Food, Mood and Beyond
Volume I, Issue 3!
July 2016
!
As I considered a topic for our July
newsletter, I got a call from a friend
asking me what I could recommend as an
alternative to commercial air fresheners
for her home. It got me thinking…
Why not create the next issue around the
importance of “cleaning up our
environment” as a way to support brain
as well as physical health and vitality.
The truth is, there is so much we can do
ourselves to reduce our exposure to
environmental toxins.
Stay Informed
Mental Health issues are now the leading
cause of non-fatal illnesses world wide.
One in ten American adults report some
form of depression. One in 10 American
children are diagnosed with ADHD. The
incidence of children with autism is 1 in
10 which is a rise from one in 10,000 30
years ago. And recent research is
showing that boys and girls are
beginning sexual development much
sooner than historically normal. While
some shrug this trend off as being
!
insignificant, early puberty can affect
physical as well as psychosocial health in
several ways, including increasing the
future risk of hormone related cancers.
What is going on? For sure, there are
many and varied contributing factors
including impoverished circumstances,
poorly managed stress, and poor food
choices. I cannot overstate the
importance of diet and nutrition when it
comes to your mental health. Exposure
The Dirty Dozen
Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Grapes
Celery
Spinach
Sweet Bell Peppers
Cucumbers
Cherry Tomatoes
Snap peas
Potatoes
to pesticides, herbicides, genetically
modified foods, high fructose corn syrup
and processed sugar and foods, just to list
a few, all contribute to depleting natural
beneficial gut bacteria. The end result
being inflammation of your entire
system, including the brain. Go organic
as much as possible.
A little perspective
The historic progression of psychiatric
treatment has shifted from the
assumption that all mental illness
stemmed from psychological stress and
disordered lives to the current paradigm
of brain chemical imbalances. What
causes alterations in brain chemistry,
anyway?
Certainly life stressors are players. But
what about the effects of environmental
toxins like heavy metals (lead and
mercury) and pesticides on the brain?
BRAIN TOXINS
Mercury and PCBʼs found
predominantly in farm raised fish;
lead found in paint, toys, cosmetics,
gasoline; aluminum found in
antiperspirants and foil; flame
retardants found in upholstery,
clothing, mattresses; dry cleaning
chemicals; fluoride; pesticides and
herbicides.
Various toxic chemical substances –
whether consumed in processed foods,
inhaled, applied to skin, introduced into
the body by surgery, dental work, or
injection – have the potential to disturb
the balance responsible for healthy brain
function.Thinking is just as physiological
as digestion, and emotions are just as
biological as pain. While sick stomachs
may regurgitate or sick lungs may induce
cough, the sign of a disordered brain
includes impaired thinking, intellectual
compromise, failed memory and altered
moods. It is important, in my humble
opinion, to think outside the box and
consider there may be a physiologic as
well as psychologic component involved.
More Culprits
Numerous research studies over the past
several years have pointed to the hazards
of drinking fluids contained in plastic
bottles. Chemicals like BPA and BPS
which leach into bottled drinks expose us
to high levels of estrogen which is
associated with various forms of cancer
and fetal abnormalities. As the bottles
breakdown over time or when exposed to
heat or extreme cold, the leaching process
increases.
HORMONE ALTERING CULPRITS
Toxins such as phthalates, found in
detergents, air fresheners and
cosmetics; VOCʼs in aerosol sprays;
non GMO soy; toxins like BPA and
BPS found in non-stick and plastic
products; MSG; and growth
hormones added to commercial dairy
and meat.
In addition to the hazards of plastic we
have learned about the potential harm
caused by electromagnetic radiation from
cell phones and WIFI devices, on brain
development, function and hormone
production.
A small, but significant, portion of the
general population has reported suffering
from “electromagnetic hypersensitivity,”
or EHS, a condition characterized by nonspecific symptoms which the afflicted
person attributes to sources of
electromagnetic fields (EMF) such as cell
phones. Some of the more common
symptoms include heart palpitations,
digestive problems, difficulty
concentrating, tiredness, fatigue,
insomnia, dizziness, and nausea, as well
as skin redness, tingling, and burning
sensations of the skin. While EHS is not a
medical diagnosis, the World Health
Organization has recognized it as a
potentially disabling condition with real
symptoms which can “vary widely in
their severity.” Authorities recognize that
EHS affects quality of life, even if, at this
point, it is not considered part of the
development of any degenerative
disease.
What now?
Tips to Reduce Exposure to Toxic
Substances:
Did I mention the importance of eating
organic as much as possible?
Eat mostly fresh foods instead of
processed to avoid soy, BPA and
phthalates.
Store and nuke (if you must) in glass.
Use stainless steel or glass water
containers
Use natural cleaning products like 7th
Generation or Meyers and avoid scented
products like fabric softeners.
Freshen the air with natural products like
essential oils in a diffuser, or natural nonaerosol sprays.
Switch over to natural grooming and
hygiene products.
Filter your water.
Replace non-stick and aluminum pots
with stainless steel.
Reduce exposure to mercury by eating
wild caught fish instead of farm raised
and consider replacing amalgam dental
fillings with composites.
Avoid fake sugars like aspartame. Stevia
is OK. It is plant based.
Avoid the “Dirty Dozen” fruits and
veggies with high toxin load.
Limit exposure to wireless devices,
especially smartphones.
Consider using a Himalayan salt lamp on
your desk to help neutralize the effect of
electromagnetic fields.
Bring Mother Nature indoors with plants
to help clean the air.
Deep Breath!
While this information may feel
overwhelming and downright
discouraging, take heart. The truth is
unless you live in a bubble (BPA free of
course), you are exposed to toxins every
day.
By taking small steps, that are the least
disruptive to your lifestyle, you can
create a healthful environment for
yourself and your family.
I started with ditching my antiperspirant
and fluoride toothpaste for natural forms.
Over a span of 20 years, I now have
converted just about all of my household,
grooming, and gardening products to
chemical free.
By staying informed and making a
commitment to change you can enjoy a
cleaner and healthier home and office.
The Environmental Working Group is a
non-profit organization dedicated to
empowering the public to live healthier
lives through research and education on
lots of consumer issues.
http://www.ewg.org
Sharon J. Clarke, MSN FNP
Integrated Psychiatry
≈