Bloggin Noggin

What we eat makes a difference to both how we feel and the health of our brain. This is something that I hadn’t realised was as important as it is until I started researching brain health a few years ago. Why does what we eat matter so much for our brain?

Brain function and the Mediterranean Diet: tackling depression, dementia and weight loss We’ve talked before about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet ( https://www.nogginbrain.co.uk/add-a-taste-of-the-mediterranean-to-your-plate/ ) and it’s worth noting the science behind the recommendations on what to eat as part of a diet designed for health and wellbeing.

Can we teach ourselves to have a more positive outlook?   Headlines last week gave us another possible clue into a risk factor for developing dementia.

Are you doing Tik Tok? The app phenomenon can be good for brain health, and for all ages, but in moderation, mind.TikTok has 800 million active users worldwide. And 41 percent of TikTok users are aged between 16 and 24. It has has been downloaded 467 million times in India alone – nearly one-third of its total downloads.

“Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle” Plato We are talking a lot about Kindness at the moment and this is for good reason. Last year, I had the opportunity to be involved with prospective medical students who were practising university interview questions and I was fortunate to be given the topic of empathy to discuss with them.

Forgetting things more than normal ? Tired? Irritable? Struggling to focus or ‘get stuff done’? Everyday ways to give your brain a workout.

Monday morning. Even thought our normal routines are far from normal at the moment that Monday morning can still bring a sense of panic at all the things that need to be done today or in the coming week. And now there is home schooling, the constant fear of illness and the fact that we are separated from loved ones to contend with as well.

We LOVE reading at Noggin HQ. With so much choice and (ahem) time on our hands at the moment there has never been a better time to get stuck in to reading. Whether you are a speed reader or can only manage a couple pf pages a day reading is a great brain healthy habit for all ages.

Ways to keep our brains ticking; learn new words, get creative, doodle & sing.

We love to boogie, and not just on a Saturday night. Can dancing make us feel better? According to Dr Peter Lovatt, psychologist and dance expert, the answer is a big YES ( what an amazing job that must be…). Dancing, in different ways to other types of exercise, has the power to change the way we think, how we feel and boost our mood. 

There is a whole area of research dedicated to how music affects your brain- it’s called neuromusicology. (what a great name!). Music activates all areas of your brain and whether you are listening to it, playing it or humming it - music is a brain health must. Why? Music has been shown to make you happier, healthier and even more productive throughout life.

Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Over the coming weeks as our children are off school, it’s a great opportunity to look after your child’s brain health with reading.