March 14-20, 2016 is Brain Awareness Week. BAW is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. In no unclear terms, the brain is the “boss” of the body. It controls virtually everything the body is capable of doing, even during sleep. What keeps the brain functioning are five main parts:
- Cerebrum: The cerebrum takes up about 85 percent of the brain’s weight and helps us solve math problems, figure out video games and is where both short- and long-term memory resides.
- Cerebellum: Located at the back of the brain, the cerebellum controls balance, movement and coordination to allow muscles to work together. The cerebellum enables us to stand, keep our balance and perform complex acts, such as staying on a surf board.
- Brain stem: Connecting the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, the brain stem is in charge of all the functions that keep the body alive, including breathing, digesting and circulating blood. The brain stem controls the involuntary muscles, which are the ones that work automatically, without thought. Involuntary muscles are located throughout the heart and stomach.
- Pituitary gland: Only about the size of a pea, the pituitary gland has a very important job. It is responsible for producing and releasing hormones into the body. It enables children to undergo puberty and grow. It helps the metabolism by controlling the amount of sugar and water in the body.
- Hypothalamus: Known as the body’s thermostat, the hypothalamus controls temperatures. It knows when the body is too hot and tells it to perspire. It knows when it’s too cold and sends the shiver response. The hypothalamus is what enables the body to get back to the right temperature.
Even the commonly held belief that the heart dictates our emotions is false. Scientists believe that the part of the brain called the amygdala is responsible for emotion. Located on each side of the brain, amygdala is Latin for almond, and that is exactly what this part looks like.
Another common fallacy is that as long as the heart keeps pumping, there is life. The heart is indeed a major organ that keeps the body alive—there is no question that if the heart stops beating for more than half an hour, chances of revival are slim to nil. The true test of life or death lies more clearly with the brain. If the brain is “dead,” there is no life, even if the heart is being kept alive via machine.
According to Dr. Isaac Tawil, assistant professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, “Many people think death happens when the heart stops beating and the lungs stop breathing, but machines can support those functions when the brain no longer can. Typically brain death starts with some sort of devastating neurologic injury that can come in many different forms.” Examples of neurologic injury include brain trauma, a stroke caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain, or if the heart has stopped and the brain goes without oxygen and other nutrients needed to survive.
So what can you do for your brain to stay functional and health?
- Eat healthy foods that contain potassium and calcium, two minerals that are important for the nervous system—found, for example, in nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, oranges, bananas and yams.
- Eat salmon and other fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Take OMEGA+++ for its omega-3s but also for its omega-6s and omega-9s.
- Exercise regularly.
- Wear a helmet when riding a bike or playing other sports that require head protection.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol.
- Do puzzles, read, play music, create art and practice anything else that gives your brain a workout!
