Do We Need to Prioritize our Brain Health?
The short answer is: because it holds the key to a happier and longer Life enjoyed in good health!
In the extremely fast-paced world we live in nowadays, we need a brain in tip top shape to keep up with the rapid changes and ever growing demands of daily life.
When we think about health and fitness, our minds often jump straight to exercise, diet, and keeping our bodies in shape. Actually, this is a great start for good health. Good health, of course, is the main requirement to fully experience life.
But what about our brains? The brain is the command center of our entire being. It controls our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, the automatic functions of our body and our movements and actions. A healthy brain doesn’t just mean better cognitive function — it means a better mood, improved resilience to stress, and an overall sense of well-being.
It’s challenging to understand how our brain and nervous system intricately impact not only our physical function, but also our emotions, thinking and behaviour.
However, as science has made so much progress the last three decades, we now know that our brain changes all the time, depending on our requirements.
However, the most amazing fact coming out of Research is that we can actively re-shape our brain according to our goals. So let’s explore how we can do this.
A bit of Anatomy
To understand the mysteries of our brain and nervous system and their influence on our mind, emotions, thinking and behaviour it helps to know a bit about the anatomy. While this is not an anatomy lecture, I find that it helps to visualise the impressive and exciting system we are dealing with.
This is what your brain and nervous system look like. As you can see there is a direct connection from the head to the rest of the body through the spinal cord.
Your Brain: The CEO of Your Body and Mind
Imagine your brain as the CEO of a massive company. Every single department — your thoughts, emotions, actions, and body functions — relies on the leadership of this CEO. If the brain is functioning optimally, everything runs smoothly. If the brain is overworked, undernourished, or overwhelmed, the whole system starts to break down.
Your brain constantly communicates with the rest of your body, for instance your muscles, but also your hormones, digestion and breathing, through the nervous system. This intricate network is responsible for everything from your heartbeat and digestion to how you react to stress. A well-functioning nervous system ensures that you can think clearly, regulate your emotions, and even recover faster from illness or injury.
In very simple terms, the main division of the nervous system is in two parts: the central and the peripheral nervous system.
The peripheral system is further divided into the autonomic, the part which automatically takes care of your breathing, digestion, temperature regulation, senses, sleep/waking, reflexes to avoid getting injured, etc., and the somatic nervous system.
Nerves from the somatic system help you to move your muscles and are under your direct control.
Information received from the sensory system (eyes, ears, skin, joints and others) is transmitted to the brain, where the information is processed and a decision taken as to what to do next.
From this diagram you can see why a healthy nervous system is crucial to good health. In a healthy system the nervous system flow is a continuous exchange of information received, processed, and the required action. Every organ’s function, every thought, emotion and muscular action is led by the nervous system.
In turn, the brain and nervous system need air, water, and food to make them physically strong.
So how do you achieve a healthy brain and nervous system?
Below you see Maslow’s Pyramid. It shows the hierarchy, bottom to top approach, what a human being needs for development and growth. The pyramid starts at the bottom. It’s the big foundation.
The big base is for our physical needs upon which we build our emotional and mental abilities – air, water, food, rest, warmth/shelter, reproduction, sleep.
When this foundation is wobbly the development of your full potential is difficult to achieve.
Starting the process from the top down doesn’t work very well. Self-actualisation, or motivation to achieving one’s full potential, can only be reached once the steps further down the pyramid have been fulfilled.
Once the needs of the base are met to our satisfaction, we give more attention to our security and safety. When we feel safe and secure we can start to explore our environment more, see what’s going on around us, be curious about the world and explore and learn.
Extra Tip: Continuous learning is one of the main ingredients to keep your mind sharp. A sharp mind and good mobility is the key for a healthy long life.
Here are some simple and effective ways to nourish your nervous system
- Move Your Body – Exercise isn’t just for muscles; it’s for your brain too! Physical movement increases blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your brain while reducing stress hormones.
2. Stay hydrated – still water is the best for your brain.
3. Eat Brain-Boosting Foods – Your brain needs the right fuel. Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts), antioxidants (berries, dark chocolate), and healthy fats (avocados, nuts) all support brain function. Food and drink loaded with sugar might give you an instant kick but no true energy and of course, there’s the sudden drop in blood sugar level leading to cravings, headaches, tiredness, etc.
