Nextweekers

Making a Good Brain Great (lecture by Dr. Daniel Amen from "Thinking Ahead: Lifelong Wellness Expo" at CSUF 03/30/07)

*Principles of a Good Brain

1. How involved we are, how we think, feel, act, interact, who we are (ie. mother, friend, coworker, manager, etc.) is a reflection of our brain.

2. Reasons not to do drugs: Healthy brain (no drugs) vs. unhealthy brain (drugs):

When the brain is healthy, it works right, you work right (ie. happy, effective, consistent, reliable); when the brain is unhealthy, it works wrong, you are in trouble (ie. unhappy, ineffective, inconsistent, unreliable)

Why you shouldn't smoke: Smoking is the #1 cause of stroke, Alzheimer's disease...

3. The brain is the most complex organ. It consists of billion neurons, thousands of connections between cells, more connection than stars in universe, and weighs about 2% of our body weigh.

4. The brain is very soft (like tofu, custard, soft butter, egg, jello) and is housed in a hard skull (with sharp ridges). Brain injuries matter!!! Skiing, snowboarding, boxing put your brain at risk of brain injury.

5. Things that can hurt your brain:

Drugs, alcohol, stress, environmental toxins, lack of exercise, brain injuries, sleep deprivation, negative thinking, smoking, excessive caffeine, too much TV, no brain activity, violent video games

6. Many things help the brain:

Social connections (conversation activates the brain), new learning, reading, healthy diet, learning music, positive thinking, making love (sex & brain), exercise, dancing (coordination), table tennis, meditation optimizes the frontal lobe, gratitude (list three things you are grateful for everyday) helps antidepressants, multivitamins everyday, fish oil (lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, improves the heart, eyes, hair, brain, and joint).

7. One size does not fit everyone: Most problems such as obesity, ADD or Depression, are not single, simple disease.

8. Imaging is an essential tool to help people who suffer brain problem to distinguish between a healthy brain and an unhealthy brain such as ADHD, Alzheimer, etc. Treat brain problems early. The earlier the better.

*Seven steps to optimize the brain:

1. Protect Your Brain: Wear helmet and avoid toxic substances such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine, caffeine, Vicodin, too many medications.

2. Feed Your Brain: Eat right (lean protein, high fiber, low bad fat, Omega 3 fatty acids, fish, tuna, salmon, walnuts, nuts, olive oil, canola oil)

3. Kill the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) That Invade Your Brain: Think right, positive thoughts, avoid "Mind reading, Fortune telling, Always or Never Thinking, Guilt beatings."

4. Work Your Brain: Physical exercise and learning new things

5. Make Love for Your Brain: Sex, Intimacy and Emotional Bonding.

6. Develop a "Concert State" for Your Brain: Deep relaxation (take slow, deep breath) and focus (use music to help develop concentration skills ie. classical music or learning a musical instrument)

7. It's all about Choices & Attitudes. Your attitude matters!