An Understanding of Lifestyle Events That Steal Our Mind
The presence of heavy metals in the brain, including copper and mercury, are a constant source of stress, accelerates aging, impairs communication, shows outward signs of behavior changes, damages adrenals, increases depression and can eventually progress into Alzheimer’s.(19) What’s scarier is the ‘neurotoxin aluminum’ that is welcomed in our kitchen and bathroom products across the globe. Aluminum increases risk for buildup of heavy metals in the brain, and interestingly enough disrupts the gastrointestinal tract.(39)
Mercury is poisonous to the brain and nervous system.(20) Mercury is found inside:
Chewing gum
Swordfish
Sushi
HFCS
Dental amalgam
Water contaminates
Pesticides
Skin care products such as bleaching creams
Old space-heaters
Outside Pollution attacks the brain.
The brain can become polluted with dirty indoor and outdoor air. There is no safe threshold. Researchers at Harvard Medical School in Boston found that the closer people had lived to a major roadway (with exhaust pollution) the smaller their cerebral brain volume.(21)
Cells in skin, brain, and gut are linked by a common embryonic origin. This gives rise to the theory, when we damage our skin we also damage our brain.(22) Give it a little bit of thought, and you’ll see it’s true. For example, herpes virus enters thru the skin, lingers in the nervous system of the skin, and can cause central nervous system illnesses which eventually damage brain cells. This virus is said to increase the risk for Alzheimer’s.(23) What’s fascinating is, “Cambridge scientists have, for the first time, created cerebral cortex cells – those that make up the brain’s gray matter – from a small sample of human skin.” The researchers’ findings, which were funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Wellcome Trust, were published in Nature Neuroscience.(24)
High Fructose Corn Syrup.
HFCS, found in many processed foods is renamed as corn sweetener or corn syrup solids. It is not a natural sweetener as advertised. Dangers include: increase risk of fatty liver disease, obesity, and ingestion of heavy metals such as mercury. Today’s corn has been modified to increase inflammation in the gut and may leave you feeling lethargic.
Advanced Glycation End products.
AGEs cause premature aging in our skin. But there is also mounting evidence that Advanced Glycation End products caused by processed foods may be implicated in the development of the chronic degenerative diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer’s and Diabetes.(25)
Aspartame.
Artificial sweeteners trigger the death of brain cells. Aspartame can also raise insulin and leptin levels, increasing belly fat.(26)
In the U.S., the number one cancer for children is gliomas. It is Aspartame that plays a causative role in brain inflammation and /or tumors,(27) with compromised learning and emotional functioning.(28) The brain needs vitamin B12 to thrive. Diet sugars inhibit the production of vitamin B12, B6, and folate. Aspartame is found inside some popsicles, jello, diet drinks, diet foods and protein powders.
Chronic stress.
Stress doesn’t allow the brain to rest. Chronic stress poses a risk for DNA damage.(29) Stress can be disguised as hunger, headaches, weight loss, depression and volatile emotional outburst. The biggest killer of our time is depression, and it doubles the risk of Alzheimer’s in women.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals mimic our own hormones. They’re found in phthalates, BPAs, triclosan, pesticides, herbicides, and flame retardants. These chemicals were observed to result in growth retardation and neurological damage. In children they create problems in puberty.(30)
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals have the potential to impair neurogenesis and cognitive function, and cause inflammation in both the developing and aging brain.(30a)
BPAs can increase insulin resistance in diabetes.
Phthalates are among the thousands of toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde concealed behind the word fragrance on product labels. A handful of these toxic scents includes dryer sheets, air fresheners and candles.
Glyphosate, an herbicide, is the active ingredient in Roundup Ready®. Glyphosate is now found in GMO foods. These can pave the way for digestive issues, IBS, obesity, depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s just to name a few. Pesticide and herbicide ingestion can destroy all the health benefits from a food and damage cellular systems throughout the entire body. Gut dysbiosis, (SIBO) and IBS are said to be brought on by exposure to glyphosate. (31)
There’s a negative association with dopamine and pesticides. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that activates pleasure centers in certain parts of the brain. Our brain makes and uses dopamine. Atrazine, a pesticide, adversely affects the brain dopaminergic system,(32) and is found to be extremely toxic to our brain cells.(33) Atrazine is sprayed on golf courses, lawns, and found in our waterways.
Fluoride is found in city water, store bought teas, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Fluoride is linked to brain fog and pineal gland calcification. (34)
10. MSG is found in most processed foods even if packaging claims no added MSG. It can excite brain cells to death. MSG keeps you addicted and craving for more poor quality foods. It’s found in canned soups, frozen dinners, chips, bread, and natural flavorings.
Today’s Wheat is a highly processed low fiber product. It has a negative affect on gut bacteria, (damages intestinal lining) harms our immune system, digestive system, and nervous system, and therefore negatively affects our brain cells.
Trans-fats.
Some chemical names for trans-fats are octadecenoic and octadecadienoic acids. They bond together during hydrogenation. Inflammation, calcification and consumption of our memory are their game.(35) Trans-fats are found in donuts, popcorn, ranch dressings, fried chicken, apple pies, pancakes, frostings, non-dairy creamers, and Crisco 0 grams. Trans-Fats scars brain tissue, (36) harms arterial cells, causes aggression,(37) and disrupts mitochondria levels leaving us depleted of energy.
Drugs.
In past years researchers studied how heroin and cocaine can manipulate dopamine levels by slowing down the rate of dopamine reabsorption. This is because drugs can change how the cells within the nervous system communicate. Caffeine and alcohol are social drugs that play their part in disrupting dopamine levels.(38) Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks disrupt hormones, gut microbiome and can increase adrenal stress. Alcohol, the weekend drug of choice, damages brain neurons, even in moderation. Alcohol abuse increases the risk for Alzheimer’s.
Medications. “Some second-generation antihistamines permeate into the brain tissue and cause neuronal death.” (40) Vitamin B12 deficiency may be caused by the acid-suppressing drugs such as Prilosec and Prevacid.