4. Prioritize Sleep – Sleep is when your brain detoxes and repairs itself. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to keep your cognitive function sharp and your mood stable.
5. Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation – Stress is one of the biggest disruptors of brain health. Activities like meditation, deep breathing, and spending time in nature help calm the nervous system and promote mental clarity.
6. Stay Socially Connected – Human connection is vital for brain health. Engaging in meaningful conversations, laughter, and social interactions keeps your brain active and reduces feelings of loneliness or anxiety.
7. Learn Something New – Challenging your brain with new information, hobbies, or skills strengthens neural pathways and keeps your mind agile.
8. Limit Toxins and Negative Inputs – Excessive alcohol, processed foods, and chronic stress can damage brain health. Reducing these negative influences allows your brain to function at its best. Practice having positive thoughts with uplifting, encouraging words.
How Brain Health Affects Mood, Behavior, and Emotions
When your brain is in good shape, life feels easier, and lets you be in charge. You not only feel physically better, but you also think more clearly, handle emotions better, and have the energy to do the things you love. Because the nervous system is always changing, we have the power to improve our mental and physical well-being at any time.
Prioritizing brain health doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with small daily changes to develop new habits:
- Get up from your office chair every 30 minutes and move around the office.
- Use the opportunity to chat face to face with colleagues.
- Move more. Go for a stroll in your neighbourhood.
- Make your stroll a mini-meditation. Put your focus on your breathing.
- Stay well hydrated with non-sparkling water.
- Eat quality food and don’t overeat.
- Allow yourself enough time for sleep.
- Reduce screen time. Your eyes are a big part of the sensory system from the brain receives its information. This takes a lot of energy.
- Replace scrolling with one of the activities mentioned above. It lets you gain time, gets things done, and leaves you less exhausted.
- And — manage stress.
What's in it for you?
A healthy brain isn’t just about being smart or having a great memory. It directly influences how you feel, behave, and react to life’s challenges. Here’s how:
- Mood Regulation – Ever felt irritable or anxious for no apparent reason? Your brain chemistry plays a huge role in your mood. Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine are responsible for happiness, motivation, and emotional stability. If your brain isn’t healthy, these chemical messengers may be out of balance, leading to mood swings, anxiety, or depression.
- Decision-Making and Focus – A well-nourished brain helps you make better decisions and stay focused. If your brain is foggy or stressed, simple tasks can feel overwhelming, and you may find yourself procrastinating or making impulsive choices.
- Resilience to Stress – A healthy nervous system allows you to manage stress more effectively. When your brain is adaptable, you can handle unexpected challenges with a sense of calm rather than panic. Imagine being able to keep your cool in stressful situations, or bounce back from setbacks with ease.
- Motivation and Energy – Your brain controls how energized and motivated you feel. When your brain health is optimized, you naturally feel more enthusiastic about life.
Appreciate your brain as your most valuable asset. When you take care of it, everything else in life becomes more manageable and enjoyable.
The Nervous System: A Dynamic, Ever-Changing System
CONCLUSION
One of the most exciting things about the nervous system is that it is able to change depending on your requirements! This ability is called neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire itself based on new experiences, movement, learning, and emotions. It also means that no matter at what stage you are in life, whether you are a young student, a busy professional or a retiree – you can improve your brain health and, in turn, your overall well-being.
If you are not happy with your present situation in life, remember that your brain can be trained and re-trained. The program Brain Gym® from Educational Kinesiology can help you to reach your goals quicker. Brain Gym uses simple, focused movements with intention. Here’s a link to some of the exercises so you can try them right away.
Book your free discovery call with me to find out how a better connected brain can help you or your family, privately or for business.
https://calendly.com/evelynbrey/20-minutes-free-one-on-one-consultation
About the Author
Evelyn Brey, B.Sc.Ost.Med., is a certified Kinesiologist, Brain Gym Instructor, Member of the Board Brain Gym Austria, and the founder of Smart Moves X. With over 20 years of experience and extensive qualifications across a range of Kinesiology and other natural health modalities, Evelyn is passionate about helping her clients overcome their emotional, mental, physical, nutritional and energetic challenges to achieve their goals.
DISCLAIMER
This site offers health, wellness, and movement information and is designed for educational purposes only. This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. The content is designed to support, not replace, medical or psychiatric treatment.
Please seek professional care if you believe you may have a medical condition.