In the last six articles, I spoke extensively about nutrient dense foods for the brain, especially whole fresh fruit, vegetables, grains and legumes, as well as fish, lean meat, poultry, eggs and essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, 9).
Your brain requires nourishment and nurturing in order to function optimally and give your body adequate signals to control obesity, shed excess weight and maintain good health. However, there are other important aspects that I need to dedicate several lines to.
Decades ago, we were unaware of the health implications of harmful chemicals and toxins that have entered our food chain. These include pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, genetic engineering, artificial fertilizers, antibiotics, drugs, hormones, depleted uranium, nuclear waste, oil spills, nuclear plant spilling (Chernobyl, Fukushima), heavy metals (mercury, aluminum, lead, arsenic, cadmium) and other environmental pollutants.
Such toxic waste is dumped in oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, reaching soils and contaminating produce, livestock, fish, dairy, plants, poultry, eggs and the environment. Our atmosphere and air have also become contaminated with refinery and industrial fumes and car exhaust emissions.
Such destructive phenomena have become a threat to humans, fauna, flora (animal and plant life), marine life, forests, protective jungles and the entire planet. This chain reaction only began after the industrial revolution, followed by modern wars (notably the World War II Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings) and the use of nuclear energy and weapons.
Unfortunately, humans are harvesting the ravages of such behavior. They are manifested as birth defects, behavioral disorders, endocrine (gland) imbalances, thyroid disruptions, infertility, autoimmune disorders, cancer and more.
Plants that are sprayed with pesticides (DDT and others) or grown in contaminated or depleted soils are a major concern to health.
Pesticides cause endocrine problems and cancers, as they mimic estrogen in the body, becoming xenoestrogens.
Hormones are systemically given to chicken, cattle and livestock to increase egg and milk production and make meat fattier and more tender.
Antibiotics are fed to livestock and chicken to prevent disease and contamination through overcrowding. Feedstock is also altered (take, for example, the mad cow disease that broke out in the 90s). Thus, meat has lost its balance of healthy nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, when cattle is fattened with GMO (genetically modified organisms), corn and soybean and non-organic feedstock instead of grass. The same goes for chicken and eggs.
Remember, overdoses of estrogen make men more feminine, reducing sex drive and sperm count. Girls are reaching puberty prematurely and women are having difficulty conceiving, leaving us no choice but to insist on hormone-free meat and dairy products, organic, free-range poultry and eggs and produce grown in rich soils enriched with organic fertilizers.
Environmentalists and activists are driving strong messages and fighting endless battles with governments and industries to clear food, the environment and the planet from contaminants.
More and more people are showing concern and demanding cleaner and purer air, water, plant and animal foods. Luckily, activists in American states have had recent successes in having “GMO” added on food labels to warn consumers.
In order to protect the brain and health, Dr. Daniel Amen recommends organic, hormone and antibiotic-free lean meat. He also suggests a diet rich in omega-3 fats found in fish, nuts, and seed origins and plenty of multi-colored organic whole fruit and vegetables (greens), along with daily physical activity to eliminate excess estrogen, which accumulates as fat in the belly, creating silent inflammation. Water is also important to assist in the cleansing process.
It is important to remember that with different types of pollution spreading in the environment, it is rare to find 100 percent organic foods unless you are living deep in a jungle. However, even if food is not entirely organic, it is still healthier than totally contaminated commercial, processed and tampered with foods.
Dr. Amen warns against certain produce, which can be more contaminated than others, such as soft leafy greens, berries, apples, grapes and potatoes, as well as commercial GMO wheat, corn and soybean. The least contaminated are onions, garlic, avocado, pineapples, mango, bananas, papaya, kiwi, cabbage, broccoli and asparagus. The thicker the peel, the less the probability of contamination.
Fish is also not spared from contamination due to non-biodegradable garbage (plastic), dangerous chemicals in sludge, heavy metal and industrial and nuclear waste getting dumped in oceans, seas and even fresh water bodies.
Fish such as tuna, ahi tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel should be avoided because they store more mercury than smaller fish.
Safer choices are wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel and herring, fresh-water trout, sardines, anchovies, striped bass, caviar, squid, Alaskan halibut, sturgeon, sole, crab, scallops, shrimp, oysters, clams, tilapia and abalone.
They are also high in omega-3 fatty acids. Boiling, steaming, baking, broiling, grilling and stir-frying are healthier methods of cooking than deep-frying.
Pesticides, toxins, heavy metals and other contaminants have other damaging effects.
Because they cause stress and silent inflammation, they trigger autoimmune disorders and allergic reactions (hives, itching, eczema, nausea, diarrhea).
Certain foods (strawberries, wheat, eggs, dairy, chocolate) and food additives, monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial sweeteners and coloring (E followed by numbers), and drugs (antibiotics) can trigger immune responses, known as “hidden” food allergies, causing emotional, behavioral, or learning problems.
They also aggravate behavioral problems such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, negative emotions, anxiety, and more. In studies, additives (colors, flavors), artificial sweeteners and simple sugars slowed down intellectual performance in school children.
Some foods are more allergenic than others, like peanuts, dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, soybean, wheat (gluten), sugar, and chocolate.
People prone to allergies tend to develop dark circles around the eyes, puffy eyes, headaches, migraines, fatigue, joint pain, chronic sinusitis (congested nose), or gastric problems. Emotional and behavioral issues include aggressive attitude, sleep-disorders, lack of focus and speech problems (slurring).
Food sensitivities should be approached with an elimination diet, removing known or suspected foods for a week or two and then reintroducing them one by one to watch for physiological or behavioral reactions in order to pinpoint allergens. This can be done with the help of a nutritionist.
Whether it is allergies from pesticides, hormones, heavy metal or any other substance, they are all harmful and injurious to health and brain, affecting organs, cells, blood and other systems. Whatever happens to your body happens to your brain and vice-versa. When you protect your brain, you protect your body and health. Allergens can become an obstruction during weight loss, regardless of physical activity and calorie restriction. You need to address the cause of inflammation and blockages in your body that make weight loss impossible.
Finally, last but not the least is physical activity. If there is a single healthy lifestyle habit to be practiced, it is exercise. It can cover for other neglected healthy habits. Activities should include relaxation methods (yoga, tai chi, chi gong, body massages) and breathing exercises to reduce stress.
The more you learn about your brain, body, and health, the more you will be able to help yourself. Most health conditions are reversible.
References:
Use Your Brain to Change your Age, Daniel Amen, M.D.
N.B.:
Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new into their diet, even if it is natural.
Previous Health Solutions articles are located at www. arabnews.com.
