In-depth, research-backed discussion on everything to do with our grey matter.
I’m you’ve all heard the word ‘endorphins’ before; some of you may be au fait with their function, others may not – but whichever group you fall into, knowing how to increase the level of endorphins in your body can have profound effects on not only your mental and brain health but also your ability to manage pain. In today’s […]
Let me make an educated guess; at some point in your life, when you’ve been eating an item of food (or drink) that is classed as unhealthy, someone – probably your parents or grandparents – has uttered the phrase “You are what you eat. If you keep eating <insert unhealthy food here>, you’ll turn into <insert unhealthy food here>”. Sound […]
Whenever you’re feeling sick, or something doesn’t feel right in your body, you go to the doctors, right? But have you ever thought about having your brain health examined? When thinking about health, we’re almost solely focussed on our bodies – reducing our weight, losing body fat or attempting to prevent disease. However, it’s high time we started placing specific […]
Do you forget where you’ve left your keys? Do you message the wrong person because you’re thinking of someone else? Do you go downstairs to get something then completely forget what is it you’ve gone to retrieve? If this rings a bell, you, like many millions of others around the world, could be suffering from mental fatigue, or as it […]
In layman’s terms, a chemical imbalance in the brain occurs when there are either too many or too few chemical messengers – called neurotransmitters – in the brain. Neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, exist to facilitate connections, and ultimately communication, between nerve cells. It’s often theorised – through the aptly named ‘chemical imbalance hypothesis’ – that mental health conditions, […]
Fish oil is one of the most popular OTC (over-the-counter) supplements in the world. Extracted from fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, fish oil high in both EPA (eicosapentaenoic acids) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) fatty acids are purported to have a myriad of health benefits, including brain health. But is this really the case? In today’s piece, we’ll examine the […]
As you can probably tell from the title of this piece, this article will tackle the subject of nootropics – a topic that appears to be hot on the lips of all and sundry given their purported ability to make you smart. But are these’ smart drugs’ actually capable of boosting your intelligence? Is there any scientific evidence to back […]
Everything we do involves our brain. From thinking to cleaning our teeth to dreaming, our grey matter plays an integral part in it all. Alongside our heart, the brain is the most important organ in our body; therefore, it deserves the utmost care and attention to keep it working in optimal condition. However, exercising our brain or ‘brain training’ as […]
“You are what you eat”. A saying I’m sure we’ve all heard at some point and one that is particularly apt where our grey matter is concerned. Why? Because nutritional intake has a profound effect on brain health and function. Therefore, to promote and maintain cognitive performance and vitality, it is imperative to consume foods that facilitate both short- and […]
Dopamine is a multi-functioning brain-based chemical messenger, that is involved in a wide array of mechanisms and tasks, such as body movement, attention, memory and motivation1 2. When released in large quantities, it induces feelings of pleasure, which, in turn, motivates a person to repeat certain behaviours and actions (to elicit the same ‘reward’)3. On the flip side, however, when […]