ULTRAMIND®: Key #5 Enhance Detoxification
![ULTRAMIND®: Key #5 Enhance Detoxification](http://drhyman.com/cdn/shop/articles/stethoscope-hyman1.jpg?v=1714795414&width=1500)
The truth is that the brain is very resilient and can heal from toxins, if you get rid of all the insults to it and provide all the necessary ingredients for optimal functioning.Did you know that 25 percent of New Yorkers have toxic blood levels of mercury from eating too much sushi? Or that 15 percent of American women of child-bearing age have toxic levels of mercury in their blood?(1) That means that 15 percent of the 4 million children born in the United States each year, or 600,000 children, are exposed to toxic levels of mercury in the womb. And then there are the 3,500 different chemicals that are added to our food, and the more than 3,000 chemicals found in our homes. In today’s blog I will discuss some of the effects these toxic chemicals have on our brains. I’ll tell you a story about what happens when you limit your toxic exposure and enhance your body’s detoxification system. And I’ll reveal the master detoxifying molecule made in your body. The Toxic American The average American consumes literally pounds of hormones, antibiotics, food chemicals, additives, artificial sweeteners, and MSG each year. Each one of these toxic chemicals has been shown to harm the brain. On average we consume a gallon of neurotoxic pesticides and herbicides each year by eating conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. (2) (And that’s with people eating much less than the 8 to 10 servings they should be eating!) Remember, pesticides work BECAUSE they are neurotoxic to pests—they attack their nervous system. Imagine what they do to your nervous system. A recent study in The Lancet (3) clearly showed that food additives make children hyperactive. Researchers took about 300 normal children and split them into two groups. Each group was given an identical-looking colored drink. One was naturally colored, the other contained sodium benzoate and many other colors and additives. The children who drank the tainted beverage were all much more hyperactive. These compounds (and the total load of all the other toxins we are exposed to) create changes in mood, aggressive behavior, depression, problems with attention and focus, sleep problems, reduced intellectual performance, and memory loss. It isn’t just occasionally consuming one red candy, blue cupcake, or the few drops of pesticide sprayed on our strawberries. It is the consistent, repetitive, cumulative presence of these chemicals in our lives that leads to our broken brains and the epidemics of autism, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and dementia we see in today’s world. Let me tell you a story of a patient who had a miraculous recovery from what most medical experts say is an irreversible condition—dementia. The truth is that the brain is very resilient and can heal from toxins, if you get rid of all the insults to it and provide all the necessary ingredients for optimal functioning. That is what we did for George -- and the results were nothing short of miraculous. Waking Up from Dementia George had a diagnosis of dementia and came with his wife to see me. He could no longer manage his business affairs, he couldn’t remember what he read any more, he had become increasingly unable to function at home, and he had to withdraw from family and social relationships. There is no known effective treatment for dementia. But we do know a lot about what affects brain function and brain aging: our nutrition, vitamin deficiencies,omega-3 fat deficiencies, inflammation from food, infections, environmental toxins, stress, lack of exercise, hormonal imbalances, and trouble producing energy in our cells. I addressed all of these things with George. But the biggest problem he had was a big load of mercury from living near a cement plant his whole life and having a mouth full of silver fillings. He also had a few genes that were preventing him from effectively getting rid of or detoxifying the mercury from his body. As a result he had one of the highest levels of mercury I had ever seen. The effects of this poisoning can be severe. In one study of 465 patients with chronic mercury toxicity, 32 percent had severe fatigue, 88 percent had memory loss, and almost 30 percent had depression. The good news that came out of this study is that removal of amalgam dental fillings combined with a mercury detoxification program resulted in significant symptom reduction. (4) But just doing one thing wouldn’t help George. So we worked hard to get everything in balance— all his 7 basic biologic systems, the 7 keys to an UltraMind. The most important thing we did was to have his dental fillings removed safely and to slowly help him get rid of the mercury. We helped him detoxify from mercury poisoning with foods such as kale, watercress, and cilantro, herbs such as milk thistle, nutrients such as selenium and zinc,and special medications that help the body remove toxic metals. We treated his vitamin deficiencies with high doses of vitamins B6, B12, and folate. After a year of aggressive therapy that was matched to his genes and his own quirky biochemical train wrecks—not his diagnosis — he had a remarkable and dramatic recovery. Before I saw George, he could not manage his business, nor did his grandchildren want to be around him. After matching his treatment to his genes, he was again able to function and his grandchildren loved being with him again. His memory improved, he could read and remember what he read, and run his business affairs. He no longer isolated himself at home, but became an engaged member of his family and community. He could even remember and sing all the songs he used to sing in the shower. The same miraculous recovery can happen for you -- if you follow The UltraMind Solution and support your detoxification system. Enhancing Your Detoxification System: Get More Glutathione You see, we actually have a great system for getting rid of toxins -- it is based on sulfur chemistry, that sticky, smelly substance. It is what our body uses like fly paper to stick to all the toxic molecules and carry them out of the body. The molecule it uses is called glutathione and it is the most important detoxifier, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory in the body. Sick people and people with broken brains have less of it. But it is easy to make more of it, so you can get all the toxins out of your body. Be kind to your brain! Learn how to get your detox system working:
- Avoid toxic foods like trans fats and high fructose corn syrup and toxic drugs like sugar, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine — all the top sellers in supermarkets.
- Eat organic when you can and avoid mercury-containing big fish like tuna and swordfish.
- Eat detoxifying foods like kale, watercress, artichokes, pomegranates, and cilantro.
- Use detoxifying herbs such as milk thistle and nutrients such as selenium and zinc, all of which boost detoxification and glutathione.
- Take special detox supplements like NAC, which is a form of sulfur your body uses to make glutathione.
- Learn how to get rid of heavy metals from your body.
Related Longevity Articles
-
7 min read time
The Real Story on Sunscreen, Sunblock, and Supercharging Your Sun Protection with Antioxidants.
Diet & Nutrition Longevity -
-
6 min
This "Oil Change" Could Add Years to Your Life—The Fascinating Science of Plasmapheresis.
Brain Health Longevity -
7 min read time
Are You Ignoring This Powerful Longevity Secret? How the “Roseto Effect” Can Help You Live Longer.
Longevity -
-
-
7 min read time
Unlocking the Secret to Longevity: The Transformative Power of Sleep
Lifestyle Longevity
1
/
of
8
Your weekly
wellness schedule
wellness schedule
Join my weekly newsletter channels to level up your health with a comprehensive weekly schedule packed with longevity insights, expert interviews, personal picks, and cooking in my kitchen.
Login
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Opens in a new window.