How Chiropractic Saved My LIfe

I’ve been reminiscing lately and realized that after writing all these blogs I never really shared my story, my healing story.  At 12 years old I was diagnosed with asthma after landing in the hospital not able to breath after my first NYC trip.  Ironic that the air pollution of NYC gave me my first asthma attack and that where I decided to open up my practice 16 years ago.  I was a runner throughout middle school and high school and my asthma was getting worse and worse.  At 16 years old we were looking for alternatives because my asthma was so bad I had to quite cross country and track. I was sick and tired of the inhalers and emergency room visits.  I absolutely hated the prednisone medication….and i was getting worse and worse every year so we were desperate to find a solution. My mom heard of a chiropractor who may be able to help but he was 2 hours away.  Well, we were desperate enough to give it a try.  He used muscle testing also known as applied kinesiology to help me find out what toxins were in my body causing the asthma and also directed me in what supplements to take that would support my lungs.  With the right nutritional support and lifestyle changes I was asthma free in 2 years and I have not used my inhaler since!

Being so inspired I knew I wanted to do what he did and he was a chiropractor who specialized in nutrition.  So I naturally went to chiropractic school. Chiropractic medicine is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. We go to different colleges than medical doctors.  We don’t learn about drugs but have more anatomy and physiology and learn how to help the body by working on the muscles, joints and spine.  The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.

 

The Goal of Chiropractic Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal region, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck issues. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it’s not the only goal. The objective is to restore and optimize human health by better nerve and blood flow to all areas of the body.  We do this by correcting misalignments in the spine, opening up tight muscles strengthening weak ones.  

How can the same chiropractic treatment which effectively treats my back pain also optimize my health? The answer can be found by looking into the relationship between the spine and the nervous system.

As you may already know, the nervous system is the master controller of all living cells, tissues and organs; orchestrating and coordinating all cellular functions. The spinal column encases the nervous system (spinal cord and nerve roots) and is responsible for its protection.

Because of this intimate relationship, misalignments in the spinal column can irritate parts of the nervous system. This irritation can result from inflammatory biochemicals released during injury or may result from direct pressure during an injury. In either case, the functioning of the nervous system is negatively influenced as is the nerves themselves and the organs that they go to.

In short, because the body’s innate recuperative powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal abnormalities which irritate the nervous system can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various, seemingly non-spinal health conditions.

 

What Chiropractors Do Chiropractors are primarily concerned with locating and treating misaligned joints, especially in the spine but could be anywhere in the body.  We also want to open up and relax tight muscles not only to help patients get out of pain but also because muscles attach to joints and if they are too tight they can pull the joint out of place and our adjustments do not hold.  

At Healing Arts, we use Applied Kinesiology to check the patient’s spine for any misalignments, fixations or other abnormalities (vertebral subluxations). If subluxations or other abnormalities are detected, the chiropractor will generally apply a gentle force in a corrective manner to the affected spinal area using their hands or  an activator. Chiropractors use many specialized techniques to identify and treat these spinal abnormalities and optimize overall health. 

In addition to spinal adjustive techniques we also use soft tissue techniques, physical therapies, and lifestyle modification programs to help the patient regain health.

We also use the muscle testing or Applied Kinesiology to identify which organs are weak in the body and using these homeopathic vials identify which toxins are causing the organ to go weak and then what nutritional supplement to use to help that organ.  This is how we identify the root cause of a person’s health concern.  

Chiropractors first got into the nutrition field in the 1940s when they realized that their adjustments were not holding well.  What used to take a chiropractor 2-3 adjustments to heal was now taking 12+ adjustments and it wasn’t like they were worse adjusters. So chiropractors started looking for the source and realized that people were becoming more toxic and these toxins were interfering with the nervous system not allowing the adjustments to hold.  This time period also correlated with food companies putting more sugar into the food and the birth of  canned foods.  

Even though chiropractors understood that what you ate and lifestyle changes made a difference in your health it wasn’t until the 1960s that Dr. George Goodheart developed Applied Kinesiology, also known as muscle testing.   

