Boost your brain power

Be more productive at work with these tips to boost your brain power.

Sleepy eyes, headaches, Instagram scrolling, hunger – all these distractions and more can throw an efficient working day off kilter. But these annoying little disruptions can be easily avoided with just a few small changes to your routine.

Nutritionist Sarah Flower has provided five key tips to help boost your brainpower and keep you on the ball. ‘With so many distractions keeping our minds constantly occupied, it’s no wonder that our brains are struggling to keep up when we finally sit down at our desks. In addition to this, as many of us are desk-bound for many hours of the day our diets are increasingly falling short in providing the essential nutrients needed for optimum brain health,’ says Sarah. Take a look at how you can make you working day better…

Don’t underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep
Sleep is not only essential for our general wellbeing, but also vital for our brain health. Long-term sleep deprivation can cause irreparable damage to brain cells, not to mention low mood. To maximise productivity at work I would recommend getting at least eight hours of sleep to ensure you experience a full sleep cycle.

Think straight with Ginseng

In Chinese medicine Ginseng is hailed as an all-healing herb and it is thought to help with cognitive function, memory, energy levels, and mood – perfect for supplementing our busy lives!  It has also been used to great effect in studies to help patients suffering with Alzheimer’s and ADHD.  Opt for a high quality ginseng, such as Power Health’s Power Ginseng herbal remedy which contains the highest quality four to six year old Panax Korean Ginseng roots, regarded as the most potent ginseng in the world.

Take a chill pill

Many of us experience brain fog and a dip in concentration thanks to constantly being on the go and multitasking our way through the day. So it is important to dedicate some ‘downtime’ in your busy schedule, simply to relax and turn your thoughts off. Try to dedicate 15 minutes a day, at the very least, to this.

A healthy balanced diet will go a long way

Diet has a dramatic impact on how we function as well as our overall health.  A diet rich in processed foods, sugars and refined carbohydrates causes insulin fluctuations, increases our toxic load and creates and inflamed body.  This all has a negative impact on our brain health, and can impair our concentration levels, cognitive function, behaviour, and mood.  A study by researchers in The University of California, demonstrated that an intake of trans or hydrogenated fats from processed foods were linked to poor performance and cognitive function. Opt for real food, packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and try to avoid processed and sugary foods.

Load up on ‘super’ nutrients

Magnesium is a hero nutrient, as it is used in almost every process in the body. Neurotransmitters in the brain use magnesium in order to stimulate and regulate electrical activity. This super nutrient can also help protect brain cells from the damage caused by poor diet, agrochemicals, heavy metals and toxins from cleaning products.