Latest news with #VYVEWellness
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Longevity experts reveal daily habits that may be taking years off your life
Boosting longevity often comes down to the small choices you make every day. But according to experts, many of us are unknowingly sabotaging our own health with habits that seem innocent until they're not. Daily Mail spoke to longevity experts Dr. Michelle Jorgensen of Living Well with Dr. Michelle and Dr. Will Haas, the founder and CEO of VYVE Wellness, to learn which actions are shortening our lives. Dr. Jorgensen began by saying that drastically reducing salt from your diet can actually be a bad thing since you are 'cutting the power to your cells.' She explained: 'Without minerals like sodium, your heart, brain, and energy grid start to fail.' Next up, the doctor shared a series of quick-fire insights about daily habits that are secretly harmful. 'Popping antacids like candy? Say hello to nutrient deficiencies, fragile bones, and a brain that can't think straight,' she detailed. 'Replacing meals with green juice? Not when it's a blood sugar bomb with no fiber. Insulin spikes = accelerated aging. 'Breathing through your mouth at night? You're not "getting air" - you're skipping nitric oxide, disrupting oxygen flow, and increasing your Alzheimer's risk.' She added that snoring and ignoring it isn't just annoying, 'it's a sign your brain is suffocating. Untreated sleep apnea can shave 10 to 20 years off your life.' Additionally, the doctor said if you're not scraping your tongue, you'll be shocked to know what's living in your mouth. 'That white coating? It's mold, yeast, and bacteria — setting you up for chronic sinus infections and gut issues,' Dr. Jorgensen revealed. She also clarified that getting a root canal doesn't mean the problem is gone. 'It's not "done"— it's sealed infection. Bacteria trapped inside can leach toxins into your bloodstream for decades, fueling heart disease and stroke,' she detailed. The longevity expert continued: 'Grinding your teeth at night? That's not just stress —it's your body gasping for air. You're fighting for breath while you sleep. 'Holding your breath when stressed? You're literally choking off oxygen to your brain and heart—triggering a cortisol surge and inflammation storm.' Dr. Jorgensen also shared that holding in your pee too long isn't a power move because it is putting strain on your kidneys and risking long-term bladder damage. Additionally, the expert asked: 'Chewing sugar-free gum? Aspartame and sorbitol are microbiome murderers. Goodbye, good gut bugs, hello autoimmune risk. 'Constant hand sanitizer use? You're not killing germs. You're nuking your immune system's training ground.' The longevity expert added that if you are still using fluoride toothpaste, you're microdosing a neurotoxin twice a day, and potentially hurting your thyroid in the process. Also, if you're ignoring bleeding gums, that's not just a dental problem, the expert said, 'it's an open door to heart disease, stroke, and even dementia.' Finally, she said dismissing your daily brain fog as 'normal' isn't a good idea. 'It's not age — it's your cells crying out for help. Ignore it and you're inviting neurodegeneration,' Dr. Jorgensen concluded. Dr. Will Haas also chimed in with another five habits that can quietly sabotage your long-term health. He explained that sitting after a big meal might impair blood sugar regulation and, 'falling out of a consistent brushing routine can lead to chronic gum inflammation - something strongly linked to heart and brain disease.' The expert also shared that, 'watching TV right up until bed bathes your brain in blue light, throwing off melatonin and disrupting deep, restorative sleep.' 'Putting on deodorant that isn't non-toxic can expose you to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like aluminum and parabens, which may interfere with hormone balance over time.' He concluded with a final warning about wearing shoes inside, insisting that it 'might seem trivial, but it's a hidden way toxins like pesticides and heavy metals are tracked into your home and absorbed through everyday contact.'
