May is Save Your Mind Month!

Love your brain, and save your mind!

I’ve written quite a bit before on the importance of developing habits to maintain and support a healthy brain.

Concerns about dementia and cognitive health continue to be high on the list of concerns for older adults.

This coincides with an interest in maintaining a healthy body and extending not only lifespan, but also health span.

The good news is this is a growing area of interest for researchers and there are new studies in these areas all the time.

What I’m reading now is Patrick Holford’s new book called "Upgrade Your Brain.” For some reason, the print edition is not yet available in Canada or the US, and the shipping is rather pricey to order it from the UK, but fortunately you can get it now on either Audible or Kindle, or both!

My plan for the month of May is to revisit some of the core concepts of brain health and incorporate the latest research on what works, and also what doesn’t.

And just a reminder, that Western medicine tends to divide their understanding of the human body into various specialties. Therefore the study of the mind seems to separate it from the body, whereas in fact, they are all one organism and so what affects the mind affects the body and vice versa.  

“You cannot separate your biology and your psychology.  Everything you eat, drink, breathe, think and feel has an effect on both your body’s chemistry and your state of mind.

Almost all risk factors for almost all diseases, mental and physical, are driven by imbalance in one or more of seven key biological processes, allowing disease states to develop.” ~ Patrick Holford

In addition, the Western medical treatments of various Mental Health issues tend to rely almost exclusively on drug therapy, as well as counselling therapy, and pay very little attention to the role of nutrition and lifestyle.  Everything you eat, drink, breathe, think and feel has an effect on both your body’s chemistry and your state of mind.

Whatever mental health concerns a person may have, the first strategies they should consider are what they eat (and drink) and how they conduct their lives.  And the good news is that these strategies can be incorporated very simply into one’s life at the first sign of any concern.  

Almost all risk factors for almost all diseases, mental and physical, are driven by imbalance in one or more of seven ‘keystone’ biological processes, allowing disease states to develop.  And researchers now show that these biochemical imbalances are linked to nutrition and lifestyle.  Very few, if any, chronic diseases are ‘in the genes’ or ultimately solved by pharmaceutical medicine. 

As always, you are advised before making any changes to seek the assistance of a qualified health professional.

Strategy #1  Eat and drink anti-aging antioxidants and polyphenols

Rounding out last month's series on detoxification, environmental pollution, which increases exposure to oxidizing substances, also increases the risk of cognitive decline. Smokers in particular need more vitamin C to counteract this – at least 1,000mg a day

But as we are all exposed to many environmental pollutants (including in our food), we would be well to be aware of sources of  Vitamins A, C, E, lipoic acid, glutathione, coenzyme Q10 and resveratrol, all of which protect the brain.  You can often find them combined in antioxidant supplements. 

The best foods and drinks for protective antioxidant and polyphenol power are: olives, blueberries, kale, blackcurrants, strawberries, broccoli, artichokes, cabbage (red), asparagus, onions (red), avocado, apples, beetroot, cherries, tea (green may be preferable), low-sugar dark chocolate or cacao (up to 10g a day, which is three pieces of dark, low-sugar chocolate), a small glass of red wine (125ml) (more increases the risk of cognitive decline quite considerably). 

Besides focusing on individual food sources, make sure your plate consists of ½ veggies and fruits (low GL preferred).  And since their bright colours reflect the particular polyphenols present, make sure you include all the colours of the rainbow over the course of the day.

Here’s a handout all about Eating the Rainbow to give you lots of colourful options to create your salads, sides and vegetarian mains.

Summary

Your brain and body are intimately intelligent, and the best approach is to create the right circumstances, through your diet and lifestyle, for them to regain health. 

Everything you eat, drink, breathe, think and feel has an effect on both your body’s chemistry and your state of mind.

Very few, if any, chronic diseases are ‘in the genes’ or ultimately solved by pharmaceutical medicine. 

To counteract the effects on your brain and body of the many environmental pollutants, consider supplementing with an antioxidant (see your health food store or healthcare professional for advice when selecting any supplements) and ensure that you eat lots of low-GL veggies and fruits, choosing a wide variety or rainbow of colours.