Can Nutrition Affect Behavior: how we become what we eat

February 14, 2010 in Allergies, Alternative Therapies, Chemicals / Toxic, Depression, Education, Family Health, How do I use, Lifestyle, Men's Health, Natural, Natural Health, Nutrition / Diet, Omega 3, Science, Stress, Supplements / Vitamins, Wellness, Women's Health, Young Living Distributor by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

A few years ago I purchased a copy of Dr. Russell Blaylock’s video, “Behavior and Nutrition.” What I found most helpful is the way he explains ‘how’ our food choices make very profound differences in our health and our behavior. Nutrition in general is an area that I’ve been interested in since I was 10 years old, it wasn’t until I was 16 that I became aware just how much a difference it makes. Since then, it has been a hobby of mine to stay up to speed on the ‘good’ science available (yes, there is a lot of bad science out there) and perhaps even more importantly… what’s happening in the food industry.

Over the years I have noticed that my health was quite different than most, in particular compared to my peers. I wasn’t getting the same illnesses as they were and I still don’t. I know this is due to the choices I’ve made… even if those around me thought I was kooky or extreme. I am the only one I’ve personally known who has never had a disease, a condition, and have never been on any type of drug either over-the-counter or pharmaceutical.

Here are some of the things I have completely stood by:

If it’s low-cal, low fat, no-cal: I avoid it like the plague
I want most of my food to be ‘whole’: not processed, not pasteurized, not reduced calorie, or enriched
Buy local and in season and/or grow my own either in a garden or container garden
NO Fluoride!!! No fluoride in my drinking water, my toothpaste, or in my mouthwash. I use and recommend Thieves Ultra Toothpaste and Thieves Mouthwash; they are the ONLY ones I have ever found to be edible and extremely effective, I’ve never found anything that even comes remotely close to these.
No store bought meats… even if they are organic! All of the meat I buy MUST be from animals that are completely pasture and grass raised. and I get my fish from Vital Choice Seafood (they too are the best).

I don’t even want eggs from chickens that have been fed ‘organic’ feed for the fact that a chickens diet is suppose to contain insects, seeds, grasses, and weeds that are found in nature outdoors, not an organic vegetarian diet (whoever thought that was a good idea has got to be nuts). A chicken whose diet consists of little more than organic feed is a nutritionally deficient chicken which produces nutritionally deficient eggs.

Twenty years ago I suspected that the organic label was hogwash, turns out I suspected correctly. The organic industry has changed so significantly that the word ‘organic’ has come to mean virtually nothing these days (since the USDA took over and literally changed the criteria and standards in the industry).

My 6 Easy Tips for Eliminating Horrible Stuff

Shop mindfully: this means not making a selection simply because it appears convenient
Get rid of toxic household and personal care products: I make my own with essential oils, it’s super easy, convenient, smells wonderful and completely eliminates my exposure to products used daily. Here are some of the super easy recipes you too can make with essential oils – it’s amazing how easy it is and how good it is for us and the environment. Note: do NOT use any ol’ brand of essential oil though as they are loaded with chemicals and solvents – you do not want to defeat the purpose!
Avoid so-called convenience foods, particularly those you toss in the microwave
When you do cook, cook extra so you can have leftovers or save them in the freezer (this is the homemade equivalent of fast food) – My Real Veggie Burger Recipe and more of my favorite recipes
Give up something you currently do that really doesn’t serve you well, the time spent doing such things gives you time to do something that’s better for you
Read the label: it’s appalling what’s in products and foods today and turning a blind-eye to the ingredients list is like playing with fire, it’s only a matter of time before the house burns down, our bodies.

I personally have found that applying the above has saved me an enormous amount in health care costs and I’m well almost all of the time.

Here is the video by Russell Blaylock, MD on “Nutrition and Health”

A summary of the effects of nutrition on behavior:

Brain Allergies

Food allergies associated with neurological effects
Immune factors interact with the brain
Lethargy, stupor, disorientation, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, agitation, rage, panic attacks, criminal behavior and seizures

Allergies found in all people with Schizophrenia

88% were allergic to wheat
60% were allergic to cow’s milk
50% allergic to corn
100% were allergic to gliadin or gluten

In one study, when 50% of the group of Schizophrenic’s were taken off of gliadin and gluten almost all of them returned to normal. It was also observed that when they got back on gliadin or gluten, even a very small amount of it, they were fully Schizophrenic again and had to be hospitalized.

