All systems in the human body are vulnerable to environmental hazards such as toxic chemicals. But the nervous system, including your brain, is at special risk for some very important reasons:
- Nerve cell loss and other changes to the nervous system occur progressively during the later years of life. As a result, toxic damage may occur simultaneously with aging.
- Many neurotoxic chemicals are easily able to cross the blood-brain barrier, causing damage to sensitive regions of the brain.
- Toxic chemicals often interfere with the nervous system’s sensitive electro-chemical balance, inhibiting the proper communication of information throughout the body.
To help your brain out, avoid artificial sweeteners, lead (such as lead-based paints), mercury, and pesticides.