The UltraMind Solution (109 page)

Practice mental aerobics (see Resources for more recommendations on products you can use).

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Our brains are exquisitely sensitive to environmental toxins and stresses. That is why I have included living clean and green as an essential part of the UltraMind Solution.

Here are my suggestions for how to take care of your own health and the planet at the same time. There is an intimate connection between the sustainability of our own health and that of the planet. Small everyday choices lead to big changes over time for our communities, our planet, and ourselves.

Living clean and green involves four steps.

1.
Drink clean water.

2.
Limit your exposure to chemicals and metals.

3.
Keep your body fluids moving.

4.
Reduce your exposure to electropollution or electromagnetic radiation.

You should drink a minimum of six to eight 8-ounce glasses of clean filtered water every day you are on the program (and every day for the rest of your life for that matter). One of the reasons drinking this much water every day is important has to do with detoxification.

Toxins are ultimately excreted through your stool and urine. When you don’t drink enough water, you become constipated, have darker urine, and urinate less frequently. These are signs that your detoxification system is not operating optimally and your health and mind will suffer as a consequence.

Drinking water will also help you reduce withdrawal symptoms from addictive substances and food allergens you may experience on the program,
especially during the preparation week. I will explain more about these symptoms in chapter 18, where I discuss the preparation week.

Unfortunately much of our water supply is contaminated with microbes, pesticides, plastics, metals, chlorine, fluoride
¹
(yes, fluoride), and other toxins. So drinking water out of the tap is less than ideal.

The best water to drink is water that has been passed through a filtering process. Common and inexpensive filters, such as carbon filters like the ones Brita makes, are available. See
The UltraMind Solution Companion Guide
for water-filter suggestions.

The best filter is a reverse osmosis filter that puts the water through a multistep process to remove microbes, pesticides, metals, and other toxins. This can be installed under the sink. It’s a great filtering system (and it’s cheaper over the long run).

Water in plastic bottles contains phthalates or bisphenol A, toxic petrochemicals. So avoid them if you can. Mineral water or still water in glass bottles is acceptable to drink.

While doing all the things in the following list is neither practical nor realistic, it is unfortunately what is optimal for our health. Incorporate the things you can. Find alternatives to the water you drink, get an air filter, or get rid of molds and other sources of indoor air pollution (the garden or household chemicals you use, and artificial lighting).

Avoid water from plastic bottles, which contains phthalates. Drink water that comes in glass bottles or just filter your tap water as I explained above.

Avoid excess exposure to environmental petrochemicals and toxins (garden chemicals, dry cleaning, car exhaust, secondhand smoke).

Avoid charbroiled foods that contain cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Avoid microwaved food, which produces more AGEs or advanced glycation end products in the food and creates more oxidative stress and inflammation.
²

Use HEPA/ULPA filters and ionizers to reduce dust, molds, volatile organic compounds (off-gassing from synthetic carpets, furniture, and paints), and other sources of indoor air pollution.

Have house plants, which help detoxify the air.