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How Stress Impacts Your Cognitive Function

In today’s fast-paced world, stress seems unavoidable. You may know that stress causes physical symptoms like headaches or muscle tension, but did you know that it can also have a significant effect on your cognitive function?

Stress can:

  1. Impair your memory and concentration
    When stressed, your body releases cortisol (also known as the stress hormone), which can interfere with your brain’s ability to form new memories and focus on tasks leading to forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, decreased productivity.
  2. Reduce your problem-solving and decision-making skills – clouding your judgment, making it harder to weigh options, consider consequences, and make sound decisions. This in turn can result in poor problem-solving skills, impulsive behavior and affect your overall cognitive performance.
  3. Impact your learning and creativity
    When stressed, your brain is in a constant state of alert, which can limit your ability to think creatively and retain new information, hindering your learning process, ability to think outside the box and lowering creativity.

3 Tips to Nourish Your Mind and Build Stress Resilience

You cannot always control external stressors. But you can help build resilience from within by nourishing your brain and body by breathing mindfully, staying hydrated, and prioritizing nutrient rich foods.

Breathe mindfully

Breathing is a powerful and quick way to dramatically shift your nervous system. When stress clouds your mind, breathwork can provide the clarity you need. Practice this simple technique:

  • Inhale slowly through your nose to a count of 4, allowing your belly to expand.
  • Exhale fully through your mouth to a count of 6, consciously releasing tension.
  • Repeat for 2-3 minutes, focusing on this deep, rhythmic breathing pattern.

The extended exhalation activates the relaxation response, increasing oxygen flow to your brain. This quickly reduces brain fog while sharpening focus, concentration, and memory recall.
Make breathwork a habit, even if just for 5 minutes daily. It can help you reclaim peak cognitive performance when it matters most.

Stay hydrated

Hydration plays a crucial role in supporting your body’s stress response system. Dehydration can exacerbate stress levels and lead to fatigue, mood swings, and cognitive impairment.

  • In general aim to drink about half your body weight in ounces of water (for example140 lbs. = 70 oz of water) throughout the day to support optimal brain function. Adjust as needed for summer heat, workouts or other factors.
  • Infused water, chia water, herbal teas, and coconut water are great options to keep hydrated and also provide additional micronutrients.

Choose nutrient dense foods

Nourishing your body with nutrient dense foods is essential for supporting your body’s ability to manage stress

  • Get macronutrients at every meal: quality protein, fats from nature, carbs from plants
  • Increase your micronutrient diversity intake (minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals). How many colors on your plate each meal? How many plant foods in a day? Remember herbs and spices count too!
    Foods high in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, and nuts can help combat oxidative stress. Complex carbohydrates like rainbow vegetables, legumes and whole grains can help regulate serotonin levels, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.

Certain foods have been shown to have stress-reducing properties and can help support your body during times of heightened stress :

  • fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids – linked to reduced anxiety and improved mood
  • foods high in magnesium, such as spinach, kale, nuts, and avocado help relax muscles, reduce anxiety, and support neurotransmitter function during times of stress
  • green tea or herbal teas like chamomile, lemon balm and rooibos can also have calming effects on your mind and body.

What to Do

Recognize the detrimental effects of stress on your cognitive abilities ((memory, concentration, problem-solving skills, learning, and creativity). Take proactive steps to manage stress levels. 💪

By staying hydrating, nourishing your body with nutrient dense foods and practicing mindful breathing you can equip yourself with the tools to better manage stress and promote overall resilience.

Small changes in your daily food choices can have a significant impact on your ability to cope with stress and thrive in the face of life’s challenges. Build one new habit at a time. 🌟

What new habit will you start today to build stress resilience?

For more empowerment

5 Breathing Techniques to help reduce stress – Dr. Ranjan Chatterjee

Stress Management Activities – Dr. David Perlmutter
Commit a minimum of 10-20 minutes to a stress management activity of your choice. Try and establish a routine that you keep as often as possible – ideally the same time every day.

