The gut-brain connection is something that’s been talked
about for thousands of years since Hippocrates said ‘all disease begins
in the gut’. However, it’s only been in the last two decades we’ve seen
strong scientific evidence of the positive effect improved gut health
can have on the brain. Kale Brock investigates.
As I’m fond of saying, “your gut is like a central dashboard within
the body”, communicating constantly with various extensions such as your
immune system, your nervous system, your skin, your heart and, of
course, your brain. If you have imbalances or malfunctions in that
central dashboard, you can expect malfunctions in the parts reliant on
the proper functioning of it. Correct the initial malfunction at the
source and expect better functioning along the line, so to speak.
With so many studies pointing to the gut as the source of our
ailments, it’s important to look at why this seems to be the case. If
research shows so many people are benefiting from taking probiotics or
making positive alterations to gut function, then it seems so many
people have been out of balance in the gastrointestinal tract. Nature
always strives for balance so arguably depression, anxiety and mood
swings are a result of an imbalance somewhere in the body.
Why are we so out of balance?
We can’t look past our frivolous use of antibiotics over the past 80
years as being the main culprit of such an imbalance. Antibiotics, as we
well know, not only kill off pathogenic microbes but also beneficial
ones. And which are the first to grow back in most cases? The pathogenic
species. Although antibiotics have been life-saving in many cases, the
unfortunate thing is we now have a population whose micro biomes (the
collection of microorganisms that inhabit our body) are completely and
permanently altered.
We don’t really know what an ideal microbiome is anymore – all we
know is that ours have changed completely since the use of antibiotics
and we are seeing a huge rise in disease as a result.
When it comes to microbes and our brains the science is quite clear –
microbes manufacture our brains most important chemicals known as
neurotransmitters within the gastrointestinal tract – up to 90per cent
of them in fact. So that serotonin you’ve been wanting, that dopamine to
help you feel happy and that all important melatonin to help you fall
asleep, are all dependent on gut microbes – interesting huh?
Another factor in the gut-brain connection is the management of
inflammation by the actions of gut microbes and the immune system. Our
gut bugs are literally talking with our immune cells, teaching them from
the time you enter the world how to behave cordially and appropriately.
Naturally, if our gut bugs are imbalanced, we can experience numerous
immunological challenges. According to research, this seems to stem from
increased intestinal permeability, a situation where the thin membrane
of the gut (used for diffusing nutrients from the gut into the blood)
becomes too leaky and open. This is akin to a flyscreen with large holes
and tears in it.
Alongside macromolecules of food, pathogenic microbes and other such
intruders now in the bloodstream, a specific marker has been noted to be
particularly damaging on the body and brain. LPS, or lip
polysaccharide, has been found to be in extremely high levels in
Alzheimer’s disease and is known to cause neuron damage in the brain.
These factors may be instrumental in the development of mental
illnesses such as depression, anxiety and mood swings as the brain
becomes inflamed and less capable of processing information. In fact,
research shows mice who receive probiotic treatment and then experience
stressful situations report less cortisol development(a stress hormone)
and behaviourally seem to be ‘more chilled’. This experiment has been
replicated in humans where probiotic treatment regularly reduces
qualitative anxiety scores.
Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride goes as far as saying autism is a
manifestation of a gut that has become a source of toxicity instead of a
source of nutrition during developmental years. According to her, if
the condition is treated early enough the autistic symptoms can be
reversed. Research supports her opinion by showing autistic children are
regularly found to have different gut microbes to their healthy
counterparts, specifically having higher levels of microbes like E.coli
and clostridia.
So what does all this mean?
If we want to experience great mental health, then considering an
approach that looks at the gut is a good move. By taking a sensible,
long-term approach, like taking probiotics regularly and eating a diet
high in fibre and wholefoods, may be key to attaining a more balanced
brain.
I also believe this research suggests we heighten our respect for the
human body, which seems to respond well to holistic treatment available
from nature. As science continues to uncover the specifics of disease
and the microbiome, and how we can pinpoint specific bugs for specific
conditions, expect huge improvements in the symptom-based approach of
western medicine.
Kale Brock is a journalist and researcher in gut health and primal
living. A qualified health and exercise coach, Kale has worked
alongside some of the best naturopaths and health personalities in
Australia.
The Gut Healing Protocol
This book delves into one of the hottest topics in health science
right now! With nine years of research behind him, health journalist and
coach Kale Brock provides a simple action plan with validated
references to help you improve your gut health and overall vitality.
The Gut Healing Protocol focuses on healing the lining of the
gastro-intestinal tract. For the nerdy, it involves tightening the
junctions of the epithelium to shutdown inflammatory mechanisms for
optimal cellular functioning.
In this beautifully researched and presented book, Brock shares:
- a scientific round-up of the gut and how it influences your health
- world expert views on the microbiome and the roles of various microbes
- why eliminating certain foods can drastically decrease gut
inflammation how adding certain supplements and foods assists healing
the gut lining
- a comprehensive, gentle eight-week program
- stunning, delicious recipes to help you heal your gut lining and rebalance your microbiome.
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