There's nothing like the New Year or even the start of a new month to motivate us into adopting better health habits. What's bad for your brain is bad for your overall health. The damage is so subtle and gradual it escapes our notice. ] But the accumulated damage over the years makes us a bit less intelligent at best. Alzheimer disease affects the majority of older people.

1. No Breakfast
   People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration. They think that they are eating less by skipping breakfast, but in fact the opposite happens since they get so hungry at lunch they eat without any control. 80% of obese people skip breakfast. Think of that! Avoid white sugar, juices, croissant and white bread and get eggs, high fiber cereals or low fat cheese with one cup of coffee or tea. Overeating causes hardening of the brain arteries, hypertension and small strokes leading to a decrease in mental power.
   
   
2. Sedentary lifestyle
   lack of exercise and muscle mass affects circulation to the brain and promotes residual toxic waste in the brain.
   
   
3. Smoking
   It causes multiple brain shrinkage and doubles Alzheimer disease. With 4000 different chemicals per cigarette it should not be surprising.
   
   
4. High Sugar consumption
   Too much sugar will stimulate insulin secretion thereby causing reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar later) thus interfering with brain development.
   
   
5. Minimize Pollution
   Minimize air pollution. The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency. Avoid pesticides brought into your home and food.
   
   
6. Sleep Deprivation
   Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells. You are more likely to get good sleep if you avoid heavy late evening meals, avoid caffeine after 2PM, exercise 30 minutes every day and go to bed at the same time every night.
   
   
7. Head covered while sleeping
   Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
   
   
8. Drinking too much alcohol and taking too many drugs
   Avoid alcohol. Alcohol and cigarettes are neurotoxins. They also affect your liver which is the waste management factory responsible to protect your body and your brain from unavoidable toxins. Do not take Prozac and Valium unless absolutely necessary. Use antioxidants and rely instead on regular exercise to fight burn-out, stress and depression.
   
   
9. Lead and mercury poisoning
   avoid dental fillers with mercury. Avoid large fish from polluted waters. Avoid food with pesticides. Switch your car AC on "air recycle mode" to limit toxic fumes from car exhausts.
   
   
10. Not enough brain stimulation
    Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain. Decrease TV watching and computer games in favor of reading interesting books and being around intellectually stimulating people. Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage. Never retire as long as you are in good health. The rule of "use it or lose it" applies to the brain as well.