In this episode, Sam explores the glymphatic system (no, not the lymphatic system!) and how it works to detox our brains after we fall asleep. Inspired by a TikTok video, she deep dives into a recent scientific discovery, is shocked to learn about what the brain does to itself while we're unconscious, and shares strategies for optimizing its performance to protect ourselves from cognitive dysfunction as severe as Alzheimer's and dementia.

Listen to this episode if you want to geek out with Sam, if you want to learn something new about the way your brain and body work together to protect you, or if you need some motivation to improve the length and quality of your sleep at night.

Key moments:

00:33 The importance of sleep and how it gets lost

01:43 Found a benefit of doomscrolling LOL

02:42 The TikTok video that led Sam to this topic

03:15 Brief overview of the glymphatic drainage system and process

04:16 The difference between the LYMphatic system and the GLYMphatic system

04:32 It all starts here, in your circulatory system

05:40 The role of lymph in your body’s waste processing system

06:56 How your body gets rid of toxic waste

07:04 What do lymph nodes actually do?

08:00 How lymphatic drainage massages work (spoiler: they’re not a scam)

08:35 When you should get a lymphatic drainage massage

08:47 What is the glymphatic system?

09:50 How your brain produces metabolic waste

10:35 What’s in metabolic waste, and what does it do to our brains?

11:24 What carbon dioxide buildup does to our brain

11:52 What lactate buildup does to our brain

12:21 Two of the biggest Alzheimer’s contributors/markers

14:19 Why we need waste drainage from the brain

14:38 Your brain does WHAT when you sleep?

15:12 Where does all that toxic waste go?

16:18 Circumstances by which this process could get disturbed (you experience BOTH of them)

17:14 Approaching health by controlling what we can

18:22 What happens when your brain isn’t draining properly

18:48 A groundbreaking case study proving why it’s so important to drain (proving the risk of drainage interruption and the importance of the glymphatic system)

24:09 How we can optimize our glymphatic system to keep our brains healthy

24:34 How sleep impacts the glymphatic system

25:15 Do you sleep on your back or your side?

25:47 Specific types of exercise that help

26:37 An important aspect of your diet that impacts your brain drain

26:53 Why does everything come back to alcohol lol SOS

27:55 Can intermittent fasting help your brain detox?

28:34 Sam’s 26 favorite stress management techniques with no explanation or elaboration lol

30:03 Upcoming episode topics

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