Brain Boosting Blog: Brain health and neurodegeneration

“The human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron connected to 10 thousand other neurons. Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe.” -Michio Kaku

 

The body-mind connection is a part of wellness just as much as going to the gym. Three conditions of the body have a heavy impact on brain health and neurodegeneration and compromise that connection. Anemias, dysglycemia, and inflammation/oxidative stress are “deal breakers” when it comes to having a healthy brain and here is why!!!

1. Inflammation: Just inflammation alone can do damage to the blood brain barrier (BBB); that membrane that protects the brain from pro-inflammatory molecules. However, inflammatory cytokines can cross the BBB and disrupt cell function. Factors like toxins, stress, inflammation, injury, and infection can all compromise that BBB. 

2. Anemia: Iron is an essential micronutrient for blood. Red blood cells (RBCs) need it to carry oxygen to all cells of the body with the help of iron. Anemia lowers that oxygen carrying capacity of RBCs and can result from issues like nutrient deficiencies, cellular protein dysfunction, trauma, or infection. Since oxygen is needed to produce the most energy in cells this can be a real problem. Deficiencies of iron, B12 and/or B9 that lead to anemia and chronic inflammation resulting in anemia can cause cognitive impairment and other brain health issues. 

3. Dysglycemia: The brain’s cells love glucose. The brain can run on alternative fuels, but it loves glucose. If it’s not getting enough oxygen the only thing the brain can use is energy that requires glucose, almost exclusively. Low intake of glucose or insulin resistance prevent absorption by cells. The hard truth is that “bad” brains ultimately need more fuel (glucose) to do simple tasks, which they cannot get and that vicious cycle just continues.

All these disorders affect the function of the body, and ultimately the mind. The body and mind are all made of cells that require certain nutrients to function. The body is the supplier and if that’s not working then all your cells are in trouble. Physiologically, this is why the body and mind are so intimately connected. Chemically these conditions can manifest in “a brain on fire”. If one of these issues is affecting your life please contact Straus Method at strausmethod@gmail.com