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
8 Habits That Are Quietly Sabotaging Your Brain Health
Your brain is arguably your most valuable asset, but many everyday habits could be secretly undermining its ability to function. From constant screen time to saying no to that morning oatmeal, these seemingly harmless behaviors can leave your brain health in a slump. The good news is that experts say small changes can make a huge difference. We asked psychologists, physicians, and neuroscientists to explain the surprising habits that might be harming your brain and share alternatives to help you boost mental clarity, focus, and long-term cognitive function. Whether you're seeking improved concentration or just want to feel more mentally balanced, these lifestyle changes will help you support your brain health. Related: 7 Foods to Help Keep Your Brain Healthy and Sharp, According to Nutrition Experts Multitasking Experts have learned that your memory doesn't work as well when you are unable to focus on any one thing. 'Multitasking might feel like you're getting a lot done, but it actually slows you down and drains your brain,' says Sanam Hafeez, PhD, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind. 'Every time you switch from one task to another, your mind has to reset, and that shift takes energy. Instead of being more efficient, you're burning through mental resources and making mistakes along the way.' To make a real difference, Hafeez suggests trying something like the Pomodoro technique, working for around 25 minutes on one task, then taking a short break. This focus, then intentional reset, gives your brain the time it needs to truly process what you're doing, keeping you more focused and productive in the long run. Sacrificing Sleep Sleeping for fewer than seven hours a night has been consistently linked to early cognitive decline, so getting enough rest should be a non-negotiable. 'Sleep clears toxins, consolidates memory, and restores brain function. And it's not just about hours,' says Sarah Bullard, PhD, clinical neuropsychologist and director of psychology at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare. 'Conditions like sleep apnea, which disrupt oxygen flow during sleep, are strongly associated with vascular damage and increased dementia risk," she adds. "If you snore loudly, wake up groggy, or feel drained despite 'sleeping,' it's worth getting evaluated.' Additionally, Will Haas, MD, MBA, a board-certified integrative medicine physician and founder of VYVE Wellness, says most people don't realize how damaging chronic low-level sleep deprivation can be. 'Over time, that sleep debt reduces the brain's ability to clear metabolic waste like beta-amyloid, which has been linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease,' he says. Related: Good Sleep Hygiene Promotes Better Physical and Mental Health—Here's How to Improve Yours Constantly Skipping Breakfast If you're one of the many people who skip breakfast, that time savings can mess with your brain's energy supply. 'After a night of sleep, your body has essentially been fasting for hours, and your brain needs fuel to get going,' says Hafeez. 'Skipping breakfast can lead to poor concentration, irritability, and a lack of motivation as the day progresses.' Instead of skipping it, Hafeez says to have something light but rich in protein and fiber such a smoothie or eggs with veggies. A solid breakfast helps keep blood sugar levels stable, so you stay sharp and focused throughout the morning. Mindless Scrolling Before Bed Mindless scrolling anytime can be detrimental to brain health, but it is especially problematic before bed. According to Jamey Maniscalco, PhD, neuroscientist and founder of Manifest Wellness, scrolling reduces our typical sleep duration due to heightened stress hormone release (i.e., cortisol) and melatonin suppression. As mentioned, sleeping well is especially important for maintaining optimal brain health. 'During both deep sleep (non-REM) and REM sleep, the brain takes information from the previous day and stabilizes it into long-term memory,' says Maniscalco. 'This process helps reinforce learning new information, problem-solving, and skill development.' So what to do instead of scrolling? Maniscalco suggests creating a 30-minute screen-free wind-down window before bed. 'Dim the lights (use lamps instead of overhead lights if possible), and swap scrolling for calming activities like light stretching, journaling, breath work, a calm conversation with your partner, or gratitude reflections,' he says. 'Even 10 minutes of pre-sleep quiet time can help signal the brain to shift into a rest-and-repair mode that encourages efficient, longer-duration sleep.' Overdoing To-Do Lists Believe it or not, overloading your to-do list can flood your working memory, which is not great for your brain. 'When people list everything they 'should' or 'could' do in a day without clear prioritization, they often feel more stressed, not less,' says Maniscalco. 'Research shows we can only hold about three to five meaningful items in working memory at any given time. Once we go beyond that, we overwhelm the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for planning, focus, and decision-making.' Maniscalco says this kind of cognitive overload leads to mental clutter, increased anxiety, and reduced intellectual performance. 'Over time, constantly operating in this overstimulated, unfocused state can take a toll on executive function, attention regulation, and even emotional regulation,' he adds. Instead, Maniscalco recommends trying the '3 Priorities Rule.' At the start of the day, identify the three most important or meaningful tasks to complete (or make progress towards). 'These become your anchors. Everything else becomes optional, delegated, or deferred,' he says. 'This small, powerful shift helps the brain operate with more clarity and intention.' Ignoring Social Connections It's way too easy as you age to get busy with work or get caught up in personal projects, letting most of your relationships take a back seat. But isolating can really mess with your brain. 'Connecting with people, even just talking to a friend or family member, gives your mind the kind of stimulation it needs to stay healthy,' says Hafeez. 'Without those interactions, your brain can start feeling sluggish and disconnected. You'll notice how much more present and clear-headed you feel when you make that time for others.' Overlooking LDL Cholesterol Having elevated LDL cholesterol is usually linked to poor heart health, but it's one of the biggest long-term risks to your brain health, too. One review in The Lancet identified it as a major risk factor for cognitive decline due to its impact on vascular health and brain volume loss. For Bullard, the big takeaway is that LDL cholesterol needs to be addressed in midlife in order to protect long-term brain health as you age. 'If your LDL is over 70 mg/dL (or worse, over 100), it's time to take action,' says Bullard. 'Some physicians advocate for keeping it under 70. Your annual physical is the best opportunity to bring this up.' Related: 10 Nutritious Foods for Healthy Cholesterol Levels Not Moving Enough Spending too much time sitting can shrink the brain's memory center, according to a 2018 study published in PLOS ONE. The ultimate brain-boosting intervention is cardiovascular exercise, according to Bullard. 'Nothing else delivers the same cognitive return,' she says. 'It reduces inflammation, supports weight control, manages blood pressure and blood sugar, and increases blood flow to the brain.' Make movement part of your routine even when time is limited. Bullard recommends walking meetings, a walking pad by your desk (not just a standing desk), wearing a weighted vest while walking the dog, or brief and consistent workouts, which all add up over time. 'Making movement non-negotiable will pay off now and in the future,' she says. Related: 13 Unexpected Health Benefits of Walking and How to Make a Habit of It Read the original article on Real Simple
