YOUR AMAZING BODY

How much do you know about your amazing body? You are more remarkable than you ever imagined!

And some of these amazing answers will help you live longer and age more slowly.

15 INTERESTING FACTS AND RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES IN DAILY PARTS

YOUR AMAZING BODY NO. 11

How fast do nerve impulses travel to and from the brain?

Nerve impulses travel to and from the brain at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour. That’s faster than a Formula 1 racing car.

Within the brain, the impulses travel along axons, which are coated with a fatty sheath called myelin.  In the disease multiple sclerosis, the myelin around the axons of some nerves gradually breaks down, so that the nerves can no longer efficiently carry electric signals between the brain and body.

The quality of the fats in your diet is really important because they help determine the health and quality of the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects your brain cells and, indeed, the walls around each cell in the body. That’s another reason for avoiding low-quality trans-fats and particularly increasing your intake of Omega-3 oils.

The brain is high in fatty tissue and therefore especially vulnerable to inflammation and oxidation, which are known to result in the deterioration of brain cells, leading to dementia. Anti-inflammatory nutrients help protect the brain from inflammation and free radical damage – and curcumin/turmeric seems particularly protective.

Your brain has about 100 billion neurons, and MRI scans show each of them can connect up with thousands of others. Some 50% of these connections are built in the first 5 years of life, and it is the number and richness of these connections that are a major determinant of later intelligence. In turn, it is the richness of activities and experiences in the first five years of life that create these connections.

By the way, the magnet used for MRI scans is as strong as the ones used to pick up cars in a scrapyard!