Allergies and Gut Degeneration May Be Contributing to Loss of Brain Cells
Have you ever walked into a room and asked yourself ‘what did I come in here for? While you may joke and say ‘I must be losing my mind’, this is, in fact, one of the signs of neurodegeneration. Neurodegeneration is the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons (message carrier cells of the nervous system), including death of neurons. We see it blatantly in diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, but the degeneration starts long before it is recognized. Everyday signs of neurodegeneration include foggy brain, habitual lateness, getting lost frequently, trouble following directions, and food sensitivities. This last sign may get you thinking, what do food sensitivities have to do with my brain?
Not only do we have neurons in the brain, we have neurons in our gut (often called the second brain). Brain and gut degeneration go hand in hand. This means that if you have food sensitivities or allergies, you are losing brain function daily. We often meet people who think allergies are no big deal, but the more we learn about how they impact the brain, the more we believe the need to treat allergies is an imperative. Another daily impact on our brains is the space we occupy. Studies done on aged monkeys who were reared in smaller cages showed significantly greater neurodegeneration than monkeys reared in larger cages. In our corporate world, we work in small cubicles, and this also impacts our brains. Healthcare practitioners (both traditional and alternative) are guilty of neglecting the brain. The brain affects immune function, the endocrine system, blood flow and much more. Inflammation in the brain could be causing your digestive problems. With recent breakthroughs in treatments and supplementation, you can be active in maintaining healthy brain functioning throughout your lifetime.
Gail Smithson, LAc is co-owner of Smithson Clinic and uses NMT, acupuncture, and Apex brain formulas to support healthy brain functioning. Located in Lakewood. For a free consult, or more information call 303-762-8994 or visit www.smithsonclinic.com