Dr. Perlmutter has written several books to educate people on the importance of the physiological connection between the gut and the brain. In this episode, he talks to us about his most recent book, Brain Wash, which he co-authored with his son, Austin Perlmutter, also a physician. The release of Brain Wash was very timely, given the current state of affairs with the growing pandemic, both in the United States and the rest of the world. Find out what motivated Dr. Perlmutter and his son to write Brain Wash and what you can expect to learn from reading it.  IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN Dr. Perlmutter talks about what inspired him and his son, Austin, to write the book, Brain Wash. We need to recognize that there is hard-wiring in the brain, which relates to how we make our decisions. Dr. Perlmutter describes the two fairly distinct areas of the brain that deal with each type of decision-making. Dr. Perlmutter explains the interesting fact that was discovered about the pre-frontal cortex area of the brain. Dr. Perlmutter explains the detrimental effect that electronics and some other factors have on the evolution of the pre-frontal cortex of the brains of children and teenagers. Dr. Perlmutter talks about how we can go about reconnecting and bringing the pre-frontal cortex back online. That information forms the heart and soul of the book, Brain Wash. As a global community, we need to cultivate the ability to remain open-minded and have cognitive empathy. We need to accept and embrace the notion that people will change their views and their position on things over time. Dr. Perlmutter explains how the quality of our sleep impacts our decision-making. The impact that social media has on our notion of connectedness as humans. Dr. Perlmutter explains how the stress of the pandemic has impacted our brains and the outcome of the pandemic. Our biological age can differ from our chronological age. Dr. Perlmutter explains how that could impact our immune system and our risk for the outcome of Covid. Dr. Perlmutter talks about the powerful benefits of exposing ourselves to nature and the profoundly positive impact it has on our brains. Dr. Perlmutter talks about the importance of getting enough exercise, and why a bit of stress is good for the body. He also shares a way to calculate your ideal heart rate. The three foods that Dr. Perlmutter feels are most beneficial for the brain, to keep the amygdala at bay and serve the executive function of the pre-frontal cortex. Dr. Perlmutter talks about the book that he is working on currently, due for release in 2022. Bio:  Dr. Perlmutter received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he was awarded the Leonard G. Rowntree Research Award. He serves as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Archives of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and The Journal of Applied Nutrition. Also, he is a frequent lecturer at symposia sponsored by institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, Columbia University, Scripps Institute, New York University, and Harvard University. He serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Perlmutter’s books include the #1 New York Times bestseller Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar, with over 1 million copies in print. Other New York Times bestsellers include Brain Maker, The Grain Brain Cookbook, The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan, and Brain Wash,.  Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Perlmutter On Facebook       On Instagram On his website