Our brain is an extremely complex and delicate organ that intervenes directly or indirectly in all the body's processes. It is no surprise, therefore, if our lifestyle significantly affects its correct functioning and, therefore, our health in general.

Here are 11 habits that can damage it:

Don't have breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, since it has a great influence on our performance, endurance and emotional condition. During the first hours of the day, the brain needs nutrients to continue to "digest" the physiological processes after the nightly fasting it underwent. If we do not give him what he needs, he will have to use reserves and therefore make an excessive effort to maintain proper functioning.

Skipping breakfast can cause general depression, loss of concentration and memory, bad mood, low physical and intellectual performance. Therefore, remember to have a healthy and substantial breakfast.

To smoke

The bad habit of smoking considerably decreases the brain mass as well as the administration of oxygen to the brain; it is also proven that this vice promotes the appearance of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The heterocyclic amines released during the burning of a cigarette also interfere in the correct replication of DNA, resulting in mutations that cause the formation of cancer cells.

The high consumption of sugars is harmful to brain health

The predominance of refined sugars, white flours, fried and sliced ​​foods in our diet, accompanied by a lack of vegetables, fruits and fibers, favors the accumulation of harmful substances in our body.

Enhances the development of tumors, hinders the proper functioning of the immune system, causes malnutrition and interferes with neurological development.

Constant exposure to polluted environments

The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen, but different toxic substances can interfere in the exchange, transport and incorporation process of oxygen into the cells, resulting in a decrease in brain efficiency.

  Sleeping poorly damages brain health

You need to sleep 8 hours a day to rest your brain and ensure that metabolic processes occur in the correct way, producing energy and cell renewal. Sleep deprivation speeds up short-term brain cell death and keeps you tired and in a bad mood all day.

Eating too much

Ingesting foods that our body does not need causes the accumulation of excess substances in the form of fats and the hardening of the cerebral arteries, which interferes with their correct functioning.       Alcohol is a danger to brain health   Alcohol can cause damage in all organs and mainly in the nervous system, liver and heart. It also interferes with the chemical reactions that take place in the brain. Alcoholism, then, causes the death of neurons and decreases the speed of transmission of nerve impulses between them.       Violent reactions or premature stress

Stress causes multiple reactions in our nervous system. Some of these cause a decrease in mental capacity, in addition to increasing the risk of suffering cerebral hemorrhages and heart attacks.

Cover your head while sleeping

Sleeping with your head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decreases that of oxygen, which can lead to negative consequences in the brain.

Force the brain during illness

Working a lot or studying with great concentration while you are sick is harmful, given that your body's energy will be shifted to body care. Forcing the brain during this period can lead to a decrease in its effectiveness, as well as weakening your immune system even more, facilitating the appearance of the most different diseases.

The lack of stimuli and mental exercises puts brain health at risk

There is nothing better than thinking, having intelligent conversations, reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle to stimulate our brain. Activities of this type increase learning ability and memory, as well as the speed of reaction to stimuli.