Your brain is one of the most important organs in your body. Let’s face it, unlike an arm or a leg, if you didn’t have it, you wouldn’t be here.
Your brain is responsible for controlling your thoughts, memory and speech, and the movement and function of literally every part of your body. It’s pertinent to say that most of us take our brain for granted, until we can’t do one of these things.
‘Losing one’s mind’ eg not being able to remember, is one of the most feared ailments of ‘growing old’. But is it just affecting the older generation? Unfortunately, more and more young people are suffering from ‘brain fatigue’, of which memory-loss can be the first notable symptom.
The #1 cause of brain fatigue in young people is yep, you guessed it, screen time! A Swiss study in 2018 found a link between mobile phone use and adverse effects on young (aged 12-17) people’s memory retention(1).
Despite the recommended screen time of <2 hours per day, statistics show that teenagers spend on average 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen, and this is not including time spent on screens at school. This is astounding when you compare TV time back in the 1980s was on average 3.5 hours a day.
Whilst this information can be challenging for parents, there are some measures you can take to avoid the impacts of brain fatigue.
Firstly, talk with your kids, let them know your concerns, listen to theirs, educate them and then come to a compromise on screen-free time.
Secondly, make sure you serve up plenty of veggies, especially dark leafy green ones like broccoli and kale. Also, seafood like salmon, bluefin tuna and sardines are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for good brain health, as are all types of nuts, particularly walnuts.
There are some excellent nutritional supplements that can support the brain and all of its functions. Our pick is Sunflower Lecithin. Full of phospholipids important for healthy brain function, Sunflower Lecithin is a premium, nutrient-packed plant powder which you can simply add to cereals, soups, salads or smoothies.
Knowledge is not power without action. Take on these tips and you’ll be well on your way to better brain health.
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(1) ’A Prospective Cohort Study of Adolescents’ Memory Performance and Individual Brain Dose of Microwave Radiation from Wireless Communication’, Foerster M, Thielens A, Joseph W, Eeftens M, Roosli M, Environmental Health Perspectives, May 2018.
