consistency of soft jelly.  It doesn't respond well to being bashed around repeatedly in high impact sports.  If you play footy, consider wearing a helmet.  Constant knocking of the head affects the pre-frontal cortex, which is where our conscience lives. Mike Tyson, ex-boxer, convicted rapist and ear-biter, is an example of pre-frontal cortex damage.
 
Feed it - Eat omega-3 rich foods like fish, avocados, green leafy vegetables, olive oil and walnuts.  Omega-3 oils reduce strokes and dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease. Too much coffee will cause brain damage.  If you're having more than one a day, you need to cut back.  Minimise alcohol and other toxins in your diet and drink more water. 
 
Use it - Like a muscle, your brain will wither if you don't use it.  That's why too much TV leads to Alzheimer's disease. Video games are no better.  They've been shown to activate the same area of the brain stimulated by cocaine and can damage the socialising' parts of the brain!  Instead, do word puzzles, cook a new recipe, learn a new word each day, try a new hobby or forgive someone you hold a grudge against.  Even using your non-dominant hand to brush your teeth will improve your brain connections.
 
Exercise it - Walking is great brain exercise - it gets the blood flowing and reduces the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Try table tennis, the #1 brain sport.  If that's not your thing, how about juggling, yoga, dancing or cross-crawling (stand and touch your left knee to your right hand, right knee to left hand, etc)?
 
Serenade it - Classical music, especially 60 beats per minute Mozart, can help your brain make more neural connections and keep it sharp. According to researchers, learning to play an instrument leads to 36% better marks at school.
 
And last but not least  - make whoopee for it - Sex with a committed, loving partner is great for your brain health!  It reduces stress and depression, is great for pain relief, and even means you'll get fewer colds - unless you're doing it outside in this changeable weather?!?
 
Use these tips and take care of your spine and nervous system with regular
chiropractic care and you're on the way to a long, healthy, vibrant life!