10 Ways To Clean Up Your Brain Function

Most people know that our brain communicates with every cell in the body via the nervous system. It sends and receives it's messages through the nerves every split second of every day.

To initiate this nervous system activity, the brain will release chemicals called neurotransmitters which then initiate the messages running along the chain of nerves.

So we don't need to state the obvious that it's very important that these chemicals work properly. When we release too much or not enough, then all sorts of miscommunication can develop, resulting in a wide array of health problems.

Here's 10 ways you can help support neurotransmitter health (and therefore brain and nervous system health):

1. Limit Stimulants - We aren't saying avoid coffee and all caffeine, although you do want to make sure you're not overdoing it. But definitely avoid chemicals that give you a huge spike of excitatory neurotransmitter activity as it creates major long term damage (for example energy drinks or ritalin - see our blogs on ADHD to understand how ritalin "works" in the short term but then wears off in the long term as it creates more damage)
2. Protect Your Gut - Many people don't realize that the gut is like our second brain because there's so many nerves there. In fact, greater than 90% of our body's serotonin is made in the gut. So make it a priority to protect your gut via a clean diet, and minimal antibiotic use if you want to try and avoid depression/anxiety.
3. Avoid Glyphosate - This one ties in with protect your gut but needs it's own category. Glyphosate is one of the most damaging chemicals known to the human body, and it's sprayed on the majority of our crops. It causes leaky gut and is a major demineralizer. We could write an entire blog on this issue, but for now try to shop organic and make sure you read consumer reports on which foods test highest for glypohosate and avoid them as much as humanly possible.
4. Avoid Antidepressants - We know this isn't possible for everyone, but do everything you can to avoid them. They completely disrupt the neurotransmitters in our brain creating short and long term effects, and there isn't much evidence in the scientific literature that they work any better than placebo anyway. NEVER go off these without medical supervision as the side effects can be so dangerous!
5. Avoid Sensory Overload - Every time you're scared, or anxious, or overly angry, your neurotransmitter activity goes through the roof. So if you stay in a chronic "stressed" state then this leads to severe neurotransmitter imbalances.
6. Avoid Toxins - Because there are so many toxins that you'll encounter that you have no control over, at least protect yourself from what you can control - like an air filter for your indoor air that you breathe at home, making sure you buy cleaning products that aren't full of heavy chemicals etc.
7. Consume More "Building Blocks" - Amino acids and proteins are the building blocks of our body, so make sure your diet (and supplements) consists of an adequate amount of Vitamin B6, B12, and Folate (which is very different to Folic Acid - watch out for our upcoming blog post about that issue).
8. Clean Your "Dirty" Genes - Just because you are born with a certain "bad" gene, it doesn't mean it has to run your life. Genes can be switched on and off.
9. Tune Up Your Nervous System Function - We need our nerves firing efficiently and cleanly, so eat lots of good quality fats as the protective sheath around our nerves is predominantly made up of fats and this will ensure healthy nerves which equals fast nerve firing. Also getting adjusting regularly by your chiropractor will help clean up communication between the brain and body too!
10. Increase Antioxidants - A lot of different chemical processes that the body uses to create energy leaves us with a excess of free radicals (excess electrons that remain after those chemical reactions). When you consume high levels of antioxidants through your food and supplements, then these antioxidants bind to the free radicals before they can wreak havoc within your body.