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Science & The Spirit
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BRAIN PLASTICITY
Health Helps Part 19
By Dane and Vicki Griffin
How plastic is your brain?
Before you insist that your brain isn’t plastic at all, make
sure you understand the question! The more “plastic” the
brain, the more ability it has to adapt to different demands,
stimuli, or environments. In other words, brain plasticity plays
a large part in how your nervous system responds to new
information and stress.
The number of brain cells you have cannot be changed. However,
you can make your brain more plastic by increasing the number of
connections between your brain cells. The more connections you
have, the more information you can process—and the easier you
will find it to handle sudden mental challenges and stresses.
Go plastic!
It’s as true with the brain as with anything else: Use it or
lose it! Make sure you have daily mental challenges—the more
mental stimulation, the more connections will form between your
brain cells. A healthy brain also needs a good blood flow.
Aerobic1 exercise, in particular, increases the amount of
capillaries in the brain. Studies suggest that physical and
mental exercise actually stimulate special genes in the brain to
“switch on” and produce denser, more fibrous nerves and
additional capillary support systems! Is your grandmother
complaining that she can’t think clearly anymore? Encourage
her to exercise her mind and body! According to recent studies,
new nerve connections and support systems can develop well into
old age!
But what if you don’t take care of your brain connections? You’ll
find yourself losing it—and complaining of such things as poor
memory, difficulty learning, inability to handle stress, and
even depression.
Losing strategies
Are you stressed out? Do you struggle with fear, anxiety,
hostility, or negative emotions? If so, your brain’s
plasticity may be taking a beating. Such stresses can actually
ruin the delicate nerves in an important memory center of the
brain known as the hippocampus. Common food items can do the
same type of damage. These include caffeine, large amounts of
sugar, and food additives like MSG, aspartame, and hydrolyzed
vegetable protein.2 A diet that is too high in fat also
decreases the oxygen supply to the brain, which means a greater
risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Other stressors that can
decrease brain plasticity include alcohol, tobacco, listening to
harsh music,3 and—surprise!—watching television for just
four hours a day.
Let’s promote plastic!
The good news is that there are lots of ways to help your brain
to keep its plasticity. We’ve already mentioned exercising
your brain and your body. Another way to keep the brain supple
is to choose a diet that is rich in whole grains, beans, fresh
fruits, and vegetables.4 Drinking plenty of water is also
important—it keeps nutrients flowing to the brain at just the
right levels.
The final Word
One of the most exciting ways to increase brain plasticity is to
study the Bible and memorize Scripture. Daily Bible study and
memorization increases plasticity, or the very power of the
mind. It also increases our capacity for knowing Christ, the
Source of all strength and victory. Lastly, it gives us the
ability to live above the power of sin, by filling our minds
with God’s thoughts.
God, speaking through Solomon, said much the same thing long
ago: “My son, attend to My words; incline thine ear unto My
sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the
midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find
them, and health to all their flesh.”5
Let’s keep plastic!
Part 1
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Copyright © LifeStyle Matters, Inc.
1. Exercise that causes marked temporary increase in respiration
and heart rate.
2. Often known as excitotoxins or glutamates. See Young Disciple
magazine, Vol. 7, No. 25.
3. Because of the stress reaction it produces.
4. Raw fruits and vegetables provide the brain with
antioxidants, which fight free radical destruction that causes
cell death. A rich supply of vitamins and minerals is essential
to brain hormone regulation, enzyme activity, and proper nerve
cell reactivity and health. A proper plant-based diet will be
naturally lower in fat, so blood oxygenation will be better.
5. Proverbs 4:20–23.
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