Last week I was thrilled to be invited to a round table discussion about a new book called Power Up Your Brain: The NeuroScience of Enlightenment by David Perlmutter, M.D. and Alberto Villodo, PH.D., who is also a Shaman Dr. Perlmutter was in attendance. What happens when a scientist and healer come together? They write a book about enhancing brain health, stating that there are physical structural parts of the brain that help us tap into spirituality and bring enlightenment into our lives. They claim that we can basically better enhance these connections through proper nutrition, exercise and meditation.
I am by no means an expert on the topic, but I did find the discussion fascinating. While I have always known how important nutrition and exercise are to living a long life, I hadn’t really thought about the spiritual component. Dr. Perlmutter stated that we are not at the mercy of our genes, that we can reduce our risks and become the masters of our destiny. While I’ve joked about having baby brain countless times since my kid’s birth, it’s clear that whatever the case – whether my brain really got mushy following birth – I am the master of my destiny.
Here are some of the tips that he offered to power up our own brain and lead a healthier life:
- Exercise (at least 20 minutes a day), calorie restriction and meditation decrease stress and improve memory, language ability, attention and other important cognitive functions.
- Pay attention to what our kids take in (in terms of media) and try to keep negative images out of their mind.
-All kids need DHA, which activates the genes responsible for the production of Brain-derived Neurotrophic (BDNF), considered the “growth hormone” for the human brain. I’m actually going to pick some DHA supplements up for my children.
- Reduce your consumption of foods that contain allergens like gluten – wheat, barley, and rye, as well as dairy products.
- Add a fasting component to your lifestyle choices. (who would have thought fasting could be good for you?)
- Eat organic when you can, particularly of these foods – green tea, broccoli, apples, pears, strawberries, spinach, lettuce, celery, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, cherries and imported grapes.
Dr. Perlmutter stressed that this all of these tactics can reduce our risk of fatal diseases, and increase our chances for longevity. My fellow attendees, Maria from Plus Lily Makes Three, Beth from Role Mommy, Shari from Dusty Earth Mom, Judy from Travel Veggie Mom, Cristie from The Traveling Circus and the Right Hand Mom were there to engage in the discussion with me.
Disclosure: I was not compensated for my involvement or this post.
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