How to keep the brain oxygenated

Keeping the brain oxygenated is essential to ensure it functions properly. This organ consumes 25% of the oxygen that enters the body and when it does not receive the necessary proportion it manifests itself in exhaustion, difficulty understanding, lack of concentration and even depression. In the long term it would cause more serious problems, such as a stroke.

Lack of oxygenation is a factor that affects mental health. At the same time, conditions like anxiety make it more difficult to oxygenate the brain. This leads to weakening of the mind, which in turn favors depressive states..

There are some subtle signs that the brain is not getting enough oxygen. For example, being frequently forgetful or easily distracted; Added to this is the feeling of fatigue, for no reason, or the occasional depressed mood. Given all this, today we will talk about the importance of cerebral oxygenation and how to achieve it.

Keep the brain oxygenated

Sometimes the brain cannot access an adequate volume of oxygen for reasons that have nothing to do with breathing or anxiety. One of them is the functioning of the liver. This organ has, among other functions, to cleanse the body of toxins. Therefore, when we talk about “detoxifying the body” the reference is largely to purifying the liver.

If it works correctly, it oxygenates the blood. If so, the path is opened for the appropriate amount of oxygen to reach the brain. The effects are noticeable: better memory, concentration and mood. Therefore, for the brain to be oxygenated, we should begin by evaluating the state of the liver.

Now, another element that prevents proper oxygenation of the brain, as we had already mentioned, is anxiety. When it appears, the production of cortisol, the famous stress hormone, increases, reports an article by Academic Press.

This substance has physiological effects that reduce the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to the brain. Then everything becomes a vicious circle: the more stress, the less oxygenation; Less oxygenation, more stress.

During physical exercise, messenger substances are released into the blood that travel to the brain and influence its dynamics.

Methods to keep the brain oxygenated

Understanding the importance of oxygenating the brain, the obvious question arises: how to do it? In general terms, A healthy diet, stress control and frequent physical activity are the three basic pillars.

Harvard Medical School highlights in an article that The brain requires a constant supply of quality food as fuel, that provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for optimal functioning. Besides, Increased anxiety symptoms linked to blood oxygen levels (Mc. Dowell et al.2021).

Likewise, as a publication from the University of Costa Rica points out, Exercise induces specific processes -such as oxygenation- and causes, among other positive effects, rapid and efficient communication between different brain areas.

In addition to these guidelines, we also want to suggest some specific and, really, little-known actions.

The body posture

Proper body posture promotes the flow of oxygen to the brain. Sitting with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor, without crossing your legs, facilitates the work of the diaphragm, ensuring it the necessary space for its movement. Likewise, it helps all the organs located under the diaphragmatic dome to work better.

The breathing

Good breathing simplifies oxygen access to the brain. To achieve this, the exercise we propose below is recommended:

Sit down and close your right nostril, pressing it with one of your fingers. Inhale deeply through the left nostril. Hold your breath for 5 seconds. Exhale through the same nostril, counting to five, without opening your mouth. Repeat 10 times and then switch to the other nostril, performing the complete sequence.

energetic yawn

In general, it is advisable to maintain regular physical activity. The ideal is to exercise every day, for at least 15 minutes. That said, there are some techniques that can be performed occasionally, if any sign appears that the brain is not sufficiently oxygenated.

One of them is the energetic yawn.. It consists of placing the open hand on the face, placing the thumb under one cheekbone and the little finger under the other. The other fingers should rest between the eyebrows, while you simulate a deep yawn.

As long as there is good breathing, oxygen access to the brain is facilitated.

A healthy lifestyle

The effects of not keeping the brain oxygenated usually go unnoticed in the short term. Over time, continuous fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and poor performance appear. Ultimately, the brain becomes more vulnerable and ages more quickly.

Many problems can be avoided with a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy, resting well, staying active and relaxing, instead of giving free rein to stress, are simple actions that undoubtedly provide a higher quality of life and benefit brain oxygenation.

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