A Toxic Brain: Revelations from a Health Journey

by Sandra C. Strauss, MD Watts

Overview

"A Toxic Brain" provides more than hope with science-backed proven protocols and lifestyle interventions to prevent and reverse cognitive decline and other chronic inflammatory illnesses. Sandra Strauss awakened to find her husband slumped over his computer, speaking strangely and not acting at all like the man she had known for more than 30 years. He was rarely ever sick, but now exhibited many alarming symptoms. Yet, none of the extensive medical tests he would undergo revealed any definitive issues. She embarked upon a quest for answers as to what had transformed him so suddenly into a stranger. She found valuable insights consulting with a biotoxin researcher whose revolutionary research demonstrated a genetic susceptibility as a poor detoxifier, noted in about 25% of the population, which ramps up inflammatory responses. Yet, this research along with analysis of root causes of inflammation leading to chronic inflammatory illnesses, is not often part of traditional evaluations. A startling realization struck Sandra: Could there be legions of people sitting in doctor's offices, undergoing tests that don't reveal underlying issues, yet resulting in debilitating fates from undiagnosed root causes of inflammation? What if the roots of their illnesses were identified early enough or treated with therapies that might possibly change their health destinies? With environmental exposures so prevalent now, why aren't patients tested regularly for them? Written in collaboration with Dan Watts, MD, "A Toxic Brain" alerts readers to the connections between toxic exposures to dementias, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic inflammatory conditions, as well as other common contributing factors. Readers gain insights into the impact of toxins and other root causes for these illnesses, especially critical in our inflammatory times. Diseases caused by them are devastating lives and swamping precious resources, so consumer awareness is vital to support vibrant health destinies. Sandra unpacks a 12-year rollercoaster ride of cognition, care, and emotional highs and lows, resulting from Rick's frightening fall from seemingly perfect health into a neurological nightmare. As an endurance run of body, mind, and heart, she also shares the raw details of other matters related to dementing illnesses—relationship shifts, family dynamics, legal concerns, and financial consequences. Sandra also offers valuable strategies for critical self-care essential for sustaining spirits. "A Toxic Brain" is a well-documented journey. Readers will gain insights into the paradigm of care that now exists for treating 21st century health issues. Precision evaluations combined with effective treatments are transforming health destinies, including those conditions once believed to be irreversible. At a time when millions are suffering and dying from neurological issues and other chronic inflammatory illnesses, and families reeling from all the demands that accompany them, "A Toxic Brain" highlights the importance of shifting the paradigm of patient care to transform wellness in a world out of balance. If you or a loved one are suffering from symptoms impacting both body and brain, undergoing test after test in hopes of a diagnosis, or been given one that doesn't seem to fit, "A Toxic Brain" is a must-read. This book was written because answers do exist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781667826547
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	03/28/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	328
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

With a career as an author, speaker and wellness champion, Sandra Strauss weaves together decades of strategies for embracing life with the guts, grace, and gusto spirit. She writes about creating environments of wellness and advocates for healthy lifestyles and relationships. She also discusses today's critical need for preventative care, precision patient evaluation, and promoting sanity-saving solutions for maneuvering through life's turbulent times.
Sandra has had countless opportunities to use those strategies while seeking answers to what had transformed her husband into a stranger, navigating the demands of his 12-year battle with a neurological illness, juggling her own career and the demands of caregiving for two loved ones. Through processing all the loss and gaining clarity in messages, she's compelled to share all that she's learned from those experiences. She offers insights and strategies for heeding the language of the heart with the spirit of resilience, especially needed while traveling through life's trials, transitions, and transformations.
Her other books include:
* Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto—Fancy Footwork for the Woman's Sole
* Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere—8 Keys to Creating Enduring Connections Dan Watts, MD, has been practicing surgery, family medicine and gynecology for more than 35 years; and Integrative and Functional Medicine for the last 20. He has centered his practice around The Four Cornerstones of Health: Hormone Balancing, Nutritional Health, Physical Conditioning, and Toxin Elimination.

He is quadruple Board Certified:
* American Board of Integrative Medicine
* American Naturopathic Medical Board
* American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine
* American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Post-Doctoral Education Highlights:

* Post-doctoral Masters degree in Nutritional and Metabolic Medicine

* Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine

* Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology

Table of Contents

Why I Wrote This Book i

Introduction iii

Part 1 Our Personal Journey 1

Chapter 1 The Way We Were 2

Chapter 2 Awakening to a New Reality 4

Chapter 3 Seasons of Despair 11

Chapter 4 Continuing Concerns 19

Chapter 5 A Toxic Illness 26

Chapter 6 Challenges of an Accurate Diagnosis 38

Chapter 7 Transformational Turning Points 44

Chapter 8 The Unraveling of a Beloved Man 49

Chapter 9 A Space to Breathe and a Time to Grieve 66

Chapter 10 A Difference of Opinions 69

Chapter 11 The Roller Coaster Ride of Cognition and Care 84

Chapter 12 Making Peace from Our journey 99

Part 2 Living in Inflammatory Times 109

Chapter 13 Bodies on Fire 110

Chapter 14 Root Cause Realities 114

Chapter 15 The Rise of Autoimmune Issues 130

Chapter 16 Gut Issues-Ground Zero for Inflammation 139

Chapter 17 Neurotoxicity-Toxic Assault of the Brain 142

Part 3 An Evolving Health Paradigm-Functional Medicine and the Biology-Based Approach to Health 149

Chapter 18 Conventional/Western Medicine vs. Functional/Integrative Medicine 150

Chapter 19 Revelations from a Functional Perspective 154

Part 4 Taking Action in Our Inflammatory Times 169

Chapter 20 Smart Choices in Today's Toxic Times 170

Chapter 21 A Wake Up Call for Us All 191

Chapter 22 An Evolving Renaissance in Brain Wellness 198

Part 5 Strategies for Managing Life's Uncertainties 205

Chapter 23 Managing the Collateral Chaos from Chronic Illness 206

Chapter 24 Caregiving and Care Issues 210

Part 6 Navigating with Heart 215

Appendices 227

Appendix A Recognizing Neurotoxicity 228

Appendix B The Ticking Time Bomb of Lyme 231

Appendix C The Forbidden Foods on an Amylose-Free Diet 233

Appendix D Common Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia 235

Appendix E Differences between Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy body Dementia 237

Appendix F Functional Evaluation for Type 3 (Toxic) Alzheimer's Disease 238

Glossary 241

Acknowledgments 247

Notes 249

Resources 275

Index 279