 

The Benefits of Chiropractic

Short-term and regular chiropractic care can offer a number of benefits including but not limited to:

spinal and extremity pain relief

headache relief

increased mobility and range of motion

decreased stiffness and muscular spasms

arthritic joint pain relief

increased joint health

increased performance and energy

increased sense of well being and relaxation

increased balance and coordination

reduced degeneration and risk of injury

enhanced tissue healing

decreased tissue inflammation

We also treat kids and babies and help them with

earaches

trouble sleeping

colic 

too much spitting up

constipation

Learn These Foot Reflexology Points

 For thousands of years, reflexology has been used as a way to help people get relief from many types of physical conditions. Reflexology uses the notion that putting pressure on certain areas of the body, not only the feet, but also the hands and ears, can help decrease inflammation, increase blood flow and nerve flow to certain organs, and return the body to optimal health.

Foot reflexology is the application of pressure on different pressure points of both feet that come from Chinese Medicine.  These pressure points are linked to specific parts of the body and when applying the right type of pressure a foot reflexology session can provide pain relief and help the body by facilitating energy flow, also known as chi, throughout the body.  With stimulating certain points on the feet I have personally seen great results with foot reflexology helping people with digestion issues and females with PMS concerns.  

In a 30 minute foot reflexology session for $50 pressure is applied to both feet where Maureen feels that certain points need to be released. The pressure is not too hard and most people find a session quite relaxing.  Here are some common points that people need released during a session.  

1. Tai Chong

The Tai Chong is also called the LV3. This point is found by placing your finger between your big toe and the second toe. It is just at the point where the tendons come together. Applying pressure on this area for just a few seconds can help reduce stress.

It can also relieve headaches and can reduce feelings of irritability, anxiety, and anger. Women who are suffering from menstrual pain may also benefit from applying pressure at this reflexology point. This point is also used for treating people who are feeling depressed.

2. Yong Quan

The Yong Quan is also called the KD 1. It is also often referred to as the kidney one. It is located in the depression that you feel located below the big toe joint. It is in between the second toe and the big toe. This pressure point is used to help to calm the spirit. In this way Yong Quan can help with blurry vision, headaches, sore throat, dizziness, and loss of voice.  Applying pressure in this area can be calming and relaxing for most people.  Massage this point for two or three minutes and then switch to the other foot.

3. Tai Bai

To find the Tai Bai acupoint on the foot you will want to apply pressure on the side of the foot until you reach the depression point. This will be located in the middle side area of the foot. It is near the ball. Once you have located this point on the foot you will want to apply pressure. You can apply as much pressure as you can stand.

The main function of this pressure point is to help with gastric issues. This includes ailments such as abdominal distention, dysentery, constipation, gastric pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and sluggishness. This point on the foot can also provide support for the spleen when you are feeling sluggish or heavy.  This reflex point can also be great for arthritis and joint pain. It is useful for sugar cravings as well.

4. Shen Mai

Find the bony bump that is located on the outside of the ankle. This is where the Shen Mai pressure point can be found. When you apply pressure to this area of the foot it can help promote patience. It also can help reduce anxiety and fear. If you have a cold, pressure on this point of the foot can help alleviate some of the symptoms that you are experiencing.

If you have pain and stiffness in the neck or are suffering from a painful back or pain in the legs, using this point may help. It can also help alleviate symptoms from a headache.

I hope this helps explain how some foot reflexology points work. If you are wondering if a session can help you email Maureen for a 10 minute free demo @ maureen@healingartsnyc.com

Coconut is our Favorite Superfood

Whether it hits after lunch or a few hours before the workday ends, even the most motivated people can find themselves skipping workouts and putting off important projects because of midday fatigue.  Before you pull that third shot of espresso… 

What if the one thing your body craves isn’t more caffeine, but some critical fatty acids from a coconut?

MCT oil which is a type of oil from the coconut, is known for fueling your brain for more energy and focus throughout the day. 

So, a few teaspoons in the morning or before a workout can fuel your brain and body for hours —better than any other food or coffee drink.

