What is wrong with my brain?

I found myself seriously contemplating this question after what felt like the hundredth mini mental breakdown in a few months. I had always tended to be a bit scattered and leaned towards the worrier personality type, however the onset of full blown senior moments and anxiety attacks that had been occurring more frequently caused me to be more concerned.

 Not only was I feeling more nervous, flustered and panicked, but I noticed that my capacity to deal with the smaller stresses in life, was becoming harder as well. I was getting frustrated, annoyed, angry, defensive, sad and overwhelmed at the smallest of things. Even simple tasks such as doing my hair, choosing an outfit, handling traffic or making decisions caused my brain to feel tense. Additionally, my memory seemed to be worsening; forgetting appointments, losing track of dates, misplacing everything, walking into a room, only to forget why I went there and even experiencing severe brain fog and mental emptiness.

Was I developing Alzheimers? Was I stressing myself silly? Was I literally draining my brain and frying it's cells? Why did I feel like my brain was no longer functioning optimally?

“There's something wrong with my brain and my body is suffering. Why is this happening?”

The power question “WHY?” opened the door to anatomical health and functional neurological science, where I began to understand the way the brain functions, how the modern lifestyle is a direct attack on our most precious organ and what would happen if I didn't attend to the not-so-soft signals my body was sending me.

The average adult brain weighs around 3 pounds, is 60% fat and is composed of 40% gray matter and 60% white matter. The grey matter is made up of about 100 billion neurons that gather and transmit signals, while the white matter is made of dendrites and axons, which are used to transmit signals to the rest of the organs and tissues of the body. When operating correctly, the brain controls the body by sending the signals which control muscles and function, as well as the secretion of the chemical messengers known as hormones. The functional brain also controls our mood, mindset, memory and focus. To be able to feel happy, centred and optimal, the neurons, dendrites and axons must be healthy.

 So why isn't my brain working properly?

The brain requires several things to do it's job right. It needs oxygen, stimulation and the proper nutrients. The things that attack the brain are: low oxygen from lack of exercise, under or over stimulation, improper foods, low fat diets, too much omega 6, lack of sunlight, toxins, chemicals, and stress.

Although I thought I lived a healthy lifestyle, by eating organic foods and exercising, I was definitely undernourished in quality fats and overstimulated in work, electronic use, multitasking, worrying and mental stress. When it became clear to me that I wasn't living in alignment with what was in my brain and body's highest interested, I immediately made a commitment to doing the right things to care for myself.

How to care for the brain

The top five things you can do for your brain are as follows:

1. Get outside in the sun for at least 20 minutes a day.
2. Make sure to exercise for at least 20 minutes 4x per week to pump fresh oxygen to the brain.
3. Lower your stress levels by relaxing, doing yoga, meditation, spending time with friends, laughing, singing or dancing.
4. Eat a whole foods diet rich in vegetables, quality fats, wild organic meats, bone broth, sprouted nuts and seeds and seasonal fruits.
5. Use supplements for additional support.

Dr. Dave's Best Instant Brain Power gives my brain the right stimulatory nutrients. I now feel more calm, centred, focused and clear. It's been a life saver!