Food Cravings

Food allergies, very often, make you crave the food you are allergic to
Food allergies and hypoglycemia are linked (adrenal effect)

Leading Foods for Allergies

Milk (juvenile offenders drink the most milk)
Wheat
Corn
Coffee
Eggs
Potato
Peanuts
Soy (is the leader in food allergies and is in most foods) Myth: soy prevents breast or prostrate cancer. Fact: there is evidence that shows soy WILL make breast cancer grow faster.

Research Showing a Connection Between Nutritional Status and Brain Function

Animals fed lard (animal fat) had impaired spatial learning and temporal memory
Newer studies found impaired ability to learn and remember with saturated animal fats
Omega 3 fats improved depression, memory retention and thinking, and have even been shown to improve Schizophrenia (that’s because the brain uses a lot of Omega 3s for its membrane). DHA makes up about 50% of all the membranes in the nervous system. Thousands of studies have shown a connection between DHA and intake of Omega 3s in the eyes.
Animals eating foods grown with pesticides, industrial chemicals and herbicides – these become stored in ‘their’ body fat.
The brain is more than 60% fat, having the highest fat content of any organ, and retains chemicals for a lifetime. Chemicals in the brain can have tremendous effects n neurological function.

Research

When Omega 3s are low, level of DHA, in neurons it correlated with violent behavior. Alcoholism causes a fall of DHA level in the brain.
When body DHA is low and MSG levels are high it dramatically increases violent activity
Lead is known to significantly increase violent behavior, suicide and juvenile delinquency. A study done in 380,000 school children found that even a slight increase in lead levels produced horrendous rates of violent crime and arrests. Lead, in very small amounts can have profound implications in terms of brain function.

Factors Affecting Brain Function

All of these play a role in brain toxicity and your behavior. In the list below, these are not minor things; they are ‘key’

Regular Diet

Fats: your ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s (they should be about equal). Omega 6s are corn, peanut oils (your cooking type oils). Omega 3s are from wild cold water fish and Omega Blue supplement and from livestock raised entirely free-range (note: organic is NOT the same as grass range). When these are not in balance we are terribly altering brain function.
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fruits and vegetables

Antioxidant Intake

Vitamins
Minerals
Flavonoids
Thiols

Protection for the brain and every cell in the body.

Balance of Hormones

Testosterone
Estrogen
Thiroid

Artificial estrogen is brain toxic, natural estrogen is brain protective. When you see studies saying there was increased stroke, dementia with estrogen replacement, they were using artificial estrogen’s which produce about half a dozen different brain neurotoxin’s. So, when you get Premorin from the doctor, you’re getting a brain toxin.

Thyroid function makes a big difference, particularly in pregnant women. Every woman who is thinking of becoming pregnant should get a thyroid test done because it is shown that even marginal deficiencies in thyroid in the mother can result in permanent deficiencies in the babies brain that are un-repairable.

Environmental Toxins

Aluminum
Mercury
Lead
Cadmium
Fluoride
MSG
Aspartame
Pesticides
Herbicides
Industrial Solvents
Food Dyes
Excessive Vaccination

Over immunization causes the brain to over function, this is why we are seeing a rise in ADD and ADHD, the immune reaction from the vaccine goes on for years, nonstop. The brain becomes inflamed and this is what causes the brain dis-function, this is shown repeatedly in every kind of study you can imagine.

In this list, there are synergistic effects. Every one of us are exposed to these things daily, and some in very high levels. Reducing these can have very significant effects on the body and on our health. Taking even small steps and reducing exposure, will over time, produce beneficial results.

Related Articles:

Omega 3 Fish Oil Rival Antidepressants in Study

Omega 3s in the Brain and their Link to Zinc, Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Antidepressant Drugs do they Work?