And because the body metabolizes MCTs at a higher priority than carbs or other fats (and optimizes your metabolism for fat-burning), they’ll help you burn calories instead of packing them away as fat.

So what is this magical oil?

MCT oil or medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s) are unique fatty acids that are found naturally in coconut and palm oils.  They have a remarkable ability to stabilize blood sugar and enhance ketone body production.  This process makes MCT’s a powerful tool to reduce inflammation, improve metabolism and enhance cognitive function.

The term “medium” is in reference to the length of the chain of fatty acids.  Oils can have short, medium or long chains.  Most oils are a combination of short, medium and long chain fatty acids.  MCTs are the easiest type of fatty acid that your body can burn for calories. They get absorbed directly from the gut to the liver and then are used for energy instead of being stored as fat.

Research confirms that MCTs can make you lean and healthy. In one study, researchers compared the results of MCTs with long-chain triglycerides on body fat, energy expenditure, appetite, and other aspects of weight loss in overweight men. They put these men on different diets for 28 days. One group ate a coconut-oil-rich diet high in MCTs. The other group ate a diet rich in long-chain triglycerides like olive oil. They then switched the diets so that they could see differences in the same subjects.

The researchers found the coconut group lost more body fat, which they attributed to a greater increase in energy expenditure and burning fat. Coconut oil actually sped up their metabolisms, allowing them to lose more belly fat and curbing their appetite compared with the men on the olive-oil-rich diet.

In fact, studies suggest that MCTs can help men burn about 460 extra calories a day and women about 190 extra calories (I know, women it’s just not fair!).  MCTs also affect your hormones, including appetite-controlling hormones, helping you feel full.

Part of what makes MCT oil magical is the ketones it contains. Ketones are unique energy producing molecules made from fatty acids.  Our bodies can make them from stored fat or from MCTs.  Ketones feed all the cells of the body, but in particular they are a preferred fuel for the brain.  This is what makes MCT oil brain food.  Research has demonstrated that MCTs can readily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and be oxidized by the brain. Not all food can do that.  

More information on brain health is in Healing Arts podcast Poison and the Blood Brain Barrier and includes steps to follow to help with ADD, poor memory, lack of motivation, depression, and dementia by detoxifying the body of pesticides,  and heavy metals, eating probiotic foods to keep the gut balanced. and eating more essential fatty acids than just coconut oil which are vital for the brain, like avocado, flaxseed, hemp seed, oily fish, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts..  Good brain health includes making quality sleep a priority and reducing psychological and emotional stress through exercise, meditation, journaling.

You need to be careful of the MCT oil you purchase.  Read what type of oils make up the MCT oil.  The best MCT oil is made of caprylic and capric acid.  An MCT oil is processed in a manufacturing plant to remove all the longer chain fats and other compounds except these two fatty acids.  Your MCT oil should also be tested for purity and heavy metals. Th MCT oil we use at Healing Arts is Jarrow.  

MCTs raise up ketones and lower blood sugar naturally.  They have a strong blood sugar stabilizing effect that helps to reduce inflammation. For more on Reducing inflammation through the diet  - Listen to our podcast on Chronic Inflammation.  

You might be hesitant to use coconut oil or MCT oil because it's high in saturated fat, which has unfairly been demonized for decades. There is a world of difference between quality saturated fat in coconut or MCT oils and what you might get in a fast-food meal.

You can get MCTs from whole foods: 

Coconut oil: 15%

Palm kernel oil: 7.9%

Cheese (if you tolerate dairy): 7.3%

Butter: 6.8%

Milk: 6.9%

Yogurt: 6.6%

But you can also get MCTs from specially concentrated MCT oil, which is much more concentrated.  A tablespoon of coconut oil will give you 2 grams of MCTs while MCT oil will give you 15 grams of MCTs.

Most people tolerate MCT oil very well, however, too large of a dose too quickly can cause gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, and diarrhea.  If you have this problem, don’t panic and give up on MCT oil right away. You can easily reduce or eliminate these symptoms by starting with very small doses at a time.  This would mean ½ tsp once a day and slowly increasing the dosage as tolerated.

