Can you grow a healthier brain?

I fear I may have put the cart before the horse. Let me explain. 

Here on the blog, I spend a lot of time sharing about food and integrative medicine. Especially as those two things relate to mental and emotional wellbeing. However, what we have not talked about is the foundational principle that is acting in the background when we spend 10 minutes meditating, eat that leafy green salad or go out for a hike. 

Meet neuroplasticity. 

Neuroplasticity refers to our brains ability to grow, change and adapt to the environment across our lifespan. It stands in sharp contrast to the understanding that our brains become static and unchangeable at some point. Nope! We can help our brains fire and grow in a different way. 

One of the chief researchers on neuroscience and meditation, Richard Davidson, puts it this way: 

"Rather than think of the brain as a static organ, or one that just degenerates with age, it’s better understood as an organ that is constantly reshaping itself, is being continuously influenced, wittingly or not, by the forces around us."

I’m going to keep it simple for today to this single concept because in the next few weeks I want to share how things like mindfulness and food are actually impacting the brain via neuroplasticity. As well as some of the cool brain chemicals we can modify using lifestyle and food. Spoiler alert, eating more whole foods actually grows your brain. More to come! 

In case you prefer a video, I also recorded a short summary on neuroplasticity here:

Ultimately, neuroplasticity is a powerful antidote to feeling stuck and hopeless. As I’ve shared before, while I think control might be an illusion, we do have the opportunity for a tremendous amount of agency and knowing that the science shows this gives me that boost to carry on. 

All my best, 

Dr. Antonella