"Fall in love with your brain. It's the most important part of you." Dr Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics and author of Memory Rescue.

If your brain stopped working properly tomorrow, everything else would change.

Your relationships. Your ability to make decisions. Your memories. Your sense of self.

Yet most of us rarely give our brain a second thought. We’ll track our steps, worry about our waistline, and count heartbeats on a smartwatch - but the three pounds of tissue that controls everything we think, feel and do? That gets left to chance.

And part of the reason is simple: we can’t see it.

We notice wrinkles in the mirror, not neural connections in the hippocampus. We feel muscle tone, not neurotransmitter balance. So we assume that if we can’t see a problem, there isn’t one - until, of course, our memory slips, we feel 'foggy', or we're no longer interested in things that once gave us joy.

But the truth is that your brain is your most valuable asset.

It determines the quality of your days, your relationships, your joy, and even how long and well you live.

And it’s never too late to take care of it.

Below are five powerful, science-backed principles to help you start seeing - and treating - your brain differently.

1. Your Brain Is Your Command Centre

Your brain is the CEO of your body - overseeing every decision, movement, and emotion, even when you’re not aware of it. It’s directing operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without ever taking a break.

And yet, most of us expect it to run on fumes.

Skipping meals, losing sleep, or living under constant stress is like asking your CEO to work round the clock without food, rest, or encouragement - eventually, even the most dedicated leader starts to struggle.

The fact is that your brain makes up only about 2% of your body weight, but it demands around 20% of your body’s blood flow and oxygen - and 20-30% of your available glucose, the body’s main energy source. It’s the most energy-hungry organ in your body.

Every thought you think, every choice you make, and every memory you recall burns fuel. That’s why nourishing your brain with the right kind of energy matters so much.

When you eat a balanced meal - with protein to provide amino acids for neurotransmitters, healthy fats to support cell membranes, and fibre-rich carbohydrates to deliver a steady release of glucose - you’re giving your brain the premium fuel it needs to focus, plan, create, and remember.

And don’t forget oxygen. Movement, even in short bursts, increases blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients that keep it alert and energised. It’s like opening the windows in a stuffy room - suddenly, everything feels clearer and brighter.

When you start to see every meal, every breath of fresh air, and every night of quality sleep as a way to refuel your command centre, your daily choices take on a new sense of purpose. Because when your brain is running smoothly, everything else in life runs more smoothly too.

When your brain is running smoothly, everything else in life runs more smoothly too.

2. Brain Health Is Whole-Body health

We often think of the brain as something separate from the rest of the body - a mysterious organ floating inside our skull, somehow disconnected from our physical health. Part of this misunderstanding comes from how our healthcare systems are structured. Medical doctors focus on the body, while psychiatrists focus on the mind, as if they operate independently. But the truth is, your brain and body are in constant communication - and what affects one inevitably affects the other.

If you’ve ever noticed that your mood dips when you haven’t slept well, or that your memory feels foggy when you’re dehydrated or stressed, you’ve experienced this connection firsthand. Every heartbeat, breath, and meal you eat has an impact on your brain.

Yet when something feels “off” - when we can’t focus, when anxiety creeps in, or when sleep starts to suffer - the first solution we’re often offered is medication. While medication can be life-changing and absolutely necessary for some, it’s not the only lever we can pull. By supporting our physical health, we often give our brain what it’s been missing all along.

Inflammation, blood sugar fluctuations, hormonal changes, poor sleep, and nutrient deficiencies - these are not just body issues. They are brain issues too. And we have far more influence over these factors than we might think.

When you nourish your body well, move regularly, sleep deeply, and manage stress effectively, you’re not just supporting your physical health - you’re building a stronger, more resilient brain. Because brain health is body health.

By supporting our physical health, we often give our brain what it's been missing all along.

3. Your Brain Can Adapt And Grow At Any Age

One of the most exciting discoveries in neuroscience over the past few decades is that our brains are not fixed. For years, scientists believed that we were born with a set number of brain cells - and that as we aged, it was all downhill from there. But that’s simply not true.

