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Michelle Schoffro Cook

Detox Your Brain–Part 2

posted by Michelle Schoffro Cook Sep 3, 2009 1:06 pm
filed under: Health & Wellness, Diet & Nutrition, Eating for Health, Michelle Schoffro Cook, Natural Remedies, Simply Healthy, , , ,
Detox Your Brain–Part 2
11 comments

Scientists once thought the brain had built-in protection against harmful toxins through its blood-brain barrier, as the name would suggest. Recently, however, study after study shows that the toxic industrial chemicals in the air we breathe, water we drink, or additives in our food, can cross the blood-brain barrier to gain access to the delicate brain.

The good news is that certain nutrients and phytochemicals found in foods can displace toxins’ access to the brain. Colourful fruits and vegetables, like blueberries, strawberries, and spinach, contain a category of flavonoids, called polyphenols. Polyphenols prevent oxidative damage in the brain. In one study, rats were fed extracts of blueberries, strawberries, and spinach for eight weeks, and the results found that these potent antioxidant foods reversed some effects of age-related brain decline.

Blueberries contain a group of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyanidins have a unique capacity to protect both the watery and fatty parts of the brain against damage from some environmental toxins. Proanthocyanidins decrease free radical activity within and between brain cells. Blueberries appear to have some of the highest concentrations of these powerful antioxidants.

Dr. Egemen Savaskan at the University of Basel in Switzerland discovered that resveratrol found in grapes, grape juice, and red wine protects brain cells from beta-amyloid-induced oxidative damage by mopping up free radicals. Beta-amyloid plaque has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Tomatoes contain a powerful memory-boosting phytonutrient called lycopene. Researchers at the University of Kentucky studied a group of Catholic nuns. Those who consumed at least thirty milligrams of lycopene in their daily diets were 3.6 times more able to take care of themselves physically and had sharper memories than those who didn’t consume high amounts of lycopene.

Researchers found that a group of natural chemicals found in tea are called catechins have demonstrated promise as brain protectors. In another study, green tea extract was shown to protect animals from the effects of a serious neurotoxic (brain-damaging) agent.

When it comes to brain health, Mother Nature offers some of the greatest protection against pollutants in the environment and toxins in food. Boost your brain protection by eating more colourful fruits and vegetables, particularly: blueberries, strawberries, spinach, grapes, and tomatoes. And, don’t forget to enjoy a nice cup of green tea too.

Excerpted from The Brain Wash: A Powerful, All-Natural Program to Protect Your Brain Against Alzheimer’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Parkinson’s and Other Diseases by Michelle Schoffro Cook (John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2007) with permission of the author.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, DAc, ROHP, RNCP is a best-selling and six-time book author and doctor of natural medicine, whose works include: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. Learn more at: www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.

More on Diet & Nutrition (303 articles available)
More from Michelle Schoffro Cook (43 articles available)

11 comments

11 comments

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11 comments add your comment
Deb R.
  • Deb R. says
  • Sep 8, 2009 10:19 PM

Thanks Michelle...great article...saved it on my computer for future reference.

Gotta go and eat some blueberries...

H H H.
  • H H H. says
  • Sep 6, 2009 2:52 PM

here is link to more info on Pu-erh tea ....http://www.naturalnews.com/026747_Pu-erh_blood_health.html

Genevieve H.

To Maija: What I do is freeze plenty of blueberries when they're in abundance and that way I have plenty until next summer. They still taste nice. You can also buy frozen ones which are not that expensive, if you can't have access to loads of cheap or free ones in summer.
PS. I'm just feasting on some freshly picked ones from my friend's orchard!
Also, regarding pu-er tea, I find it tastes smoky rather than earthy, quite close to Lapsang Suchong tea. Some people say that drinking pu-er tea is one of the reasons Chinese people are so thin in spite of all the fatty food they eat. Its alkalinity helps the body get rid of all the fat, plus all the Chinese black vinegar they also use as a condiment.

Kevin H.

nice!

Shirley Mccreight

Thanks very much, Jason. Researching Pu erh tea now online...

Jason Witt

Shirley, Pu-erh tea is the only truly fermented or "post-fermented" tea. Others like black and oolong are really oxidized. The process of making Pu-erh is still a secret guarded jealously by the Chinese so all of it comes from China only. However, there's a lot of fake stuff on the market so if you go for it don't buy the very cheapest. Search Google for terms like "Pu erh" and you'll find a bunch of mail order tea companies that will sell you selections. You might want to start with mini tuo cha which means "bowl tea." They're little bowl shapes and are a good size for a few servings. That's good portion management. But I must warn you--Pu-erh is considered an acquired taste or something not everyone likes. If you are health-minded you'll probably like it. But many people find the flavor objectionable because it may taste like earth and even like soil. I'd say buy a small amount to try and also consider trying several different kinds in small amounts. Pu-erh teas can vary greatly from one to another. You might even search for "Pu erh samples" on Google. Those will be the reputable companies though some of that might be too pricey since geared more toward connoisseurs.

Aviva Gutin

I stopped getting constant illnesses when I started taking this proanthocyanadin/resveratrol supplement - good to know it's helping my brain too, along with the insane amount of blueberries I ate this summer. http://www.marketamerica.com/thelivingyou/topproducts-13009/isotonix-opc3.htm

Maija Sarkkinen

well, that was quite easy to find after all the concern last week.

thanks again. i'm thinking i'll try a spinach salad with blueberries thrown in 'for goodness sake'!

i'm wondering if the blueberry extract [or whatever it's called] from the pharmacy would be advantageous ... or not. blueberries get rather expensive come winter.

Lisa C.

Thanks!

Shirley Mccreight

Jason, what is Puerh tea, and where can it be found? Is it anything like yerba mate?
I drink tea of all kinds, black, green, white as well as yerba mate, sunset honeybush and rooibos...but I've never heard of Puerh tea.

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