Your brain is the CPU for your body! It is your Central Processing Unit. Your brain is about 3 pounds of very soft, fragile tissue. Your skull is hard, your brain is soft. Protect it!
HEALTH HAZARDS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)
. Tip-if you are having construction done
in your home, first do research on the
products and the products they use
along with them, like the glues.
. Check for the dangers of products that
gas out. For example, home furnishing
products-even air fresheners may gas
out poisons.
. If you are painting, get a novoc
(volatile organic compounds) or low
vocpaint.
Read what the EPAhas to say about the risks of volatile organic compounds.
Think about limiting the toxins that are in your environment.
7. Use household cleaners only in a well-ventilated area.
VINEGAR IS A POWERFUL HOUSEHOLD CLEANER
. Do not allow harsh chemical products on your skin because that is the largest organ in your body that breathes; the chemicals can go right in.
. Wear gloves.
. For some products it is prudent to wear eye protection or and/or a mask to cover your nose and mouth. Read the instructions.
If you think something may splash or if you are outside and the wind may blow,
remember to protect your eyes and think about your face and other skin.
Sometimes something as simple as opening a cap on a bottle may let the liquid spurt out-think about turning your head to avert your eyes when you open containers with liquid inside.
Do not breathe in toxins, especially in a confined area like a bathroom.
Or when possible, consider using household cleaners that are non-toxic such as vinegar.
8. Food – Questions to ask yourself about food safety.
A GMO (genetically modified organism), also known as GE (genetically engineered) is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal.
This is a genetically modified apple that never browns!
Take a bite!
Is this food (seriously)? Read the ingredients.
Could there be pesticides on this food?
Could those pesticides harm me or my family?
Did I thoroughly wash the food?
There is controversy and dispute about GMOs.
According toMIT Technology Review, October 7, 2017, "A U.S. synthetic-biology conglomerate plans to begin marketing genetically modified apples this fall but won’t label them as GMOs."
You won't know what you are eating because there is a plan to not properly label food according to the article in MIT technology Review. Large lawsuits are being won against the manufacturer of Roundup which contains glyphosate.
The couple will receive an additional $55 million for pain and suffering and to cover medical expenses."
Even if you thoroughly wash the food, since the plant was modified to take up roundup (glyphosate) pesticide, can you wash it off?
So pesticides are used to kill pests- mostly bugs. Are we slowly killing ourselves?
Have you ever sprayed a bug to kill it and seen how the spray affected its nervous system as it twitched and then died? What are these pesticides doing to humans?
What Can You Do to Ensure That You are Purchasing Healthier Food?
Rice contains arsenic which may lead to health problems.
Keep informed. Be knowledgeable.
Know the names of ingredients that may be added to food that are
health risks. . Know where your food is coming from.
. Sign up for alerts regarding food recalls.
.Wash your food to remove as much
pesticides or bacteria as possible. Before
cooking, wash food with clean water, (but not soap).
Some people use vinegar.
Mix up a solution of 10 percent white vinegar and 90 percent water and soak your vegetables and fruits in them. Stir them gently and rinse thoroughly.
Peeling may help, but it does not remove all pesticide residues as some is absorbed into the food.
For meat, you may wish to trim the fat. Some pesticides collect in animal fat.
Trimming the excess fat from the meat helps to reduce the amount of such pesticides that would be eaten.
(By the way, toxins collect in the fat of humans also. The fat takes up the toxin to protect your organs.)
Cooking helps. Cooking helps reduce some of the pesticide residues in food that are not removable by washing or peeling.
"Most pesticides are complex organic molecules and these tend not to be very heat stable. But reliably breaking down all pesticide molecules would likely require prolonged exposure to temperatures well over 100ºC, so you can’t rely on ordinary cooking to remove all traces.
"Submerging apples in a baking soda solution for two minutes removed more pesticides than a two-minute soak in the bleach solution, or two minutes of rinsing in running tap water. But it took 12 to 15 minutes in the baking soda solution to completely get rid of the pesticides used in this study." Per Consumer Reports, Oct 25, 2017.
9. Nutrition.
What you eat plays a significant role in how your brain functions daily. Eat brain-healthy foods.
It is essential for brain function to eat protein, complex carbohydrates and foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids like salmon, walnuts, trout and olive oil.
A Walnut Looks Like a Brain & is Brain Food
Think about what a walnut looks like. It looks like a little brain. Sometimes the appearance of our foods give us clues as to what part of the body the food helps.
