Everyday habits that can damage your brain

<p>Brain is one of the largest organs of your body and is the controlling center for whatever you do and the way you function every day. But it is also one of the most delicate organs that your body has. Knowingly or unknowingly, you may be harming it in your seemingly harmless day-to-day activities. They not only harm you physically but also dent your mental capabilities. Here is a list of 11 brain damaging activities you may be doing every day.<br></p>

<p>Sugar is hidden in almost everything that we eat these days. Too much consumption of sugar over a prolonged period of time disrupts our body’s ability to absorb nutrients and proteins. This may cause malnutrition, a condition that hinders brain development. This is because the body does not have enough nutrients in the bloodstream, thus, it does not provide sufficient nutrients to brain, hindering its development. <br></p>

<p>Our brain needs plenty of oxygen to function properly. Continuously inhaling polluted air decreases oxygen supply to the body and the brain, translating into a decreased brain efficiency.<br></p>

<p>Overeating is not only what is making us gain weight or feel bloated. It hardens the brain arteries, thus, harming our mental capabilities.<br></p>

<p>Our brain is like a muscle; stretching and exercising will help strengthen it. Talking to people and participating in intellectual conversations are brain exercises which improve its efficiency over time. Keep talking!<br></p>

<p>If you are among those who sleep less than six hours every day, you must be cautious. Long term sleep deprivation can lead to death of brain cells. This can lead to many other severe symptoms such as unawareness, problem in breathing and vision problems.<br></p>

<p>Thinking is like a tool which helps your brain exercise. Your new thoughts create new pathways and if you don’t think, your brain’s efficiency will decrease. Keep your brain active by solving word puzzles such as word scrabble and number puzzles such as sudoku.<br></p>

<p>We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still many of us skip it due to early morning hassles. After a long night without eating, our body needs nutrients as soon as we get up to pace ahead for the day. Not having breakfast leads to lower blood sugar levels which lead to insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain. If you skip it as a habit, it may lead to brain degeneration as your brain will lack in essential nutrients that it needs to function properly.<br></p>

<p>Who doesn’t know smoking is injurious to health? But the most menacing side effect of smoking is that it shrinks your brain nerves. Smoking is also found a culprit in the incidence of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.<br></p>

<p>Sleeping with your head covered reduces your oxygen intake. As mentioned above, our brain needs a large supply of oxygen to function properly. With your face covered, you may inhale more carbon dioxide that you exhale than fresh oxygen.<br></p>

<p>Electromagnetic fields exude radiation; exposure to radiation for an extended period is injurious to your health. Using your mobile all day and sleeping with it placed next to you do the same.<br></p><p>A Swedish study found that the radiations from your cell phone may even be responsible for headache and confusion. Many studies claim a definitive link between mobile phone radiation and many cancers, including brain tumours.</p><p>But you don’t need to ditch your cell phone because of this. Consumer reports recommend a few precautions that we can take to minimize their harmful impact.</p><p>- Use earphones if you have to talk for a long duration or on speaker mode if possible.</p><p>- Try to keep your cell phone away from your body. Don’t keep it in the pocket of your pant or shirt. Keep it in your bag if you are travelling.</p><p>- Try to send text messages for shorter conversations.</p><p>(Image Courtesy: Shutterstock/Thinkstock/Pixabay)</p>