bacteria and the gut can they affect the brain
TRANSCRIPT
Bacteria and the Gut: Can They
Affect The Brain?
Many people may consider bacteria a bad thing. However, you may be surprised to know that we
contain 10 times more bacterial cells than
human cells within the average human body.
The term ‘human microbiome’ refers to all the microorganisms
(and their genes) living within the human body.
Animated or Static?
The researchers of this project have reported
that these bacterial genes might contribute
more to human survival than our own genes.
Ever had a “gut feeling” or an emotion you felt in your gut? Our brain is connected to the gut by what’s called the enteric nervous system.
BEHAVIOR
It’s been shown that gut inflammation can induce anxiety-
like behavior, and change the biochemistry of the central nervous
system.
Similarly, it’s known that patients with IBS have significantly higher
levels of both anxiety and depression
This gut-brain communication is bidirectional, with change in behavior overlapping change
in the microbiome (gut bacteria) It’s estimated that 90% of serotonin is made in
the gut.
This could partly explain why certain probiotic supplements have shown to improve mood and behavior
in both humans and animals.
In fact, researchers have found that certain types of bacteria could decrease
anxiety in mice more than drug as commonly used for general anxiety
disorder, such as Lexapro.
In another study, human volunteers given a formulation that could reduced
depression and anxiety
In fact, a study in JAMA Psychiatry found brain inflammation was 30% higher in clinically depressed individuals than
controls.
What Foods Improve Gut Health and
Our Microbiome?
What’s good for us is also good for our microbiome: vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits and legumes.
It’s estimated that our hunter-gatherer ancestors consumed on average 86 grams
of fiber per day
Foods abundant in fiber/complex carbohydrates can increase the growth of beneficial bacteria
What’s empowering is that eating fiber-rich
foods can actually decrease the amount of
bad bacteria within us
Conversely, diets high in refined
carbohydrates (flour, sugar, syrups, etc.) are
found to increase the growth of pathogenic
bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile and
Clostridium perfringens
P-cresol is a human carcinogen (cancer-
causing agent), which can also affect the
central nervous system, cardiovascular
system, lungs, kidney and liver
Not only because of the impact food has on gut
bacteria, but because there are many reports of diet
affecting various psychiatric disorders, including
schizophrenia, bipolar depression, ADHD and autism.
CONTACT US
Doctor Angie
http://www.doctorangie.com
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