A healthy nervous system is made up of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord, and controls bodily activities such as swallowing, moving, breathing, and speaking. The inability to do any of these activities shows that there is a problem with the nervous system. Senses, moods and memory are also regulated by this system.
The diseases that affect the nervous system are called neurological disorders. Examples of these diseases include brain injuries, neuro-infections, migraine, strokes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s. Globally, one in six people have a neurological disorder. This is equivalent to approximately one billion people worldwide.
Neurological disorders are common, but a shortage of trained personnel, lack of essential drugs, and poor health delivery systems lead to inadequate care. Minimizing incidents of these disorders can save you from the struggles others go through to get medical attention. The practices for maintaining a healthy nervous system are as follows:
Proper Nutrition
To transmit electrical impulses, nerves need vitamins, proteins, and various minerals. All these nutrients are available in different food types. One of the essential nutrients is amino acids, which function as a neurotransmitter, moving signals from one nerve ending to the next. Amino acids can be found in dark chocolate in the form of tryptophan. Minerals like potassium and calcium are other examples of vital nutrients. These regulate the electrical impulses that the nerves generate and transmit. Without these nutrients, the risk of epilepsy and nerve diseases increases. You can find these nutrients in prunes, oranges, and bananas.
Vitamins B1, B2, and B6 enable the transfer of impulses between the brain and the body. On the other hand, vitamin B12 protects nerves through its formation of myelin sheath which coats the nerves to provide insulation when transmitting electrical impulses. Vitamin B12 strengthens the sheath and assists in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, which occurs when myelin sheath wears out.
If your current diet does not provide one or more of these nutrients in recommended levels, consider taking dietary supplements to assist you. Follow this link to find out more on nutritional supplements. Vitamin E and vitamin C supplements help improve the health of your nervous system, and fish oil based supplements improve the health of your nerves.
Regular Exercise
Yoga and stretches make your nervous system strong. When life situations or work environments stresses you, your body produces cortisol hormone in very high amounts. If you do nothing to minimize your stress level the production of this hormone becomes constant.
This excess cortisol interferes with your nervous system, particularly your reflexes, memory, and concentration. Proper exercise can help boost your nerve functions, as well as muscles and other peripheral body parts.
There are several practices that you can apply on a daily basis to improve the functions of your nervous system. While nutrition and exercise contribute to overall well-being, specific food choices and selected exercises will help to improve and maintain the positive performance of your nervous system.
