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.
For more : http://www.govitatanunda.com.au/blog/
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