Adding MCT oil can substitute for some of the oil in your diet but should not be used to replace all the fat in your diet.  Begin using MCT 1 tablespoon per day and slowly increase over several days.  1-3 tablespoons per day is recommended.  

It can be used as a salad dressing, in smoothies, for cooking or just straight up off the spoon.  As a 

Cooking Oil:  MCT oil is highly stable under heat like coconut oil but no coconut flavor

Salad Dressing:  No major flavor so combine it with herbs and vinegar

In Coffee & Tea:  Great for thickening up coffee or tea and improving their health benefits. Putting it in coffee started with Dave Asprey and is called Bullet Proof Coffee.

Smoothies:  Add 2 tbsps of MCT oil in a smoothie to curb hunger and have the smoothie keep you satisfied longer.

If you are thinking of adding MCT oil to your diet ask me at your next appointment and I will muscle test you for it. 90% of patients test well for it.

But there are a couple of issues with most MCTs you’ll find on grocery store shelves…

They’re packed with fillers and derived from low-quality sources…

Clumpy powders and tasteless oils don’t mix well and are hard to get down...

They’re not optimized for absorption!

The one I use, JARROW is different. It contains emulsified MCTs for unparalleled absorption. Plus, it will completely disperse when mixed into any liquid (no blender required).

Besides the MCTs coconut oil has many health benefits.  Coconut oil is great for hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, boosting the immune system, proper digestion and regulating metabolism. It also provides relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and cancer.  I have also seen it help improve dental quality and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their respective properties, such as  antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing qualities.

For Hair care:

Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrients for your hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair and gives your hair a shiny quality. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing and healing damaged hair. By regularly massaging your head with coconut oil, you can ensure that your scalp is free of dandruff, even if your scalp is chronically dry. It also helps in keeping your hair and scalp free from lice and lice eggs.

Heart diseases:

There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for heart health. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. In reality, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as you commonly find in vegetable oils. Coconut oil does not lead to increase in LDL levels, and it reduces the incidence of injury and damage to arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

Digestion:

A tablespoon taken before each meal can help improve digestion. It can also be taken in warm ginger tea to sooth heartburn or nausea.

Skin care:

Coconut oil is an excellent massage oil for the skin. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin and has a natural SPF 4. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally accompany aging. It makes for a great after-shave lotion. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. It can relieve the pain of hemorrhoids when used topically. When put on cuticles it helps nails grow and also makes a great eye-makeup remover!

Weight loss:

Coconut oil is very useful for weight loss. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and endocrine system. Further, it increases the body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, thereby burning more energy and helping obese and overweight people lose the weight. 

Immunity:

Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial fats. Yes, these fats kill germs, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. A tablespoon melted into a cup of warm tea can help sooth a sore throat.

Candida:

Coconut oil has been shown to prevent and even cure candida. It provides relief from the inflammation caused by candida, both externally and internally. Its high moisture retaining capacity keeps the skin from cracking or peeling off. Further, unlike other pharmaceutical treatments for candida, the effects of coconut oil is gradual and not drastic or sudden, which gives the body an appropriate amount of time to slowly kill the fungi and prevent adverse symptoms that can occur when killing the fungi too fast. Adverse symptoms of treating candida to aggressively is known as a die-off reaction. But, in the treatment of this condition, people should systematically and gradually increase their internal dosages of coconut oil and shouldn’t initially start with a large quantity. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and work up to 3 tablespoons over several days.  When having a yeast infection you can soak a tampon in coconut oil and insert it overnight for topical treatment.  

Now there are different types of coconut oil: refined, virgin and pure.  Only use organic coconut oil and for cooking use refined organic coconut oil.  For the skin, hair, medicinal uses it could be pure or virgin organic coconut oil.  It's best to get muscle tested to see which one works best for your body.  

There is also a great book by Bruce Fife for even more info on coconut oil called "The Coconut Oil Miracle”.

