Gut Health – Ask a Naturopath

Most diseases begin in the gut! Why is this so?

Gut health is the hub of the body, it is the place where health starts. If you can improve gut health you can improve overall health and wellbeing. Diet and lifestyle play such a huge role in the health of our nervous system, energy and capacity to live an enthusiastic life. High inflammation, toxic bowels, reduced healthy bacteria, stress, poor digestion – the list of contributing factors is long so it is no wonder we are seeing a higher incidence of gut and bowel related diseases!

The link between gut health and mental disorders is becoming more and more researched with interesting theories being published weekly. The gut and the brain arise from the same tissues, there is a dense communication link between the two so it is not surprising that we see conditions that directly affect both areas of health. There are literally thousands of organisms in the gut and it is a constant war for the body to keep down the microbes that cause damage and inflammation in the body. If the gut health is limited due to an increase in detrimental bacteria then the body will experience more inflammation, irritation, heat, anger, toxicity. An increase in biofilms (a thin but robust layer of mucilage adhering to a solid surface and containing a community of bacteria and other microorganisms) and damage of the gut mucosa results in local and systemic inflammation and pathogenic bacteria.

An unhealthy gut means that the person will experience a loss of permeability control in the gut leading to inflammation and damage. The long term results of this are neurological dysfunction, Endocrine dysfunction and metabolic dysfunction. Neuropsychiatric disorders are often caused by leaky gut (inflammation, toxic gut), this occurs due to the following vicious cycles:

loss of integrity of the gut wall, leading to a loss also in the protective mechanisms
increased toxic load
decreased beneficial bacteria in the gut
excessive stimulation of immunity (SIBO, allergies, sensitivities, intolerances)
systemic inflammation causing central nervous system dysregulation (anxiety) and inflammation (irritability, anger)
chronic irritation and inflammation which causes thinning of the stomach lining (parietal cells)
decreased hydrochloric acid leads to decreased surface area and absorption of nutrients leading to further nutrient deficiencies, increased neurotoxins, increased inflammation and a decrease in the production of neurotransmitters
up-regulation of immune system and inflammation

When the permeability of the blood brain barrier is compromised due to increased inflammation (eg/ wheat consumption when the person is susceptible) there is reduced healthy gut bacteria, an increase in inflammation and consequent damage to the digestive system and an increase in neurological disorders (anxiety, depression, Schizophrenia for example). This is because the communication between the gut and brain are over sensitive and inflamed.

The vagus nerve controls Parasympathetic Nervous system health and this is a bi-directional flow. What does this mean? It means that if you pay attention to heal the gut or the health of the brain, it will have a positive effect for both areas of health. Improve gut health, improve brain function and vice versa! The amount of toxins in the body will impact the way the gut and brain can heal as well as what bacteria is present in the gut and at what amounts. Toxins create inflammation in the body and will contribute to mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, cognitive decrease and limited brain function due to the damage the toxins create as well as being neurotoxic (causing sensitivity).

Environmental toxins (chemicals, pollutants) will also contribute to growth of wrong bacteria in the gut, inflammation and damage. This means that we are less resistant to stress.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE GUT/ BRAIN CONNECTION

eat properly, allow better digestion
improve correct gut microbes
vagal nerve activation
increase short chain fatty acids in the diet, these have been shown to alter chemotaxis and phagocytosis; induce reactive oxygen species (ROS); change cell proliferation and function; have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, and antimicrobial effects; and alter gut integrity to improve brain regeneration
introduce healthy bacteria into the gut environment
heal leaky gut
improve digestive integrity
ease the toxic load on the body by improving liver health
avoid gluten, sugar and dairy in the diet
manage stress through mediation and awareness
reduce inflammation, down regulate inflammation
have a CDSA (comprehensive digestive stool analysis) test with a Naturopath
avoid anti-inflammatory drugs
alkalising diet
increase fermented foods if you dont have a histamine intolerance
improve how we eat – mindful eating (chewing, calm space, cooking, slowly, avoiding stress around meal times)
address why we eat (emotional eating for example)

FUN FACT

Research shows that we can regenerate 1% of the brain matter each year!