If you experience any of the following, this blog article is for you.

  • Chronic Fatigue
  • IBS
  • Decreased Immune Function
  • Autoimmune Disorder
  • Depression
  • Obesity
  • Anxiety
  • Autism
  • Diabetes

 

Bacteria are Your Friend.

It is a known fact that our gut has 10 times the number of microorganisms living in it than the total number of human cells. This includes both good and bad bacteria, nearly 3 pounds worth and over 500 species!  Over the past 5 years science has continued to research the connection between your brain and gut microbiota.  The findings are clinically impressive, and may surprise you!  We’ve always heard the phrase, “you are what you eat”, but did you ever consider that “what you eat may be eating at you?”

Many scientists now consider the gut and GI system a second brain.  Your gut literally has a mind of it’s own!  It serves as your enteric nervous system,  a bidirectional cellular communicator between your enteric nervous system (gut) and central nervous system (brain).  Not only does your gut communicate to the brain via cellular messengers, it consists of nearly 60% of your immune system.  It is clinical fact via observations and animal studies that the health of our gut microbiota is directly correlated and associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, neurophysciatric disorders, autistic disorders, anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, autoimmune disorders, and even major depressive disorders.

 

Probiotics: The New Antidepressant

Recent clinical trials demonstrate a decrease in free cortisol levels (your stress hormone) with daily probiotic intake,  reducing and often eliminating symptoms of both anxiety and depression.  This amazing breakthrough may result in a new group of drugs named “psychomicrobiotics”, used solely for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression.  It is true!  Poor diet and stress may be making you depressed.

Food is information, so choose your food wisely.

Gut microbiota communicate with the brain via neuroactive hormones.  What you feed the microbiota, and the type of microbiota in the gut, play a huge role in stimulating these hormones which affect your mood and cognition.  Many of these hormones can be influenced by simple administration of good gut microflora via probiotics, or adversely effected by the overgrowth of bad bacteria via poor diet and lifestyle.

For example:

  • Lactobacillus & Bifidobacterium stimulate GABA production and relaxation, decreasing anxiety.
  • E. Coli increases production of Norepinephrine, an adrenaline hormone.
  • Candida & Streptococcus increase production of Serotonin, responsible for mood and well-being.
  • Bacillus increases production of Dopamine, a hormone responsible for attention and focus.
  • Lactobacillus Rhamnosus increases production of anti-inflammatory IL-10, decreasing inflammation and pain.

Drugs, diet, and stress can change the diversity of the gut microflora, having a prolific effect on the communication between your gut and your brain.  Balance is key.  A balanced microflora with balanced hormonal communication is essential for proper health, mental stability, and well-being.

 

Let Your Vagus Nerve Do the Talking

The vagus nerve serves as direct communication between your brain and your stomach.  Hormonal, neuronal, and microflora changes in the gut are transmitted to the brain via the vagus nerve.   In other words, chronic use of antibiotics (past or present), poor diet, chronic stress, and certain medications may be influencing the microflora in the gut making you sad, depressed, and fatigued!

 

A Condition of Many Names: Leaky Gut Syndrome

Furthermore, microdamage to the epithelial wall may result in increased GI/gut permeability allowing harmful bacteria into systemic circulation.  This is often called IBS, or Leaky Guy Syndrome.  These pathogenic antigens or invaders can induce a systemic immune response causing allergic type disorders, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain.

 

Choose Your Lifestyle wisely to Establish a Healthy Gut

Your lifestyle choices and food choices serve as information to your brain and immune system.  What you put into your gut will eventually serve as communication between your cells, nervous system, immune system, and brain.

It’s simple, really.

If you want to BE happy, choose to LIVE happy and choose to LIVE healthy.

 

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