There has also been in recent years a lot more coconut based foods being made.  Three years ago coconut water was just making an appearance on store shelves and now you can get it anywhere. There are all kinds of enhanced waters these days, but coconut water is the real deal. The drink quickly became a staple everywhere from health food stores to fitness studios but it's sweet, nutty taste isn't for everyone. Do the nutrition facts back up the hype? Here's what you need to know.

Coconut water is the clear liquid inside coconuts. You'd typically get coconut water from young, green coconuts—those harvested at five to seven months of age, whereas the browner coconuts, are a better source of coconut milk.

Drinking coconut water for post-workout recovery is amazing! I’m so grateful there is something out there other than gatorade.  Just like gatorade, coconut water is abundant in several electrolytes including potassium, sodium, and magnesium. If you're having an intense sweat session, especially in the summer months when you may be sweating more, grab a coconut water and not regular water.  The electrolytes in coconut water can help regulate fluid balance, prevent dehydration, and even ensure proper muscle function. Of course, you'll want to make sure you refuel with enough carbohydrates and protein post-workout as well but coconut water really can help prevent muscle soreness and cramping. 

Coconut water also helps reduce blood pressure and stroke risk. Bananas are notorious for their high potassium levels, but just one cup of coconut water contains more potassium than a medium sized banana. Research suggests that potassium-rich diets can help support the heart by reducing blood pressure and even protecting against stroke.

Coconut water helps with digestion because it contains magnesium, a mineral that helps to keep things moving and prevent constipation. Magnesium also helps prevent cramping.

If you're under the weather, the body can lose a tremendous amount of fluid from vomiting and diarrhea. Coconut water can help with hydration status and balance electrolytes better than regular water in this scenario and you don’t want to drink ginger ale with all the added sugar.

Also use coconut water as an alternative to sugary beverages. Unlike sugar sweetened juices and sodas, coconut water usually has little to no added sugar (in unflavored varieties) and is yet still sweet. This makes it a great choice for those craving something sweet and yet trying to reduce their consumption of added sugar.

I personally add 4 ounces of coconut water to my morning superfood smoothie because it has a way of enhancing the health benefits of the other superfoods in it so I can get even more nutrition out of my smoothie. I only drink one type of coconut water, Harmless Harvest. I was first attracted to it being organic and not thermally pasteurized and after trying lots of different coconut waters it’s the taste that keeps me loyal to this brand. For your convenience and my enjoyment we sell Harmless Harvest coconut water at the office.  

 

Ozone for the Sinuses

Ozone introduced via the nose also known as nasal insufflation provides benefits to both the nasal passageways, sinuses, and the entire body. Breathe in microscopic organic olive oil (made in a glass jar to be Healing Arts approved because it can’t be in plastic or aluminum) treated with the extra oxygen from the ozone.  Inhaling ozone this way helps to reduce allergy symptoms, sinus pain, headaches and inflammation throughout the body.

Studies have mixed reviews on directly breathing in ozone through the lungs and yet the extra oxygen that ozone gives can be so beneficial for the body. Dr. Armitstead loves putting ozone in the air having been asthmatic in her childhood.  It cleans the air, kills germs and makes it easier for her to breathe.  Knowing these benefits she loved brining the ozone sauna into the office. To be able to absorb the ozone in through the skin has done wonders for our patients.  We have seen wonderful changes in the reduction of pain, eczema, and psoriasis, less toxins, and better sleep.  Did you know that the ozone sauna can also help with fertility? It really is amazing!  Knowing how amazing it is to absorb ozone through the skin made us want to also offer it through the nose and sinuses.  

Using nasal insufflation is another safe and easy way to bring extra oxygen into the body.  We first have the ozone react with olive oil and then have the client breathe it in. Ozone reacts with the oil to form ozonides and terpenes.  It does not contain any active ozone gas so it will not cause irritation.  This chemical reaction keeps the lungs safe while still having the health benefits.  Health benefits include reduction in sinus pressure and irritation, decrease inflammation in the nasal passages, provides relief from both acute and chronic sinusitis, kills bacteria and viruses, helps with asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory infections, reduces brain fog, and promotes overall health and wellness.  I will personally do a 20 min treatment once a week to stay healthy.  Depending on what you need it for, recommendations vary.  For an acute sinus infection you may need it 3 times a week until the infection is gone.  Whereas for a chronic infection with no pressure you want once a week for at least four weeks. 

