A Few Neurotoxins Among Many

At the outset of this column, I want to make it abundantly clear that Dr. Blaylock's opinions with respect to the deleterious brain effects  caused by the consumption of soy are not views which I support.  Considering the diet of many populations around the world, his views about soy seem absurd -  hard to swallow at the very least - despite the fact that he is a neurosurgeon.  Some studies have shown that an isoflavone present in soy -  genistein - is particularly helpful in preserving cognitive functioning in older people.   Another study, however, showed that genistein is a neurotoxin:  it destroyed brain cells in rats.  (Genistein is also found in fava and coffee beans.)  I don't know who funded any of the studies.  With all of the studies on a wide range of subjects coming out on a weekly basis, one must remember to view each with a critical eye.   

Barely a day passes without something reported in the news, or in scientific journals, about the latest discovery of a neurotoxin.  Seems we are surrounded by these toxins.  They’re in some of our foods, our water supply, and in the devices we use in our homes or to make a living.  It’s enough to drive a person to drink (but, hey, some reports find that alcohol is a neurotoxin even in small amounts, so perhaps that’s not a viable option either!  Other studies, however, tout the wonders of alcohol, especially of red wine, to stave off dementia and heart disease.)

Today, I came across a letter written by a U.S. neurosurgeon by the name of Russell Blaylock.  It was written in response to an earlier letter written by some fellow who allegedly sells soy products and a machine which makes them, who had mounted a response to the negative health findings concerning soy products reported in a book written by Dr. Blaylock.

Anyhow, I thought I might report one of Dr. Blaylock’s opinions about consuming large amounts of soy products – not to be confused with the pure, unprocessed soy bean.  His concern in this regard is with things like tofu, hydrolyzed soy protein, soy beverage, and the like.  To provide you with the real nub of the issue, he argues that the processing of soy beans into soy products enhances glutamate delivery into your bloodstream.  Glutamate is an amino acid which, when free and concentrated, becomes an excitotoxin. (Excitotoxins damage and kill nerve cells.)

But, just in case you’re thinking that you are safer by just eating soy beans, Dr. Blaylock reports further that: “Soybeans and especially their hydrolyzed and processed products, contain high levels of manganese, aluminum and fluoride, all of which are powerful cell toxins, especially for brain cells.  Recent studies have shown that when aluminum is combined with fluoride, which occurs very easily, brain levels of aluminum are doubled. Extensive research connects aluminum in the brain with most of the neurodegenerative diseases. When hydrolyzed as in soy milk, the fluoride and aluminum easily bind, forming neurotoxic fluoroaluminum compounds. The concentration at which this occurs in 0.5 ppm, a very small concentration. Fluoroaluminum compounds interact with G-proteins, which are common cell communication systems, especially in the brain and operate most of the glutamanergic receptors in the brain (glutamate receptors).” (1)

And, Dr. Blaylock further reports that in the year 2000, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found, in a 25-year study of middle-aged individuals consuming a diet containing tofu, that there is a strong link between eating tofu and brain atrophy and cognitive impairment.  Low brain weight was seen in 12 percent of men consuming the least amount of tofu and in 40 percent of the men consuming the highest amount.  (This is termed a “dose-response affect” and supposedly makes out a stronger case.) (2)

Supposedly, there is also a link between soy and two cancers of the brain.   

Dr. Blaylock is also of the opinion that sugar, in excess, is a risk factor for developing any type of dementia.  He seems to be talking about a high level of sugar in the bloodstream, which occurs when one experiences insulin resistence – a condition in which cells begin to lose their receptivity to the glucose the sugar in our foods is turned into.   Anyway, he goes on to say that eating lots of sweets and carbohydrates increases one’s risk of dementia for the following reasons:

“1. Sugar dramatically increases your metabolism and high rates of metabolism become a major source of free radical production.  Free radicals damage cells thereby impairing their function;

2.  High levels of sugar in the body cause the sugar to react with various critical proteins, including enzymes that repair DNA damage caused by free radicals;  and as noted above,

3.  Continued high sugar consumption leads to insulin resistance.  This condition prevents your cells from absorbing the sugar needed to produce energy” (3) and this, in turn, affects memory as the brain lacks the fuel it requires to keep gray matter healthy.  According to Dr. Blaylock, the worst form of sugar to consume is high fructose corn syrup. (And, according to a report on the CTV National news last weekend, the best form of sugar to consume, in a moderate amount, of course, may be maple sugar/maple syrup as it is full of antioxidants and other nutrients like vitamins and minerals which preserve health.)

This morning I heard, yet again, this time during a discussion about how desperately the cosmetic industry in Canada needs to be better regulated, that lipstick – one of the few cosmetics I wear – contains lead.  Lead, as I am sure you well-know has been proven to be a neurotoxin in one of the highest degrees.  I’m afraid that I haven’t given up my lipstick; nor, have I given up sugar, though I have been trying to cut back as of late for many reasons.  Though I’m not addicted to sugar, I am somewhat addicted to chocolate, which contains sugar, at least the chocolate containing the level of cocoa solids (60 to 70 percent) that I consume.  I‘ve tried the chocolate sweetened with mannitol, though I didn’t like the taste and texture very well, and I’ve read that mannitol is also a neurotoxin, so there really is no winning here, is there?!

Well, the long and the short of it is, that it’s best to not get too stressed about these types of things and to just try to live in some kind of balanced way.  After all, stress overloads the brain with powerful hormones that are intended only for short-term duty in emergencies.  In fact, short term stress can enhance the functioning of the brain.  The cumulative effect of long-term stress overload damages and kills brain cells.  Perhaps I will go into further detail about this at a later date…

In any event, have a great day! Consume some purified water (but not from plastic) and meditate (but not on a PVC mat!)

D.

(1) & (2) “Rebuttal to Seriously Confused Soy Enthusiast”, www.campaignfortruth.com

(3)  The Blaylock Wellness Report, “Save Your Brain: Protect Yourself From the Ravages of Alzheimer’s”, w3.newsmax.com/blaylock