From Toxic to Thriving: Examining Stress’s Effects on the Brain – Dr. Austin Perlmutter
Here are 3 key things to know about the link between brain wellness and stress that you’re probably not hearing about (as well as some strategies to mitigate stress)

10 Tips to Drink Water Daily – Better Digestion, Gut Health, and Brain Power!

In the hustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for your health: water. Hydration isn’t just about quenching your thirst; it’s the key to unlocking your body’s potential, especially when it comes to fueling your digestion, fortifying your gut health, and supercharging your brain function.

Energize Your Digestion

Proper hydration helps break down your food, absorb nutrients, and move waste through your digestive tract efficiently. Without an adequate water intake, your digestion can slow down, leading to issues like constipation and bloating. By staying hydrated, you can support optimal digestion and ensure that your body can effectively extract and utilize nutrients from the foods you eat.

Nurture Your Gut

The gut (gastrointestinal tract) is home to trillions of bacteria that play a vital role in your overall health. These beneficial microbes help digest food, produce essential nutrients, and support your immune system. A well-hydrated body promotes a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which is crucial for proper digestion and immune function. Water also helps maintain the mucosal lining of the gut, protecting it from damage and inflammation. Cheers to a hydrated gut and a flourishing ecosystem within!

Ignite Your Brainpower

Believe it or not, hydration is closely linked to brain health and cognitive function. Your brain is a powerhouse that relies on water to fuel its every move. It is made up of about 75% water, and even mild dehydration can impair memory, concentration, and mood. Adequate hydration is essential for maintaining proper brain function, supporting neurotransmitter production, and ensuring efficient communication between brain cells. By keeping your brain hydrated, you can enhance mental clarity, focus, and overall cognitive performance.

Tips for Staying Hydrated

💦 Challenge yourself: Set daily water intake goals and challenge yourself to reach and exceed them for a fun and motivating hydration journey. Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water (140 lbs. = 70 oz of water). When exercising, or on a hot day you may need more. How to know you’re hydrating adequately? Quick bathroom check –plentiful and clear urine indicates you are. Dark urine is a reminder to drink more water.

💦 Start your day with a glass of water: Kickstart your morning hydration routine by having a refreshing glass of water as soon as you wake up.

💦 Keep a trusty water bottle by your side as your hydration sidekick – sip, refill, repeat!

💦 Create a water schedule: Break your day into segments and assign specific times to drink water, ensuring consistent hydration.

💦 Set reminders: Use alarms, apps, or sticky notes to prompt yourself to drink water throughout the day.

💦 Jazz up your H2O game with infused water using zesty herbs, crisp veggies or fresh fruit for added flavor and nutrients.

💦 Tune into your body’s cues. Feeling hungry? Drink more water. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger.

💦 Dive into water-rich foods like crunchy veggies, juicy fruits, and nourishing soups to boost your hydration levels deliciously.

💦 Add electrolytes. Skip the Gatorade, instead add a pinch of sea salt to your water a couple times a day. When I do need more than sea salt, sugar-free Liquid IV is my preferred electrolyte option.

💦Reward yourself: Celebrate your hydration achievements with a bubble bath, a massage, a special treat to stay motivated and reinforce the habit of drinking more water.

In a nutshell, hydration isn’t just a drink – it’s your ticket to a thriving digestive system, a resilient gut microbiome, and a razor-sharp brain. So, grab that water bottle, take a sip and let the habit of hydration increase your energy and boost your health. Salud!

How will you drink your water today? 😊

Additional tips

The Ultimate Guide to Infused Water – Wondermom Wannabe

Homemade Electrolyte Drink – Wellness Mama

The Emerging Science of Hydration – Deanna Minich

Hydration is an integral component of health and should be considered alongside nutrition for promoting optimal wellbeing. Dehydration accelerates aging and diseases of aging. Skip to the end of her article for a recap of what to keep in mind with hydration

#functionalnutrition #hydration