Dr. Perlmutter: Detoxing Your Mind for Better Decision Making, Lasting Happiness and Weight Loss

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Perlmutter, world-renowned, board-certified neurologist and four-time New York Times bestselling author. The two of us dive into one of the most important topics we could discuss in this day and age: detoxing our mind. 

 

With the amount of technology, social media, and toxic foods we are exposed to daily, and our lack of exposure to nature, our minds are constantly being manipulated. All these pose serious risks to our physical and mental health, relationships, and even our ability to control our own thoughts. Plus, we find ourselves more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before. 

 

Dr. Perlmutter refers to this as disconnection syndrome, which is caused by our modern lives pushing us into separating from our wellness, health and joy. Dr. Perlmutter walks us through the different elements associated with this syndrome and provides us with practical ways to break the cycle. To learn more, be sure to check out his new book, Brain Wash. 

 

What you’ll learn: 

The negative effects of technology and social media have on your brain and happiness How lack of sleep negatively effects your decision making and causes unwanted weight gain Scientific evidence proving the power of meditation  The importance of nature and simple hacks for incorporating more into your life The importance of re-evaluating your priorities and how you spend your time A step-by-step guide for making your time spend online a healthy experience How processed foods rewires are brain effects our decision making The basics rules of eating for detoxify your mind 

 

Highlights from Dr. Perlmutter: 

“Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life, and has the information, but the problem lies in making the choice to live a healthy life. The ability to make that choice has been taken from us. It’s widely known that our eyeballs are being manipulated when we are online but what’s not as clear is how our diets have been manipulated. The addition of sugar, salt, and low-quality fat makes these foods more addictive by literally rewiring our brain. This rewiring affects our decision making, which locks us into making the decision to continue to consume these foods over and over again.”

 

“Stress is a sure-fire way to lock yourself into your amygdala, the “fear-based” center of your brain, and block you from the pre-frontal cortex, the part of your brain that allows you to make better decisions, experience empathy, participate in life and plan for the future. So what’s the opposite of stress? No stress. And how do you make that happen? It’s simple: Meditation. If you look at functional MRI scans of those who meditate, you’ll find that their prefrontal cortex is lit up like a Christmas tree. Plus, that activity continues to persist, even when you are done meditating for the day. And that is exactly what we are trying to accomplish.” 

 

“One night of not getting enough sleep drastically effects decision making the following day, triggering us to be more impulsive and make the wrong decisions with food. If you draw that out over time, you will find people who routinely do not get enough restorative sleep, consume as much as 350 extra calories a day, without equally increasing the energy expenditure. Which means, 10 days of under sleeping equals one pound of gained body fat. Play that out over a few years and no wonder people get into trouble.”

 

Find more from Dr. Perlmutter: 

 

Instagram: @davidperlmutter

Twitter: @davidperlmutter

Facebook: @davidperlmutter

Youtube: DavidPerlmutterMD

Website: drperlmutter.com

Book: Brain Wash