Last summer, the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson, recalled several of its Aveeno and Neutrogena spray sunscreen products after detecting low levels of benzene in them. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene has been linked to leukemia and other cancers. This recall is one of many products that have been removed from the markets due to harmful toxins.
How many everyday products in your home are hiding dangerous toxins that can potentially damage your body and brain? Let’s take a look at 10 product categories in which toxins are commonly found and how they harm your brain and neuropsychiatric well-being.
How toxins pollute your brain
Your brain is the most metabolically active organ in your entire body. This puts it at a higher risk of damage from exposure to everyday toxins. You face exposure to many chemicals, fumes, pesticides, herbicides, and more each day. Toxins are in the air (automobile exhaust, air pollution, mold, cleaning fumes), the food we eat (artificial dyes, medications, excessive alcohol, pesticides, medications), and products we apply to our skin (cosmetics, personal care items, beauty products).
Our digestive system, lungs, and pores absorb these harmful substances, which can ultimately end up in your brain. This enables those substances to poison your brain by decreasing cerebral blood flow, causing imbalances in the gut microbiome, disrupting hormone production, and contributing to psychiatric symptoms. Some doctors and neuropsychiatrists call this “toxic brain.”
How toxins cause psychiatric issues
In addition to contributing to many physical issues, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, and diabetes, toxins can cause and contribute to many mental health symptoms like:
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