Remember those antidrug commercials that played on TV saying that a mind is a terrible thing to waste? There are many man-made chemicals in our food and environment that threaten brain function. These chemicals are legal, around us every day and they are very dangerous to the brain.
The good news is there are ways to avoid them.
Heavy metals are perverse toxins that are not easily removed but are commonly found in the bodies and brains of millions thanks to vaccines, dental procedures, agricultural chemicals, industrial pollution, fish, chicken, second hand smoke and more. To ensure that I ingest as few heavy metals as possible, I avoid flu shots, mercury fillings and am cautious when consuming seafood.
Another chemical added to our food that is detrimental to our brains is MSG. MSG is a concentrated salt that is added to food to enhance flavor. Dr. Blaylock, a retired neurosurgeon and author of, Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, explains that over time ingesting MSG destroys parts of the brain that could cause Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s and other brain ailments. The best way to avoid MSG is to stop eating processed food, or look for it in the ingredients, mainly as monosodium glutamate or yeast extract. Also ask before you eat at an “all you can eat” food bar if they use MSG on their food.
Dr. Blaylock’s research also stated that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are excitotoxins. Excitotoxins are chemical that over stimulate neurons in the brain. The symptom list from consumption of these sweeteners is too long to list but does include anxiety, depression and migraines.
There can be a hazardous relationship between food (in this case, the wrong food) and brain health. I routinely advise my clients to avoid the center of the grocery store because products contained on those aisles are not food. They are manmade products that have been sold to us as food. Instead, stick to whole unprocessed foods. We need to be informed, choosy consumers to make sure we are avoiding these brain/mind destroyers!
Vibrant Living Wellness Center is located at 144 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. For more information, please call (626) 470-7711 or visit http://www.vibrantlivingwellnesscenter.com