Simple sugars and simple carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potatoes and rice cause people to feel lethargic and they may experience “brain fog”.
Eat foods rich in anti-oxidants. These tend to be dark-skinned fruits and vegetables. Fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and plums tend to be high in anti-oxidants.
Vegetables such as spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli, red bell pepper and eggplant have higher than natural occurring levels of anti-oxidants.
10. Stay physically active.
Stay physically active
Source: Pexels
Physical exercise is necessary for maintaining good blood flow to the brain.
It also can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Dancing is both socially and physically active.
Make it fun!
11. Stay socially active.
Stay socially active - group plays cards.
Being socially active helps reduce stress.
Here are some fun activities to try: You may want to try a new hobby, join a travel club, take classes, play cards, enjoy a book club, play a sport, join a gym, try cooking classes, and go dancing.
12. Exercise your brain-learn something new.
Sudoku Can Help Your Mind Keep Active
. Take up dancing, learn how to play a musical instrument, create art, do a crossword puzzle, play Sudoku, play chess, play Scrabble, and/or learn a new language.
Here are some benefits from learning: . Learning makes you more interesting. Learn something new so you are more interesting to other people. You will be able to add interesting discussion when you are with others. Learning gives you more talking points.
. Build self-esteem and confidence by mastering new knowledge and new skills.
.You'll make more friends. The more you know the more, the more you may have in common with someone else which can lead to more friendships. This will help you to be more relatable to others.
. Learning sets a good example. If you would like your family and friends to reap the same benefits from learning, lead by example.
. Learning makes you a better rounded person. This means you may have more opportunities and advantages in life from which to draw.
. Learning is empowering. Make better informed decisions in your life.
. Learning fuels creativity. Learning new things may trigger new ideas in other areas that may not even be related.
. Start learning easier and faster! The more you practice learning, the faster you will learn. Why? As you practice learning more and more, the denser the myelin gray matter of your brain will become and the stronger your neural pathways will become! . Learn what is going on around you. Keep current of news and trends world- wide, nationally, and locally. Be relevant. Know the big picture and also accumulate interesting knowledge and facts. Be able to talk on different topics and different levels.
13. Take Supplements.
Why Take Supplements?
Why take supplements?
. Most people do not eat balanced meals on a regular basis.
. Medications often deplete essential nutrients.
. Supplements may help to reduce oxidative stress.
. Farming practices, including the equipment used in the 1930s, that in part lead to the Dust Bowl, have lead to today's soil depletion.
. Do you work out? Exercise increases your nutrient needs.
According to a study at Oxford University, B vitamins, in particular, are cited as helpful for the brain; especially for protecting the elderly from memory loss and Alzheimer’s. This same study shows that B vitamins reduce brain shrinkage by half!
The researchers used data on 168 people (85 receiving active treatment and 83 receiving placebo) who had completed an MRI at both the start and at follow-up.
Treatment with vitamin B tablets had notable effects on the levels of homocysteine in the blood, reducing it by 22.5 percent.
After the age of the participants was taken into account, the rate of shrinkage in people receiving the vitamins was 30 percent less than in the placebo group (0.76 percent shrinkage and 1.08 percent shrinkage respectively). The researchers also found that, overall, the safety of vitamins was good with no adverse events.”
14. Protect Both: The Brain-Heart Connection
A newer branch of medical science known as neurocardiology has many aspects, but may be thought of as being divided into 3 main categories – the effects of the heart on the brain (such as embolic stroke), the effects of the brain on the heart (neurogenic heart disease), and neurocardiac syndromes (believed to be a result of miscommunication between brain and heart).
“Clinical management of many disorders of the heart and the brain cannot be viewed in isolation.”
The American Heart Association published information from Japanese researchers who studied 23,119 men and 35,611 women ranging in age from 40-79. With 14 years of follow up, research shows that B vitamins protect the heart. Those with the highest levels, had significantly lower risk of death by heart failure or stroke.
15. Lead Safety
There are no visible symptoms of lead poisoning, and children may suffer behavior or learning problems as a result of exposure to lead hazards.
Houses built prior to 1978 often have lead paint.
Do not attempt to remove lead paint yourself, consult with a professional.
Wash children’s hands, toys, and bottles often.
Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces to reduce possible exposure to lead and pesticide residues.
Be aware that new toys, new books and new fashion jewelry may also contain lead.
Lead Poisoning
Lead is a cumulative toxin that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.
There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe.