8 common things that are weakening your brain health

Sometimes it's the little things that have the biggest impact, and according to an online neurologist, they include your brain health. 

Dr. Baibing Chen is a neurologist trained at the Mayo Clinic. In a recent video series, he outlined nine little things that many of us do every day that weaken our brains and increase our risk of diseases like stroke. Fortunately, they're all things that, with a little more self-control, we can avoid in our daily lives.

1. Relying on GPS

GPS makes our lives much simpler, but too much reliance can weaken your brain's spatial memory.

He then cited studies on taxi drivers who have to memorize entire cities, which have shown that all that memorization tends to give taxi drivers larger hippocampi and lower odds of dementia.

2. Energy drinks

Those energy drinks you love have a lot more in them than just caffeine—they're also loaded with taurine and artificial stimulants, as well as tons of sugar. What does all this stuff do? Nothing good, according to Chen. "Chronic consumption of these is linked to increased blood pressure, risk of arrhythmias, heart attacks," and all of these are bad for your brain, too.

3. Sleeping with the lights on, including the TV

As countless studies have shown, light at night, even streetlights through a window, can disrupt the brain's circadian rhythms and sleep cycle. The blue spectrum light from a TV or phone is the worst of all, because sunlight is in the blue spectrum, so it tricks your system into thinking it's daytime.

4. Mouth breathing

Not only is it bad for your teeth and lungs, but it turns out that mouth breathing can disrupt your brain's rhythms and the way blood flows through it, Chen explained. This can impair memory and cognitive function, as well as worsen sleep apnea and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

5. Ignoring the side effects of supplements

"You have to know what you're taking and how much, and more is not always better," Chen said. "I've seen people unable to walk from taking too much vitamin B6 or increased pressure in the brain from taking too much vitamin A, and those are just a few examples."

6. Ignoring bowel function

Your gut and brain are very closely connected through the gut-brain axis, and deviations from a normal bowel evacuation schedule are associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline.

What's not normal? If you're going out less than every three days, or more than twice a day, Chen said it's time to start getting more fiber, probiotics, and water.

7. Avoiding flossing

Flossing your teeth can reduce the risk of stroke and irregular heart rhythms. "Researchers believe that reducing oral bacteria and gum inflammation may play a role in protecting brain and heart health," Chen explained, so floss your gums.

8. Excessive consumption of red meat

"Moderation is key," Chen said, "and eating too much red meat, especially processed types like bacon and sausage, has been linked to a higher risk of dementia."

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Source: Your Tango