The Gateway to the Brain (Why We are What We Eat)

We live in a toxic world. Incidence of allergic and behavioural diseases has exploded in the last couple of decades. Most scientists are puzzled by this. Of course, I don't have answers myself, but I know that when God created man and woman He said that it was good.

Whatever went wrong wasn't part of God's original design. Whatever went wrong is something we have done to ourselves over centuries of ignoring God's guidelines for eating and farming. The idea that we could make God's designs better by pumping unnatural fertilisers and pesticides onto crops is ludicrous. The idea that we can make our homes healthier by slathering them with layers of unnatural chemicals is ridiculous.

We have battled all kinds of illness in our family, and over time and looking into how our bodies work, I have started to have the tiniest inkling of how the gut and the lungs are major gateways to the brain. When the gut is leaky and undigested or partially-digested food gets into the bloodstream, some of it eventually makes it to the brain. When the lining of the gut is damaged and can't absorb food properly, the brain can be starved of vital nutrients. Some additives in food mimic neurotransmitters (substances that carry messages to and from the brain), and others can block the message pathways to and from the brain. Other additives can interact with these message pathways in a way that creates a drug-like effect. Likewise, chemicals that we inhale (usually without wanting to!) are often able to enter the bloodstream through the lungs and can play havoc with those message pathways.

God didn't make foods to be toxic, we did. God didn't make air to be toxic, we did. God didn't make water toxic, we did. Unfortunately (as our family have learned) we have very little control over what enters our bodies from the air. For reasons that I don't understand, some people seem to be more sensitive to these chemicals than others. Our family avoid many public buildings these days because of the effects of fumes from cleaning chemicals, carpets, and who knows what else.

We have a bit more control over what gets to our brains from our gut. However, most of us are so detached (without choice) from how our food is grown that it's hard to know what is really in the stuff that we put into our mouths... even if it is labelled "organic" or "biodynamic" or "hormone free" - there's a huge element of trust in believing that something really is chemical free. Sadly, a lot of processed "organic" foods still contain toxic elements such as MSG, just named in a way that makes them sound more benign (I won't even get started on that!). Although it is hard to know what is really in all our food, our family have noticed a huge difference in our general health since changing to a much simpler diet. We were never big eaters of processed foods, but the preservatives in dried fruits were probably one culprit for Angelina, who had the most obvious reactions.

Ultimately, I believe that all the damage we have done to our world and our own bodies will only be fixed by Christ at His return. However, when we have a choice, it is worth asking ourselves if we are inviting poisons into our body. Surely the gateway to the brain is worth guarding! It's food for thought, anyway! :)

Bring On Baby Brain!

OK, so I would love to know what changes go on in mother's brains after having a new baby. I've recently read a book on neuroplasticity called The Brain That Changes Itself - although I disagree with its statements regarding evolution (of course), I would definitely recommend it as a fascinating and enlightening read. Reading about just how much the brain can and does change based on input and experience makes me wonder about the whole "baby brain" phenomenon. ("Baby brain" being the standard excuse for illogical/irrational thinking in new mothers.)

See, I've noticed a pattern. Three things consistently happen to me after having a baby. First, my spatial awareness deteriorates. In practical terms that means I stub my toes a lot and run into furniture. I know, I know - that could be just fatigue, but it often happens during the day, not just when I'm stumbling around the house half-asleep at night. Second, my hands and feet "go to sleep" at random times, not just when I'm sitting cross-legged or lying on my arms. And third is the dreams.

Soon after having each baby I started having dreams that are almost hallucinations. I feel like I'm awake and I'm fully aware of where I am, but I hear things that aren't there - usually someone walking around the room or talking. I've finally learned that if I can't open my eyes or speak, then whatever I am hearing is not real. Still, it's a pretty terrifying experience - lying immobilised and mute while hearing a stranger walking around my house in the middle of the night. The interesting thing is that as soon as I hear a REAL sound my body is able to fully wake up - even though my rational brain can't distinguish the real sound from the imaginary.

So I'm just pondering - wondering why these things happen after the birth of a new baby? How does my brain redirect its functions after birth to better enable me to care for Baby? And why does this make me loopy in the process?! I can only marvel at the Mind that created us this way.