Today’s post will not help you lose weight, but it will be cool. We’re going to talk about the brain, an organ that comprises 2% of the body’s weight but uses 20% of its energy and oxygen. It’s the organ that does all my thinking and yet I rarely think about it. I’m grateful for my brain and I want to take good care of it. Let’s look at the healthy habits of sex, soup, and two fisted eating and see how they affect the brain.

But first, a brain joke: What kind of fish performs brain surgery?

A neurosturgeon

Sex stands for sleep and exercise. Sleep gives your brain time to process all the information it took in while you were awake. It also allows your brain to clear out all the a-beta proteins that have been discarded during the day as the neurons work. If left in the brain, these a-beta proteins tend to clump together and harden forming plaque. This plaque is one of the symptoms found in brains with Alzheimer’s. Scientists are still trying to prove whether plaque is a cause of Alzheimer’s or just a symptom. Either way, sleep is important for your brain.

And now, a joke: What do you call a skull without 86 billion neurons?

A no-brainer

Physical exercise gets your blood pumping to every nook and capillary to bring oxygen in and move toxins out. Getting mental exercise, such as learning new things and challenging the mind, has been shown to help ward off dementia.

And now, a joke: What kind of bees eat brains?

Zombees

Soup stands for water and vegetables. Your brain is 73% water and being only 2% dehydrated can affect your attention, memory, and other cognitive skills, so drink up.

And now, a joke: I once had a neuron working for me. I fired him.

There is a “second brain” in your intestines that contains 100 million neurons. Gut bacteria make dozens of neurotransmitters including serotonin. These good gut bacteria need healthy foods to keep your intestinal flora in balance, so feed them vegetables.

And now, a joke: I wasn’t going to have a brain transplant…but then I changed my mind.

Two fisted eating stands for portion control and enjoying our food so we’re satisfied with less. This brain connection is a loose one, so humor me. Stress and depression can shrink your brain (which is bad) so savoring your food–the textures, flavors, aromas–can make you feel happy which is neither stressful nor depressing. If you want to be depressed, you should know that the average IQ has gone down 13 points since the Victorian era. If you don’t want to be depressed, read this joke: what do neurons do on their birthdays?

They cell-ebrate

Was that joke depressingly bad? Try this one.

What kind of photos do neurons take?

Cell-fies

Your brain is amazing. Take care of it so it can take care of you. And don’t break the brain scanner. That would be a CATastrophe.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

References: Worst Jokes Ever, Reddit.com, bebrainfit.com, piedmont.org, sciencefirst.com

Food photos are of: Fennel Apple Salad, Hearty Lentil Soup, Baked Lentils