12 Things You Didn’t Know You Do That Kills Your Brain Cells (part 2)

Continued from Part 1

Ouch. Even just reading that title kind of makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand up. On talks regarding the brain, we always tend to read more positive content – things that we can do to get a positive result. I’m sure you might have at one point, read “the top 10 foods to strengthen your brain,” “7 must-do’s to boost your memory,” or “the 4 best apps to boost your problem solving ability.”

We are constantly looking for ways to make our brain work better, but it seems like for the most part, not a lot of people know that there are some things that we do every day that are very bad for the brain.

In this case, perhaps the solution to a better, well-functioning brain may not have to necessarily lie in doing more, but maybe just in correcting the wrong things that we are already currently doing. The following is a list of twelve things that will kill your brain cells and will cause you mental problems. Avoid doing them!

(Note: This is a 3-Part article. If you’ve missed Part 1, click here.)

5. Dehydration. Dehydration doesn’t mean not being able to drink any sort of liquid over a few days. When you aren’t getting your recommended daily amount of water in a day (around a gallon of water), you are also affected by dehydration. Never mind the fact that water is essential for nearly all of the body’s processes, but the brain itself is 75% water – and not getting enough of it means your brain isn’t either.

6. Amphetamines. Yeah, that Adderall tablet that your friend may have slipped you right before the night of the exam – the same Adderall that you now take every day just to function at work – is killing you. You may think it’s great for the brain as you are able to focus for very long periods, but amphetamines can kill you. They are very addictive, cause a plethora of side effects, and they kill brain cells.

7. Lack of Exercise. Sure, not exercising doesn’t directly kill your brain cells in the same way everything else on this list does, but a lack of exercise does cause problems to the brain too, especially if you look at the opportunity cost of not exercising. You increase stress levels, as well as your chances for brain damage – on top of that, think about how the brain enhances your brain’s capacity and the other health benefits it brings!

8. Smoking Cigarettes. While we’re not here to give you a moral lesson on smoking, it’s true that smoking cigarettes is not only bad for your throat, lungs, and skin – it also takes a toll on your brain. Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that not only kill brain cells, but even prevent the production of new ones. Ouch!

Continued in Part 3