It was once thought that your biological destiny was controlled by your genes and that there was little that you could do to influence your fate.  If you had a gene for heart disease - you would get heart disease.  If you had a gene for cancer - you would get cancer.  We now know that this view is overly simplistic.   Genes are like blueprints, they carry instructions for assembling the building blocks of life.  Signals from the environment determine which genes are expressed, which genes are not,  and for how long.  Signals from the environment include the food you eat, the air you breathe and the thoughts that you think.   Sunlight, whole foods, clean air and water, “turn on” genes that promote health and healing.  A diet high in processed foods, toxic exposures, and stressful thoughts activate genetic pathways that lead to chronic inflammation and disease within the body.

Certain “health promoting” genetic pathways have been identified by science.  For example, activation of the Nrf2 pathway “turns on” survival genes.  Survival genes increase the production of antioxidants, decrease inflammation and increase detoxification at a cellular level.  Survival genes support the body’s capacity to effectively deal with stressors  - physical, chemical and emotional.  Research shows that when the Nrf2 pathway is not functioning properly, damage from a brain injury is more severe resulting in more neurological deficits, increased inflammation, and an increased rate of brain cell death (1).

Concussions are complex and multi-faceted, setting in motion a cascade of inflammation, increased levels of oxidative stress, and the accumulation of toxic metabolites.  When inflammation, oxidative stress, and toxins are not effectively dealt with, they create a snowball effect  leading to more cell damage, increased severity of symptoms, and delayed healing.  Activation of the Nrf2 pathway uniquely addresses each of these issues.

The primary injury from a concussion happens upon impact.  The secondary injury - often where more extensive damage to the brain occurs -  is due in large part to oxidative stress.  Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralize them.  Think of free radicals as hot coals bouncing around inside the cell with the ability to damage whatever they bump into - proteins, enzymes, DNA, the cell wall or mitochondria.  To prevent this damage, our cells manufacture antioxidants including superoxide dismutase, catalayse and glutathione.  As we age, our natural capacity to manufacture antioxidants decreases and the production of free radicals increases leading to increased levels of oxidative stress.  Oxidative stress has been linked to over 200 chronic diseases including cancer, autoimmune conditions, neurodegenerative conditions, and heart disease.  The brain is particularly sensitive to oxidative stress.  There is a close relationship between the amount of oxidative stress and the severity of brain injury.  Supporting intracellular antioxidant production may help reduce the amount of cell damage from a concussion and the severity of the injury. (2)  Antioxidants that we get from our diet are helpful, but the most powerful way to combat free radicals is by activating the Nrf2 pathway within the cell.  Selectively “turning on” health promoting genetic pathways like the Nrf2 pathway is an important biohacking tool to promote health at a cellular level.

 The Nrf2 pathway is most effectively activated through

1. Exercise.

2. Green tea. 

3. Berries.

4. Sulfur containing vegetables - cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli 

5. Red wine.

6. Dark chocolate.

7. Xymogen Nrf2 Activators.