$40 for 20 min. 

$50 for 30 min. 

BOOK NOW

Herbal Teas for Better Gut Health

I help a lot of people with gut issues that include people having trouble with constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, IBS, malabsorption and bloating.  It seems that no matter what the gut issue is if I help that patient reduce inflammation that is irritating the gut the body tends to heal itself given the right nutrition.  One of the things I use in order to reduce inflammation and heal the gut is to suggest to my patients to drink teas.  The top 4 teas that help my patients reduce inflammation while healing the gut are fennel, ginger, marshmallow root and peppermint.  

Fennel tea is great to help the body digest.  It tastes a little like licorice.  It can relieve constipation and is known to prevent stomach ulcers.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties due to its high level of antioxidants which the body needs to fight harmful things you ingest like bacteria, plastics that leach from food containers, or aluminum that food absorbed from foil.  

Ginger is a great tea to drink if you have an upset stomach for any reason.  Ginger tea is also good for preventing or stopping nausea. Drinking ginger tea is useful in improving digestion and increasing absorption of food.  Drink ginger tea when feeling bloated after eating too much.  It has such strong anti-inflammatory properties that drinking tea can also help reduce inflammation in other parts of the body including joints, head and uterus so it’s good for arthritis, headaches and menstrual cramps.  

Marshmallow root tea is very soothing for the gut.   It reduces inflammation of the stomach lining and even heals stomach ulcers. It creates a protective lining in the digestive tract, thereby treating leaky gut syndrome and soothing acid reflux. Marshmallow root also helps individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Drinking peppermint tea is a good way to balance pH levels and promote a healthy blood flow throughout the body.  In this way peppermint tea reduces inflammation not only in the gut but also your joints.  Peppermint tea is also good for nausea.

It is best to drink the loose leaf, organic version of any of these teas at any time of day.  Steep one teaspoon of tea in 6 ounces of hot water for at least 3 minutes.  

Poison and the Blood Brain Barrier

The Blood-Brain Barrier, or BBB, is a single-layered lattice of cells joined together by tight junctions that keep most substances out and allow few substances into the brain.Toxic substances typically kept out include heavy metals, pesticides, germs, plastics as well as damaging proteins while substances allowed in are oxygen, hormones, and nutrients.  Your bbb has tight junctions that become loose or broken with a protein called zonulin. Zonulin also breaks down the protective layer of your intestinal wall creating leaky gut.  Zonulin is increased in the body due to glyphosate (an herbicide found in our food from Roundup made by Monsanto).  To find out what foods contain glyphosate go to Detox Project website. Zonulin is also made in response to eating wheat.  With too much zonulin the bbb leaks letting toxins come into the brain causing damage and inflammation on the brain.  In other words, a Leaky Brain is an Inflamed Brain.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Leaky Brain?

Leaky Brain manifests as multiple signs and symptoms, so pay attention to these as opposed to ignoring them:

ADD/ADHD/Autism spectrum disorders

Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

Chronic fatigue that does not improve with rest or sleep

Headaches or migraines that come on suddenly, become worse with standing, and grow more severe as the day progresses

Memory loss or another cognitive decline which may lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Mood disorders, particularly anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia

Peripheral neuropathy 

Seizures

It is important not to ignore these signs and symptoms because those living with Leaky Brain are at an increased risk of developing neurological or psychiatric conditions. 

What Causes Leaky Brain?

The profound connection between the brain and the gut cannot be underestimated as research repeatedly confirms that microbes living in the gut affect the brain both positively and negatively.

In fact, the stomach and small intestine contain a lining similar to the blood-brain barrier which also keeps harmful substances from entering the gut.

Therefore, many of the same factors that cause a leaky gut—poor gut health, unhealthy diet, food intolerances, food sensitivities, toxins and infections—can also create a leaky brain. For more information on Leaky gut listen to my podcast #13 Digestion Leaky Gut and Lectins.

