Thousands of genes are activated or inactivated by the amount of sleep we get, the supplements we take, the foods we eat, how we exercise and what we choose to think about.
they dictated what we would become. Then we discovered the dance between nature and nurture, and that our life experiences and our environment affect our genes. All of our life experiences and lifestyle activities have an effect on which genes turn off or on every min- ute. Thousands of genes are activated or inactivated by the amount of sleep we get, the supplements we take, the foods we eat, how we exercise and what we choose to think about.
What is neuroplasticity, and what does it have to do with the science of enlightenment? Can shamanic practices help opti- mize brain function?
Dr. Perlmutter: We can cultivate a new relationship with our more sophis- ticated brain with the gift of neuroplas- ticity, the building and strengthening of new neural networks that can override the limbic brain and pave the way for freedom from trauma and destructive emotions. This allows us to express the genes for health and longevity and even enlightenment.
Through neuroplasticity, the brain is able to rewire neural pathways and even establish new neural superhigh- ways. However, focused attention and engaged stimulation, and not just repetition, are required to create these networks, which create new, more positive associations within your day- to-day experiences.
Dr. Villoldo: Through shamanic prac- tices, we can awaken extraordinary hu- man capacities that include things we once thought were out of the ordinary:
intuition, nonverbal communication, entanglement and synchronicity. My students find that as they begin to heal, they no longer live in the predatory universe, which the ancient [limbic] brain perceives. They discover that the universe goes out of its way to conspire on their behalf.
How can the five-week Power Up Your Brain program help us see, live or feel things differently?
Dr. Villoldo: I was born in Cuba during the revolution and saw a good deal of violence during my childhood. Twenty years ago, I went to New York City to live in an apartment in SoHo. I arrived during the hot, sticky days of summer and saw a lot of men sitting on doorsteps. They had bearded faces and were dressed in sweaty shirts. Initially, I was convinced they were stabbers, murderers and rapists. Several days later, I discovered they were very nice people who were my neighbors. I saw murders and stabbers because of my history with violence.
We are born with 50 percent of our personality already defined for us in the womb. We need nutrients to repair our brain, and shamanic practices that allow us to establish higher level net- works, so that we can finally heal what no amount of talk therapy can repair.
Dr. Perlmutter: The program’s nutri- tion and lifestyle recommendations target specific gene codes for the pro- duction of a protein, brain-derived neu- rotrophic factor (BDNF), a key mediator for stimulating both the growth of new neurons and enhanced viability of new pathways. The production of BDNF is activated by a variety of factors, includ- ing physical exercise, caloric restric- tion, curcumin and the omega-3 fat, DHA. You can treat yourself to stem cell therapy by taking control of your gene expression, thus connecting to that part of the brain that ties us into our spiritual experience.
For more information, visit
PowerUpYourBrain.com. The Perlmut- ter Health Center is located at 800 Goodlette Rd. N. in Naples. Phone 649-7400.
natural awakenings March 2011 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72