How to Grow New Brain Cells

I learned how to grow some new brain cells from watching a TED Talk. Awesome talk.

Watch the TED talk here.

Here’s a list of things I want to remember after watching the talk.

• Adult brains can still generate new neurons in the hippocampus.
• These cells are important for learning, memory, mood and emotion.
• Things that affect neurogenesis (the development of nerve tissues)
  • Diet
    • Increase neurogenesis
      • Resveratrol (red wine): keeps new neurons alive
      • Omega 3 fatty acids (fatty fish like salmon): helps decrease depression
      • Calorie restriction: improve memory capacity
      • Folic acid (dark green veggies, beans, avocado…)
      • Zinc (grass-fed beef, yogurt, lamb…)
      • Flavonoids (dark chocolate, blueberries…)
      • Intermittent fasting (spacing the time between your meals)
      • Caffeine
      • Curcurmin
    • Decrease neurogenesis
      • High saturated fat: depression
      • High sugar
      • Soft diet (no chewing)
      • Ethanol (alcohol except red wine)
      • Vitamin A, B, E defficiency
  • Mood
    • Decrease neurogenesis: depression, stress
  • Activity
    • Increase neurogenesis
      • Higher physical activity (Running, sex …)
      • Learning
    • Decrease neurogenesis:
      • Sleep deprivation
  • Age
    • Decrease neurogenesis when getting older