I am completed my certification in whole health and the question of what organ or organs really drive our body’s. The brain and all of its neurotransmitters and sensory capability is certainly key. After all, it speaks to our entire body through chemicals.Essentially directing all aspect of our bodily functions as well as emotions. But then on the other hand the heart with its power provides the force for our circulation which feeds our cells. And the heart is considered the seat of our emotions. So which really is more important?
A healthy body has a healthy heart and a healthy brain, having a healthy lifestyle and including a healthy diet into it can have profound effects on both your heart and mind. Heart-healthy lifestyle like eating the right foods, staying active and controlling stress can have positive effects on your way of thinking and memory. The unhealthy behaviors that can lead to a heart disease, such as obesity, physical inactivity, affect your brain as well, having these behaviors or eating less nutritive food high in Trans Fat causes narrowing of the blood vessels. When the blood flow to the brain reduces as a result of this, your brain won’t function properly, hence cognitive problems, memory problems, disorientation and illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other problems arise.
Medical experts never separate heart from the brain, or argue which is the most powerful or important organ in the body, both heart and the brain play a vital role in keeping us healthy, maintaining the bodily functions and most importantly keeping is alive. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is abruptly blocked; it can lead to a life-long disability, high blood pressure is one of the major causes of a stroke. In medical terms, there is a strong connection between a heart and a brain, heart pumps blood and feeds the brain, brain needs a consistent blood supply and oxygen, without that blood supply it cannot sustain for long unlike other body tissues.
With age, narrowing of the blood vessels like arteries accelerates, with less blood supply available for the brain, people with age experience with thinking problems, foggy brain, memory loss and other issues. Interestingly, people with an active lifestyle have fewer memory and thinking issues at an older age, and an active lifestyle works well for both your brain and the heart. In one way brain could be the most powerful that it does all the thinking and keeps memories, but without the heart’s supply of oxygen it cannot survive for even five minutes. That is why both heart and the brain are vital organs, and a healthy lifestyle is meant to keep both working in optimal condition.
Technically speaking, one can live without a brain but not without a heart. But then again brain is a complex organ as compared to a heart; our brain controls many important body functions, such as walking, balance, appetite, sleep, heart is a simpler organ that just needs to keep beating and pump blood. Therefore, when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle what you eat to keep your heart healthy is good for your brain, too, such as eating raw vegetables, fruits, whole grains, limiting artificial foods, eating nuts and fish. But, some people do focus more on heart health, as heart diseases are the major cause of deaths worldwide.
Our brain also needs nutrients to keep working optimally, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Inflammation in the brain is getting a lot of attention now, it is said that Omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are important for reducing inflammation and maintain the levels of serotonin and dopamine, the hormones that make us feel good. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency is linked to depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Similarly vitamin B12, B6 and folate are equally important for brain function. So, eat healthy for your brain as you eat healthy for your heart.
I don’t know where you may weigh in on this discussion but either way clean eating along with a healthy life style are crucial for a healthy heart and brain . So eat up.
