Cell State — ensure your brain cells are well nourished#

Good cell state ensures an adequate supply of materials that brain cells, primarily neurons, need to work. Like other human cells, Neurons need water, energy and oxygen. Neurons and other cells around them also need certain nutrients to work effectively. The lack of any of these basic materials significantly decreases your ability to learn, even to live. Ensuring your brain has a good supply of all these materials provides a solid base on which the other learning state layers can perform well.

The four substances we examine in cell state are:

  • Glucose . The brain needs energy to create memories. Energy for the brain comes from Glucose.
  • Oxygen . The brain also needs oxygen to convert glucose into energy.
  • Basic nutrients . There are several basic nutrients your brain uses to grow and form memories.
  • Water . Water helps protect the brain and also helps move substances around the body.

Glucose (Energy) and learning #

Your brain needs much energy. Nerve transmission, or signals passing from one neuron to another, consumes over half of the energy used by your brain. This section covers:

  • The brain’s need for energy, the impact of a lack of glucose in the brain, and how you get energy into the brain.
  • The best foods for brain energy, and why. What’s the difference between complex carbohydrates and sugary foods?
  • What foods to avoid, and the impact of insulin on energy levels in the blood
  • Tips — including exams and the impact of large meals on energy levels (especially the Sunday lunch)

Read about Glucose (energy) and learning.

Oxygen, breathing and learning #

Neurons burns glucose with oxygen to obtain energy. This section covers:

  • The brain’s need for oxygen, and how it gets into the brain. What happens to oxygen usage during learning? What you can do to improve your oxygen use?
  • How to increase blood efficiency, including good foods, the role of Iron, the impact of Iron deficiency, and how Vitamin C helps.
  • How to improve lung efficiency — including foods, the role of fitness, and new lung exercisers such as Powerlung and Powerbreath.
  • How to increase pulse rate and strength, both during learning and longer term. Longer term ideas include cardiovascular fitness, and interval training
  • When to focus on breathing: Before learning, during learning, after learning, and during day-to-day activities. Is deep breathing always good for you (what about asthma)? Find more on abdominal breathing on the web.

Read about Oxygen, breathing and learning .

Basic nutrients for a healthy brain #

There are three basic nutrients, besides glucose, that are essential for good learning state. Fatty acids for building your brain, amino acids to help it communicate, and micronutrients to protect it. This section covers:

Fatty acids build your brain#

  • What is the role of fatty acids in maintaining the brain cell membrane or “skin” — including the function of lipids? What are the right fats to include in your diet — including Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA (part of the “omega-3” family of fatty acids) and Linoleic acid or LA (part of the “omega-6” family of fatty acids.)
  • Which of these fats can come from flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, green leafy vegetables, expeller cold-pressed sunflower, safflower, corn, sesame oils, and sea vegetables? Can you also get these from fish?
  • What is the best ratio of these two types of fats? Why do western diets contain poor ratios, and what can you do about it? Is vegetable-based oils part of the answer? Should you include more cold-water fish in your diet, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and trout?

Amino acids — connect your brain#

  • The role of neurotransmitters in the brain, and how your diet influences these.
  • The proteins that provide basic materials for neurotransmitters.
  • Which foods contain complete versus incomplete proteins, including Fish, meat, eggs, cheese and yoghurt, grains, legumes, seeds and nuts
  • Whether being vegetarian can affect your protein intake, and how traditional diets and combinations can help.

Micronutrients — protect your brain#

  • What are free radicals — and how can they damage the brain?
  • How does the body protect itself from free radicals — the role of antioxidants
  • What are some of the key antioxidants? Can Vitamin E, Vitamin C, glutathione, coenzyme Q10, and lipoic acid help?
  • The role of diet on antioxidant levels, including vegetables and fruit.

Read about Basic Nutrients for a healthy brain .

Water, dehydration and learning #

Water is the most plentiful compound in our body — over sixty percent of our body mass is water. This section covers:

  • The role of water in the body, including transport, protection and metabolism.
  • The impact on dehydration on learning. Typical symptoms, including headaches, sleepiness and dizziness.
  • Is the eight glasses a day guideline correct? How to tell if you are consuming enough water. What color should your urine be?
  • Is thirst a reliable indicator of fluid levels?
  • When to adjust your water intake, including exercise, temperature, and consumption of coffee of alcohol.
  • The impact of stress and adrenaline on your bladder.

Read about Water, dehydration and learning .

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