How To Detox Your Mind & Relieve Stress For Better Brain Health

Our passion for cultivating physical and mental wellness is reflected in everything from our interest in the best anti-inflammatory dietary supplements to our (somewhat) habitual workout routine and our willingness to study up on the myriad benefits of meditation. We’ve always had this interest—nay, obsession—with health and wellness, but as time goes on and we inevitably grow older, we’ve found ourselves concentrating on a specific area of health—brain health.

We want to ensure we’re doing everything in our power to support our memory, reasoning, and intellect, so as to stay at the top of our game for as long as possible, and eventually become one of those sharp-minded and quick-witted seniors we all know and love.

According to new research reported in the World Economic Forum, an intrinsic part of brain health is detoxification. Yes, that’s right: the brain detoxifies itself just like the rest of the body, removing toxins and cellular waste to maintain its healthy function. Researchers say there’s a way we can encourage our brain’s detoxification process, which might keep neurological decline (not to mention disease) at bay. Keep scrolling to get all the details.

Sleep is the easy way we can encourage our brain to remove waste and potentially toxic proteins to maintain neurological health and performance. It’s not just any sleep, though, it’s deep sleep—deep non-REM sleep to be exact.

REM stands for rapid eye movement; it’s the stage of sleep in which we dream. Non-REM, therefore, refers to the stage(s) of sleep in which we’re not dreaming. Researchers postulate that this type of sleep provides the optimal environment for the brain’s waste-removal process to initiate. This waste removal system is called the glymphatic system, and it works by pumping cerebral spinal fluid through the brain to flush out toxins and potentially harmful protein waste.

This mix of toxins and protein waste is associated with certain neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. As such, scientists think adequate sleep (which leads to the glymphatic system detoxifying the brain from waste) could prevent disease and cognitive decline. These findings also add to the increasingly clear evidence that quality of sleep or sleep deprivation can predict the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Although this research was conducted with mice instead of human participants, it’s worth taking into serious consideration, as it reinforces the link between sleep deprivation and the development of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. It’s just the motivation we needed to take stock of our sleep habits and implement a better, healthier, and more consistent routine. So do yourself a favor, and leave emails, texts, and Netflix binging for the daytime.

For the best relaxing and unwinding options, consider setting up regular massage appointments. Massage has some incredible health benefits that will help you feel more at ease, focused, and sleep better. Visit our massage page for the full list of services Botanica Day Spa offers and call us today at 727-441-1711 for any questions and booking!

Love,

Gen