Brain Body Health

Environmental - reduce exposure to harmful aspects where possible

Our world has evolved and changed over the last 100 years. In this course of development, there are aspects of our environments that are beneficial and those that have been found to be harmful to our health with disproportionate exposure. Possible sources of disparate exposure can include the air we breathe, the foods we eat and the water we drink. Home and work environments with technological advances such as cell phones and ambient radio frequencies can also contribute to health issues.

The mechanism for affecting our health comes from the immune response and inflammatory cascade. Again, if in balance with exposure, the body recovers. However if chronically exposed, then chronic inflammation can be triggered which leads to overwhelming our defense mechanisms.

Increase awareness in your environment of possible harmful sources and decrease exposure. Some known harmful substances include:

  • Glyphosphate – found in Roundup and used extensively in our agricultural system, and non-organic foods. It is toxic to gut microbiome, triggering inflammatory changes as well as directly linked to increased risk of cancer. Eat non-GMO, organic foods, grass fed meats
  • Artificial Sweeteners are associated with increased weight gain and Type II diabetes. They change how the bacteria in our guts function, disrupting the healthy balance of bacteria and triggering inflammation. Aspartame can directly over stimulate the Brain. Use natural sweetening with fruits, maple syrup or honey.
  • Proton-pump inhibitor medications – used to control the acid production in your gut in the short term. Long term, they disrupt the balance of bacteria in your gut and lead to overgrowth of the bad bugs triggering inflammatory changes. Work with health care provider on appropriate use.
  • BPA – bisphenol A found in plastics and canned foods disrupts hormonal balance and brain function. Use refillable stainless water bottles.
  • Air Pollution – recently linked to cognitive decline in older individuals. Pay attention to warnings of elevated air pollution and avoid when possible.

Resource for education on Toxic Exposure in our environments: EWG.org