Upgrade your brain and achieve peak performance with these top 8 tips

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The human brain is absolutely incredible. It is estimated to contain upwards of 100 billion neurons and 100,000 miles of axoms- enough to encircle the earth four times. Experts have stated that over the course of a lifetime a human being will retain up to 1 quadrillion pieces of information and your brain can hold up to 2.5 petabytes of information, or the equivalent of 300 hours of television.

Much like a race car, we must give our brain the right fuel and use it in the right way to keep it in a peak performance state.

8 top ways to keep your brain in a peak performance state are….

Working memory games

Working memory games are extremely powerful for increasing short-term memory, I.Q. and brainpower. Dual N-Back training program is one of the best working memory games on the market and uses a range of stimuli to work both the audio and visual memory of the brain simultaneously. Some programs have even shown to boost I.Q. significantly over the course of 20 days (up to 20 points). One of the most user-friendly programs is HighIQpro, which offers a valid IQ test pre- and post-training, real time comparisons with other users, and is the only one proven to increase I.Q. by up to 20 points. You can check it out here.

 Omega 3s

 Omega 3s are vitally important for brain health, Earl Mindell, RPh PhD has been stated as saying, “[Omega 3s] are instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals and ultimately helps the brain to function at an optimum level.” The best sources of Omega 3s are: fish oil (make sure to get pharmaceutical grade and a brand that tests for toxins), chia seeds, and flax seeds.

MCT Oil

MCT oil (medium chain triglyceride oil) is absolutely amazing for your brain. In a 2004 study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, they discovered that the administration of MCT oils caused a significant improvement in cognitive functioning in those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and almost immediately improved cognitive functioning in adults with memory disorders. The best way to add MCT oil to your diet (without the horrible gastrointestinal effects) is to start with one teaspoon and work your way up to one to two tablespoons for maximum effect.

Magnesium

Magnesium protects the brain from neurotoxins and is vital for over 300 functions in the body. Carolyn Dean, ND and author of The Miracle of Magnesium, has stated that “the most enlightened surgeons give extra magnesium to their patients before and during surgery, especially brain surgery, because it helps protect the brain.” Start with 300 milligrams a day and increase from there to see what your body needs. If you develop diarrhea or other gastrointestinal responses, decrease your intake.

Water

Our brains depend on proper hydration to function optimally and if you lose too much water, that balance is disrupted and brain cells lose efficiency. The longest amount of time our bodies go without water is after waking up from sleep. It is important to fully hydrate yourself in the morning and not head straight to the coffee maker (which has a dehydrating effect). Force yourself to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water daily for best effects. For example, if you are 200 pounds, drink 100 ounces of water (12.5 cups). Choose pure, filtered water for best effects, as tap water contains tons of toxins and fluoride, which is detrimental to brain health.

Exercise

 Exercise is absolutely vital if you want your brain to function in a peak performance state. Exercise not only helps alleviate stress and depression, it also helps boost memory and overall brain function. In one study, researchers found that brain volume increased in a number of areas after participants exercised, and the participants also performed noticeably better than their lazier counterparts, performing 10 to 15 percent better on a variety of memory and attention tasks after getting sweaty.

Aim for 20 minutes of daily activity or more for maximum benefits.

Sleep

Are you getting enough Zzz’s? If not, your brain could be suffering. Sleep helps the nervous system function properly and studies reveal that when animals and people fail to get enough sleep, concentration, coordination, memory, and mood suffer. Make sure to get between 6-8 hours of shut eye a night for maximum benefits.

Getting frisky

I doubt you will be disappointed to know this- a study done by a team of researchers at the University of Maryland found that regular sexual activity creates new neurons in the brain and also improves cognitive function. Another study done in 2010 found that sexual experiences cause cell growth in the hippocampus, an area that’s vital for long-term memory. So don’t be afraid to take a “sexy time” study break, your brain will thank you for it.

 References:

http://www.viralnova.com/brain-facts/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-the-memory-capacity/?page=2

https://www.onnit.com/academy/mct-fats-found-in-coconut-oil-boost-brain-function/

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55784&page=2

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-illuminated/201010/why-your-brain-needs-water

http://www.brainfacts.org/sensing-thinking-behaving/sleep/

Sarah Owens is creator of the popular blog http://www.Successhack.org, everything that has to do with peak performance for health and the mind. She has been a lover and researcher of holistic nutrition, subconscious therapies, and health for over 7 years.

Sarah is the author of the popular E-book Peak Performance Nutrition, a book that you can now download for free on her site. She encourages everyone to use their own intuition to find what works for them for peak performance, health, and success.

Sarah Owens
Sarah Owens is creator of the popular blog http://www.Successhack.org, everything that has to do with peak performance for health and the mind. She has been a lover and researcher of holistic nutrition, subconscious therapies, and health for over 7 years.

Sarah is the author of the popular E-book Peak Performance Nutrition, a book that you can now download for free on her site. She encourages everyone to use their own intuition to find what works for them for peak performance, health, and success.