Bloggin Noggin

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. 

Sleep. In these scary and uncertain times our immune systems are facing a potential unknown threat. This in itself is stressful which is not beneficial for the intricacies of our immune system response. The good news is sleep is a key component to helping us feel better and supporting our immune systems year round. 

Our gut health is an important part of our immune system and also for our general well being. Bloating, pain and problems with constipation, gas and burping are symptoms I hear about from my patients regularly. 

It’s not always easy to pack your diet with body-boosting vitamins and minerals throughout the day, so multi-vitamin supplements can help give your brain, eyes and body the nutrition it needs. Healthy eyes rely on a number of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to stay healthy.

It’s natural to feel anxious at times like this, when the news around the global coronavirus pandemic can feel overwhelming. It’s also highly possible that you, or those around you, if you’re self-isolating or working at home for an extended period of time may be prone to feelings of stress,  irritability, restlessness, boredom and loneliness.

Can Sauerkraut help your gut health? What is Sauerkraut?Pronounced sow-er-krowt, it is thought to have originated in China more than 2,000 years ago and is a type of fermented cabbage with major health benefits.

Food and our immune system- fact or fiction? No miracle cures BUT can certain foods make any difference you your immune response to coughs and colds? Berries- Berries have been found to have some cough and cold fighting abilities Why? They contain compounds ( known as flav-en-oids) with anti oxidants which are anti inflammatory. Any evidence? Yes- a study in New Zealand showed that adults could be up to 1/3 more protected from the common cold if they consumed flavonoid rich foods including black currants and elderberries.

What’s the leading killer of women in Scotland and what can you do about it?A quick review of The National Records of Scotland shows that Dementia & Alzheimer Disease is the leading cause of female deaths in Scotland accounting for 14.4% of all deaths in 20181.

Pets are good for your health. A 12 year study looking at nearly 3.5 million people  showed that owning a dog was related to a lower risk for heart disease, stroke and heart attack.

Eat better, manage stress, exercise, spend time outside, less time on screens- there are so many small changes we can make to help us feel better and look after our brains.

Can being active really make a difference in later life to the health of your brain? How much of a difference and HOW active do your really need to be to see the benefits?