Studies from Harvard show that wheat creates leaky gut because it contains  a protein called gliadin, which increases the zonulin.  Again it’s this Zonulin that weakens the tight junctions of the gut lining and BBB thereby contributing to leaky gut and leaky brain.

Five causes of Leaky Brain:

1.Gut Dysbiosis (infections)

2.Leaky Gut

3.Autoimmune Disease

4.Mental Health Conditions

5.Stress & Vagus Nerve Dysfunction

All five of these categories have inflammation as a basis for the problem, yet they become even more problematic in the following disease states:

Bacterial infections deteriorate the BBB allowing bacteria into the brain where they do not belong.

Mold toxins trigger inflammation, promote oxidative damage in the brain, and disrupt the BBB.

Excess glutamate overstimulates nerves causing the BBB to breakdown increasing permeability to potentially harmful agents.

High blood sugar and diabetes represent dramatic changes in blood sugar which produce oxidative stress and inflammation

Elevated homocysteine, seen in individuals living with heart disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease or those who survive a stroke, changes tight junction function and prevents the BBB from functioning properly.

Obesity increase oxidative damage and deprive the brain of oxygen.

Low quality sleep interrupts the sleep-wake cycle interrupting the uptake of nutrients and offload of toxins while increasing inflammation.

While it is more obvious that leaky brain causes inflammation which then drives mental health conditions, it is less known that mental health conditions can also drive inflammation and leaky brain.  The contributing factors could be:

The Brain-Gut Axis: The Vagus Nerve Connection

The brainstem connects to the vagus nerve, which in turn connects to all the digestive organs. The brain sends signals through the vagus nerve to the organs. The organs also send signals through the vagus nerve to the brain.

The vagus nerve initiates many important digestive functions such as stomach acid secretion, enzyme production, gallbladder function and intestinal motility.

If there is poor brain communication to the vagus nerve there can be many negative effects including:

Chronic inflammation

Poor digestion

Leaky gut

Inflamed brain

How to Reverse and Heal a Leaky Brain – Stop, Start, and Seek

Treating a leaky brain starts by healing a leaky gut. This involves eliminating all the causative factors of leaky gut and leaky brain and then adding dietary and lifestyle factors that support brain health.

Following these steps will lower inflammation in the body and brain, maximize the transport of oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients into the brain, facilitate better removal of toxins out of the brain, reduce oxidative stress, and help rebuild tight junctions to restore the integrity of the BBB.

STOP:

Consuming gluten and foods that you cannot tolerate including sugar and processed foods in meals

Ignoring stress

Allowing bacterial and viral infections to fester before getting treatment

Drinking alcohol in excess

Exposure to environmental toxins in air, water and food

Eating nonorganic food that contains glyphosate

START:

Detoxifying the body of pesticides,  and heavy metals

Taking in probiotic foods to keep the gut balanced

Eating essential fatty acids, which are vital for the brain, including avocado, coconut oil, flaxseed, hemp seed, oily fish, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts

Reducing inflammation through the diet  - Listen to our podcast on Chronic Inflammation

Making quality sleep a priority

Reducing psychological and emotional stress through exercise, meditation, journaling

SEEK:

Figure out what supplements you need to take to help repair the BBB including:

Acetyl L-Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Alpha-GPC, Angelica (Dong Quai) Extracts, Astragalus, Astaxanthin, Apigenin, B12-B6-Folate Mix, Berberine, Bitter Melon, Butyrate, Catechins, Chlorogenic-Acid, Citicoline, Collagen, Curcumin, Vitamin D3, Fish Oil, Ginseng, Licorice, Luteolin, Lycopene, Myoinositol, Magnesium, Melatonin, Methylene Blue, Olive Leaf Extract, Oxaloacetate, Parthenolide (Feverfew), Progesterone, Pterostilbene, Resveratrol, Rosmarinic Acid, Shilajit, Selenium, Sulforaphane, Ursolic Acid

There's lots of different supplements for support so it's best to get muscle tested for your exact nutritional support.