Nearly everyone is touched in some way by heart disease and cancer. Perhaps it affects a spouse, parent, family member, or friend. Perhaps we have personally experienced the wrath of these illnesses. While the number of people affected by these tragic illnesses is staggering, you may be surprised to learn that scientists predict that within 13 years more North Americans will be affected or killed by brain disease than heart disease or cancer combined.
In addition to the many disastrous personal and societal effects of brain disease, leading researchers estimate that the economic impact of this growing problem will be $30 billion every year.
A growing volume of research links brain disease with environmental toxins, chemicals and altered fats in our food supply, and poor lifestyle choices to brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, autism, and many others. Consider one groundbreaking study entitled, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution: it found that no matter where people live, how old they are or what they do for a living, they are contaminated with measurable levels of chemicals that can cause cancer, disrupt hormones, affect reproduction, cause respiratory problems or impair neurological development. Canadians tested showed high levels of industrial pollutants, including lead, mercury, DDT and PCBs. Astonishingly, the latter two have not even been in commercial use for decades. Researchers found lead and mercury in the blood of ALL the subjects of this study.
And Americans are no different. Every year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performs a study of the chemicals found in human fat tissue samples. Chemicals like DDT continue to be found in 100% of the tissue examined. Research links these environmental toxins with the rapidly growing incidence of brain disease.
Currently, over 100 studies show that environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors play a significant role in initiating or accelerating brain disease.
But there is good news: scientists also continuously prove that nutrition and lifestyle factors are able to protect the brain from damage and even reverse brain damage in some instances. New research even demonstrates that certain foods and nutrients, eaten frequently and in specific doses, can even access the brain and escort the toxins and metals out.
There are foods and herbs, which I will share in the next issue, that literally lock out brain-destroying toxins while letting in brain-building nutrients. I’ll share more information on these powerful foods, herbs, and nutrients in "Detox Your Brain—Part 2" next week.
Adapted from The Brain Wash: A Powerful, All-Natural Program to Protect Your Brain Against Alzheimer’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Parkinson’s, and Other Diseases (Toronto: John Wiley & Sons, 2007)
Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, DAc, ROHP, RNCP is a best-selling and six-time book author and doctor of natural medicine, whose works include: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. Learn more at: www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.
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