9 Habits That Harm Your Brain
In this episode, I explore 9 Habits That Harm Your Brain—from the hidden dangers of environmental toxins to the risks of inconsistent sleep schedules. I’ll break down how these seemingly minor habits can have a profound impact on your cognitive function, memory, and emotional health—and what you can do to protect your brain. Let's rethink the way we treat our most important organ—your future depends on it.
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Eat organic produce (use EWG's Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen as a guide).
Use glass containers instead of plastic ones.
Eat foods with limited or absent antibiotics, hormones, or toxins such as certified organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef, low-mercury fish, grass-fed and organic dairy, and organic pasture-raised eggs.
Filter your water (my recommendation here)
Prioritize natural ventilation in your home and use an air purifier.
Choose non-toxic cleaning products.
Seek regular sunlight exposure, aiming for at least 20-30 minutes daily. This will depend on your skin tone among other things but aim for early light for circadian rhythm and sleep benefits and midday sun for when UV rays are most potent.
Consider supplementing with vitamin D, consulting your doctor for appropriate dosage based on your blood levels and individual needs.
A good brand is Primal Blueprint Primal Sun (Vitamin D) (Use MINDBODYDAD for a 10% discount).
Use a Light Therapy/SAD lamp when you can’t get enough sun. While regular outdoor exposure is ideal, SAD lamps, mimicking natural sunlight indoors, can be powerful tools for combatting these deficiencies and supporting brain health, particularly during darker winter months or for individuals with limited sun access.
Check out this article for more specific concerns and recommendations related to 5G and EMF.
Get moving. Aim for the minimum effective dose of walking. Set alarms to get up and walk around every 45 minutes, do a 10-minute sun salutation routine, or do workout snacks.
Can’t get outside? Bring the movement to you with a treadmill desk or bike desk like I use.
Embrace hormesis. Embrace the concept of hormesis, where controlled stress actually strengthens you. Push yourself with intense workouts, take cold plunges, experiment with saunas, or try other activities that create manageable stress. As your body adapts, you'll build resilience and mental fortitude, preparing you for any future challenge.
Limit sugary drinks: Sugary drinks, such as soda, juice, and sports drinks, are a major source of added sugar in the diet. Replace them with carbonated water, flavored electrolyte packets or, you know, water.
Correction
I made an error in the article and podcast. The article is modified to reflect the error but modifying podcasts is hard. So, here is the correct version.
In a study involving 60,977 participants and over 10 million hours of accelerometer data, researchers found that higher sleep regularity was associated with a 20%-48% lower risk of all-cause mortality, a 16%-39% lower risk of cancer mortality, and a 22%-57% lower risk of cardiometabolic mortality, contradicting the idea that sleep irregularity is beneficial for health.
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