Many people don’t think about keeping their brain healthy until it is too late. Most neurological diseases don’t make themselves known until a good majority (75%) of the brain cells in the affected areas are damaged or dead. By then, it maybe too late.

So what can you do now? The first thing you should know is that the brain is made up of 60% fat. This is good and bad.

Fat in our bodies is bad because it absorbs heavy metals and toxins such as pesticides from our food, chemicals from when we clean our houses, and heavy metals such as mercury from our fillings. More is absorbed from other unknown chemicals from the air we breathe, water we drink and daily contacts we are exposed to from our work and world in general. These toxins are stored throughout our lives in our body’s fat cells. Then as we age, we lose fatty tissues throughout our body, which then releases these toxins from cells for redistribution to other fatty parts of the body such as the brain. Unfortunately what this means is now very high concentrations of these toxins are suddenly released into our blood, which is similar to being poisoned only, now, it is much faster. The brain, again being 60% fatty tissue, now acts as a natural sponge, soaking up many of these dangerous chemicals.

The good news is that you can feed your brain, and it’s very easy to find good, natural foods for that purpose. Too many people today are scared about fat and cut out ALL of the fats out of their diets. This can cause a problem. It is important to eat fats, but the right kind of fats. Essential fatty acids are very important to feed the brain, to keep your hair and skin moisturized and to help keep your arteries and veins flexible. Foods that are high in essential fatty acids are Emu Oil, Fish and fish oil (Omega-3), Vitamin E, Flaxseeds and Flaxseed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Primrose Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Black Current Oil, eggs, avocados, and Olive Oil. Each of these foods is unique and rich in a variety of healthy fats, which we all need. Each has unique benefits, but I don’t think one is necessarily better than another, but I do think it is best to rotate and to get a variety of these wonderful oils into your body in a balanced fashion. The important thing is to ingest them!

Also make sure you are getting the real thing. Many companies sell synthetic vitamins and oils, or oils without an expiration date. For example, on a vitamin E bottle it should say d-alpha tocopherol, not dl-alpha tocopherol. The dl means it is synthetic and your body will not absorb it as well as the natural vitamin E. There are only a few labs that actually make Vitamin E. When a company wants to sell vitamin E they usually purchase it from one of these labs, as the process to make and encapsulate Vitamin E is not easy. When they go to purchase it, they select from a list of grades, and prices available from a price sheet as you would to purchase chemicals. There are the purest grades, the medium grades, and the not so pure or synthetic grades. Which one do you want in your body? It does make a difference in price, but again make sure you are getting the real thing. Know the company that you are purchasing your oils from. Some questions you can ask are: Can I visit the lab? Do you have tours? Can you give me a list of all the doctors in your lab with their credentials? What are the quality tests that you run on the products why/why not? You have a right to know the answers!

More bad news, many people don’t look at the date on the bottles of their oils, which can easily go rancid and can actually become toxic to your body. When used past their expiration date, these oils become oxidized because they have been attacked by free radicals. Just a cut apple in half, watch it turn brown because of oxidation, that is the same thing that happens to the cells in the oils – they become damaged and now toxic and harmful. It is important to take these oils in their freshest forms to ensure they are not doing more harm than good.

There are many other issues that can effect how our brains work including; weakening cells, damaged enzymes, damaged blood vessels that are supposed to deliver nutrients to our brain, and blood-brain barrier failure which allows even more toxins to enter the brain.

But all is not lost, there is action you can take now to prevent or at least slow down this process.

Diet
First, eat a healthy diet of mostly organic fruits and vegetables, some organic whole grains and organic meats. The fewer amounts of toxins in your food, the less amount in your body. Get a filter at home for your drinking and tap water.

Filters
It is amazing how toxic our water is. Even bottled water is toxic. Make sure you know the source of your water and how well it is cleaned. Make sure to change your filter often, or else it isn’t of much use. If you aren’t sure how toxic your water is you can visit www.getdistilled.com and learn which is the best water for your body and why.

Get an air filter. Many companies sell good quality filters. Sharper Image makes a great silent filter that helps to clean the air of harmful toxins.

Cleansers
Clean your house, clothes and even yourself with non-toxic cleaners. It is amazing the amount of toxins in our detergents, house cleansers, and especially in our shampoos and body soaps/liquid washes. Read the label, that is what is there for! If you aren’t sure what certain ingredients are, there is a great book out there called “A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives” by Ruth Winter, M.S. There are also books available for Cosmetics Ingredients and Household, Yard and Office Chemicals. These make great references. Check them to discover what you are really being exposed to. It will shock you.

Herbs
There are also herbs that can help increase circulation to your brain, repairing tissues such as Ginko Biloba, which helps insure a sufficient amount of blood supply to the brain and extremities. I have also found it as a good augmenting herb (an herb that helps other herbs) when mixed with Gota Kola another herb that helps to increase endurance and mental alertness. It is an adaptagenic herb (which means it helps your body adapt to changes and handle stress better).

Two other herbs that can help with clarity, focus and concentration are Suma and Siberian Ginseng or as it is now more correctly known, Eleuthero. Suma is another adaptagenic herb, one to heal and prevent disease. Many of my female customers call Suma their “happy pill” because it relieves stress and helps the body to adapt to psychological stresses. The Portuguese call it “Para Todo” which means “for all or everything.” It also helps to kill virus that often come about because of and during stressful times.

Eleuthero is a cousin of Panax Ginseng. Another adaptagenic herb, it has been used historically for immune deficiency, hypoglycemia and to improve memory. I find taking these four herbs together is very effective in clearing your mind of stress, to get more focused and grounded.

Nutrients
Another important factor is Iron. Iron is important for proper hemoglobin function, but also is important for feeding the brain. In fact, low iron levels can affect wound healing, similar to zinc deficiencies. Flavonoids that are found in vegetables, and especially tea, bind to iron in tissues, protecting them from oxidation. Because of this, heavy tea consumption may cause iron deficiency especially in women. On the other hand, Vitamin C can overcome the blocking effect of flavonoids, increasing iron absorption. Vitamin C should be taken on an empty stomach because the cells that line the intestinal wall help to regulate iron absorption. Iron is best absorbed from animal products, but if you must take a supplement, small doses are more easily absorbed than large doses, and the most absorbable type of iron is in an amino acid chelate form.

Unfortunately too much iron is also a bad thing causing increased tumor growth, promoting bacterial and viral infections and can also be toxic also the body if the wrong kind and/or too large a dosage is taken. Taking the wrong type of iron, and not enough Vitamin C can cause a built up of iron in your body.

Other nutrients that are important for the brain are CoQ10, Alpha-lipoic acid, l-carnitine, and B vitamins.

Be sure to check with your health professional to learn which nutrients, you might not be getting from your diet, and would be most beneficial for you.

Now that you are armed with information, clean up toxins, feed your brain cells and supplement your diet. You can start feeling better and thinking more clearly!
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