Your brain has an extraordinary ability called neuroplasticity - the power to reorganise, adapt and form new connections throughout your life. Every time you learn something new, challenge yourself, or even think differently, your brain is reshaping itself.

Even more astonishing, your brain is capable of neurogenesis - the creation of new brain cells - well into later life. Deep within the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory and learning, new “baby” neurons are born every single day. But whether these new cells thrive or wither depends largely on what you do.

When you move your body, eat nourishing foods, get enough sleep, and expose yourself to new experiences, you strengthen your brain. Learning a new language, taking up a musical instrument, exploring new places, or even having stimulating conversations can all help these new cells form strong networks and become part of your brain’s circuitry.

It’s like tending to a garden - with the right care, sunlight, and nourishment, new growth flourishes. But neglect it, and those delicate new shoots fade away.

You’re not stuck with the brain you have today. Every day presents an opportunity to build a sharper, more resilient brain. Growth is possible - at any age.

Every day presents an opportunity to build a sharper, more resilient brain.

4. Protect Your Brain From Hidden Threats

Just because you can’t see your brain doesn’t mean it’s not being affected by what you do every day. Think about viruses or bacteria - you can’t see them, but you know they exist and can make you feel miserable if you don’t take precautions. That’s why you wash your hands, brush your teeth, and drink clean water - simple habits that protect you from invisible threats.

Your brain deserves that same kind of protection.

There are many silent threats that can harm your brain over time - chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammation, environmental toxins, high blood sugar, and even loneliness. You might not notice the effects straight away, but just like skipping a few nights of toothbrushing eventually leads to cavities, ignoring these factors can gradually wear down your brain’s resilience and clarity.

But once you learn what harms your brain, you can take powerful steps to protect it - and most of them are wonderfully simple.

• When you move your body regularly, you increase blood flow and oxygen to your brain, keeping your neurons well-nourished.

• When you eat a colourful, nutrient-rich diet, you supply your brain with antioxidants and healthy fats that shield it from inflammation.

• When you prioritise rest and manage stress, you help your brain repair, reset, and clear out toxins that accumulate during the day.

You already take small, protective steps for other parts of your body every single day - without thinking twice. Imagine how your life might change if you treated your brain with that same daily care and respect.

Your brain deserves protection.

5. Treat Your Brain Like Your Most Valuable Asset

If your brain were a luxury car, you’d fuel it carefully, schedule maintenance, and drive it with care. Yet many of us treat our brain more like a rental car on an open road trip - go, go, go, hoping it holds together.

But your brain is the engine of your life - and it’s irreplaceable.

When you invest in it, everything else improves: your relationships, your mood, your energy, your ability to make wise choices.

So ask yourself:

• What am I doing today that nourishes my brain?

• What habits quietly drain it?

• What one small change could I make this week to protect it?

It doesn’t need to be complicated. Add a handful of leafy greens to your lunch. Take a brisk ten-minute walk after work. Get to bed half an hour earlier. These micro-habits send powerful messages to your brain: You matter. I’m looking after you.

When you invest in your brain, everything else improves: your relationships, your mood, your energy, your ability to make wise choices.

A New Mindset For Midlife And Beyond

Here’s what I know after years of coaching people in midlife: when you start caring for your brain, everything changes.

You think more clearly.

You make better decisions.

You handle stress with greater ease.

You feel like yourself again.

And the best part? It’s never too late to begin. Your brain is waiting for your attention - ready to adapt, repair, and thrive when given the chance.

So, as you go through today, remember this: your brain is involved in everything you do.

Treat it like the priceless gift it is - and it will serve you brilliantly for the rest of your life.

Treat your brain like the priceless gift it is.

Feeling Foggy? You Have More Power Over Your Brain Than You Think.

Imagine moving from foggy and confused to clear and confident. It's absolutely possible! In Sharp Minds you’ll work with expert coaching and a compassionate community that turns small, consistent steps into real, lasting transformation - not just for your brain, but for the people you love. This is practical, science-backed change that empowers you to protect and sharpen your mind for life.