The Brain, Longevity, Obesity & Alzheimer’s

“The human brain is a most unusual instrument of elegant and as yet unknown capacity.” – Stuart Seaton

The human nervous system consists of a brain, a spinal cord, and all of the nerves that exit the spinal cord and travel throughout the body. Your nervous system controls every little thing that happens in your body. It controls every little thing that you observe and think. When the brain functions optimally, then your muscles, joints, organs and glands are able to function at a high level.

Chiropractic adjustments seek to restore a vibration to the spine that stimulates receptors on the joints of the spine to communicate more efficiently with the Brain. When the spine loses its normal vibratory oscillation, a vertebral subluxation, then the brain loses the ability to comprehend your environment fully. Your environment is made up of physical, chemical and emotional stresses, among other things. When the brain does not comprehend these stresses well enough, then it fails to deal with them adequately. That is when aches, pains, and even named conditions and diseases arise.

So, simply put, the goal of a chiropractic adjustment is to restore the brain, and nervous system to optimal function. Then your brain will use your natural healing abilities to come up with the best possible solution to your stresses; and your aches, pains, and even named conditions and diseases. Healthy spine, healthy brain.

WHAT’S BAD FOR THE BRAIN

Unfortunately, the brain and nervous system needs more than chiropractic adjustments to thrive. Daniel Amen, a noted brain expert has noted that the “dinosaur syndrome” has overrun our society. The dinosaur syndrome is big body, small brain. The result is an epidemic of obesity and Alzheimer’s in the U.S. Here is a list of things that contribute to dinosaur syndrome:

• Brain injuries are common. Many seem minor like falling when you are young, sports injuries; but others are obvious such as concussions, strokes, whiplash.
• Alcohol and drugs are capable of destroying brain cells.
• A diet high in sugar and processed white flour is pro-inflammatory leading to obesity and many named conditions and diseases.
• Diabetes and hypertension cause increased blood pressure that leads to decreased blood to the brain. Without sufficient blood flow the brain withers.
• Caffeine, nicotine and sleep apnea all deprive the brain of blood flow, thus oxygen deprivation. This can result in dehydration, addiction poor sleep, and increased cortisol.
• Our daily life is filled with brain killing toxins in our cleaning products, paint, mold, foods we eat and much more.
• Low hormone levels, including vitamin D, are also prevalent in our society and also negatively affect the brains ability to function.
• Chronic stress, depression and ADHD all contribute to the dinosaur syndrome.
• Exercise is not as common among children as it used to be, and it is not just the kids. Lack of exercise also has a negative effect on the brain.
• Daniel Amen claims that even having “bad friends,” and unhealthy peer group is another detrimental factor to having a healthy brain.

WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE BRAIN

The good news is, there are ways to overcome, and/or limit, the damage that has been done to our brains. With proper care the brain is capable of directing the nervous system to allow you to live a long and fully functional life. You have a great deal of control because we are born to be healthy. Here is a list of brain healthy activities:

• Eat well. The brain consumes 20-30% of the calories you consume. This is not as easy as it sounds though. Just because a food is good for one person does not mean it is good for another. Diets need to be tailored for individuals. This is one of the most important things I do in my clinic.
• Sleep well. Many people are under the false illusion that they need only 5-6 hours of sleep a night. They are usually wrong and this habit is often responsible for brain deterioration.
• Learning is a wonderful tonic for the brain. Undertake new hobbies, read daily, and make sure you are challenging the brain to learn regularly.
• Exercise regularly because studies show that increased strength correlates with a decreased incidence of Alzheimer’s. This is another important area of instruction in my clinic.
• Keep your blood sugar balanced. This is really part of the first item in this list, but so important that it warrants its own mention. Processed foods are slow death for the brain, and by extension you.
• Practice deleting your negative thoughts. Find a method such as meditation, prayer, EFT, visualization, or anything else that works for you to help in this area.
• Make sure your peer group inspires and motivates you. Learn to say no to people and activities that drain your positive energy.
• Get adjusted regularly. Give your brain the opportunity to get fresh input about the pathologically stressful environment in which you live. Then it will better comprehend how to make healthy adaptations to those stresses. Those adaptations are truly the keys to wellness.

Ultimately, your health is tied intimately to the decisions you make. Your behavior can either increase, or decrease brain health. So, ask your brain and your body, before you do or eat anything, “Is it good for my brain, or is it bad for my brain?” Alzheimer’s, depression, ADHD and many other conditions respond to a healthy lifestyle. As you age the margin for error shrinks. It is up to you; build reserves, or steal from them.

Get adjusted, stay adjusted. Trust your Innate Intelligence to protect you. It is way bigger than the next “medical miracle.” You are meant to be healthy. That is the miracle of life. That is my message.