Today’s post features a few key takeaways from a recent Wellness Your Way podcast interview.  Find the full episode here and be sure to subscribe to Wellness Your Way so you don’t miss future episodes!

Guest Bio: Dr. Marc Milstein

Dr. Marc Milstein is an internationally recognized speaker on optimizing brain health, lowering the risk of dementia, and boosting happiness and productivity. Dr. Milstein earned both his Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry and his Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from UCLA. He has conducted research on topics including genetics, cancer biology, neuroscience, and infectious disease, and his work has been published in multiple scientific journals.

Top Insights from Dr. Marc Milstein’s Interview

1. Brain optimization is the key to longevity. Believe it or not, we should not be losing significant brain function as we get older.  Ensuring that our brains are in tip-top shape now can be key to sustaining brain function well into later ages.
2. Not prioritizing sleep accelerates aging of the brain. When we go to sleep, our brains’ glymphatic systems get rid of waste and toxins. A key cause of aging in the brain is not getting rid of the waste adequately (in part, due to lack of sleep), which disrupts the brain’s ability to function. A clean brain is a youthful brain.
3. We prepare for every night’s sleep when we wake up in the morning. You can help the brain start its countdown clock by getting outside in the natural light for 10 minutes soon after waking up. This can help you sleep better at night.
4. Blood pressure is another thing that accelerates aging of the brain. Our blood pressure in our thirties impacts our brain health in our seventies!
5. Gut health and brain health are intimately connected. Inflammation in the gut sends negative signals to the brain, which can cause an autoimmune reaction that makes our immune system attack its own brain cells. Minimizing processed foods can help with inflammation, and thus inhibit this autoimmune attack.
6. Prioritizing mental health is critical. Our bodies are interconnected, and when one part is ailing, other parts will be impacted. Mental health issues can be a manifestation of physical imbalances, like systemic inflammation throughout the body. Ensuring we take care of our mental health helps our entire body be healthy.
7. Nature is powerful. If we are feeling stressed, spending 2 minutes in nature can help bring our stress level down and help us reset. This is important for the brain.
8. Cross-training the brain can help with memory. It is important to do something different to train the brain each day. One day try crossword puzzles, the next do something that requires movement, the next day do something social, and so on.

Want to hear the full episode, including why a clean brain is a youthful brain, foods that can help reduce inflammation in the gut, tips for depression and mood improvement, how too much stress affects the brain and so much more?

Head over here to catch the full episode with Dr. Marc Milstein!

Now it’s your turn!  What is one thing you learned from this interview? What is the best thing you do for your brain health regularly?

🎙️ Want to hear about this topic in audio format? → Check out the podcast episode here!