The Top 15 Tips on How to Protect Your Brain!

PROTECT YOUR BRAIN

Your brain is the CPU for your body! It is your Central Processing Unit. 

A CPU is Like Your Brain

Your brain is about 3 pounds of very soft, fragile tissue. Your skull is hard, your brain is soft.
Protect your brain!

 1. Protect Your Brain from Injury.

Wear a Motorcycle Helmet To Protect Your Brain-Accidents Happen

• Wear a helmet when bicycling, skating, skateboarding,
• Wear your seat belt when riding in the car.
• Stay off roofs, especially after the age of 40.
• Do not repetitively use your head as an object for hitting
   things like soccer balls, etc.

​   In this case, Don't Use Your Head!

2. Protect Your Brain - Get Enough Sleep!  

Get Enough Sleep - Protect Your Brain

• Lack of sleep affects memory, concentration and limits
   the access to your learning ability.
• Humans spend 1/3 of their life sleeping.
• Humans are the only mammal that willingly delays going
   to sleep.
• Divorced, widowed and separated people report more
   insomnia. 

3.  Limit Stress

Limit Stress

• Focus your attention on something you enjoy.
• Laugh.
• Meditate.
• Choose your attitude.
• Listen to joyful music.
​
   Write down 5 things you are grateful for every day. 

4. Breathe.

Breathe

• Make sure you are not restricting your breathing     
  patterns (by shallow breathing or unconsciously holding   
  your breath).
• Breathe fully and deeply.
• Make sure you are not breathing too fast and gulping air.
• Stand and sit tall so your lungs are not squished. Give
   your lungs a chance to function properly.

5. Take in Enough Water.

• Some experts say that there is a link between
   dehydration and mental confusion.
• There is a lot of controversy about how much water is
   the right amount of water, but most experts agree that
   you should drink before you are thirsty.
• Your body is something like a wet cell battery and needs
   the fluid. Read, "THE HUMAN BODY IS AN ELECTRIC
   BATTERY, suggested by the Center for Bibliographical     
​   Studies and Research.

6. Do Not Put Toxic Substances In Your Body
​    or On Your Body.

FORMALDEHYDE IS A POISON

• If you poison your body, you poison your brain.
• Limit Alcohol… Limit Tobacco… Do Not Abuse Drugs.
• Remember that what goes on your skin is easily 
   absorbed into your body.
• Think about your product choices for personal use
   products; your clothing and shoe choices some contain
   formaldehyde, pfas, and more), your choice of food, your
   choice of furniture and household goods can make you
   sick.
• Air, water, food, and things that touch your skin, can
   affect your health - think about the consequences of the
​   products you choose.

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 no voc (volatile organic
   compounds) or low voc paint.
• Read what the EPA has 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.

• 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.

• 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.
• Is this food (seriously)? Read the ingredients.
  Could there be pesticides on or in this food?
  Could those pesticides harm me or my family?
  Did I thoroughly wash the food? Will that even work?
  There is controversy and dispute about GMOs.
​
  According to MIT 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).  

Check this out, CBS News Reports:

     " 2 Billion Awarded to Family as Punitive 
        Damages after concluding that sustained
        exposure to Monsanto Co.'s popular Roundup
        weed killer led to their cancer diagnoses. 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 have seen how
   the spray affected its nervous system as it twitched and
   then died? What are these pesticides doing to humans?
• For more information see:
   https://www.nongmoproject.org 

RICE CONTAINS ARSENIC WHICH MAY LEAD TO HEALTH PROBLEMS

What Can You Do to Ensure That You are Purchasing Healthier Food?

• 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 of the 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. Some   
   GMO’s are made to soak up as much possible herbicide
   as possible.
• 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 otherwise be eaten.

  (By the way, toxins collect in the fat of humans also. The
  fat takes up the toxin to protect your organs.)   

  "Sequestering them (toxins) in our fat cells could        be the body’s way of protecting other organs from
    exposure to these compounds."

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. Peeling or washing fruit and vegetables does more to reduce pesticide levels than cooking, but . . . the only way to be entirely sure is to stick to organic produce." Per Science Focus Magazine of the BBC.

BAKING SODA

• Does baking soda remove pesticides?

​"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.

A WALNUT LOOKS LIKE A BRAIN AND IS BRAIN FOOD

• 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.
• 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. Play a Sport, Go Dancing,        Join a Gym, Go for a Walk, Play Tennis, Go       
      Swimming, Go Bike Riding, etc.

STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, SOURCE PEXELS

​​11. Stay Socially Active. 

TO STAY 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, try cooking classes, join a book club, and go dancing.

12. Exercise Your Brain-Learn Something New. 

SUDOKU CAN HELP KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE

Try taking cooking classes, art classes, play Sudoku, play word games, etc.

• Take up dancing, learn how to play a musical instrument,
   take cooking classes, create art, do a crossword puzzle,
   take art classes, 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 worldwide, 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 led to soil erosion, 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!

  Think B vitamins for BRAIN.

• According to the Alzheimer’s Association . . .
   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.
• Overall, treatment with B vitamins for a period of 24
   months led to a reduction in the rate of brain atrophy.
• 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

HEART BRAIN 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 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 SYMPTOM CHART

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.

Lead Exposure-
What are the most common causes of lead exposure?

• Paint
• Gasoline- in the past gasoline was leaded-phased out in the 1970s
• “Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation”
• Hobbies-like stained glass making or soldering
• Bullets, shrapnel, or other embedded foreign bodies
• Contaminated Food /Water
• Lead is a component of tobacco and tobacco smoke
• Imported jewelry
• Imported candies
• Cosmetics
• Folk, traditional and home remedies
• Lead pipes, fixtures and solder in homes built before 1989
• Brass fixtures, faucets or fittings
• Copper pipes with lead solder
• Older drinking water coolers
• Older coffee urns
• Even “safe” pottery and ceramic ware (especially bad if the glaze wears off)
• Leaded crystal glassware
• Certain natural calcium supplements
• Food grown in soil with high concentrates of lead
• Food grown in soil with high concentrates of lead
• Pesticides in US-lead arsenate used as an insecticide or fungicide in orchards
• Artificial turf
• Artificial Christmas trees
• Automotive batteries
• Bridge paint
• Computers
• Curtain weights
• Fishing tackle
• Jewelry
• Pewter
• Pool cue chalk
• Some ceramic glazes
• Toys (especially antique or imported)
• Leaded wick candles
• Vinyl lunch boxes
• Vinyl mini-blinds (made before 1997)  

PROTECT YOUR BRAIN!

Would You Like To Improve Your Brain?

Start the Transformation ~ Call (636) 227-2222

https://www.LourdesWellnessSpa.com