BE INFORMED FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

You, are after all, in charge of their health.

 

I came across this article and felt the need to share it with you. I cannot stress enough how strongly I feel about this subject. I really believe that this is where it all begins and maintain that this is one of the main reasons that the prevalence of  ADHD and Alzheimers, depression etc. is so high, and ever increasing,  especially relating to MSG, preservatives and dioxins. 

 

ALL DISEASES BEGIN IN THE GUT!

The Father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, made this statement more than two thousand years ago. The more we learn with our modern scientific tools, the more we realize just how correct Hippocrates was: all diseases do begin in the gut!

Science has discovered, that about 90% of all cells and all genetic material of the human body belongs to the gut flora – a mixture of various microbes, which live inside our digestive tract. So, in reality your body is just a shell, a 10%, providing a habitat for this mass of micro-creatures living inside you; and their role in your health and physiology is monumental. Our modern world poses many dangers for human gut flora, and once it is damaged, the health of the whole body enters a downward slide towards disease. From autoimmune diseases to mental health your gut flora plays a role.

The proliferation of systemic disorders over the last 20 years has led researches to delve deeper into the ‘source’ of the problem. You probably don’t know how much of an impact your gut makes on your brain health. Not many people do. Not many people would associate the state of their gut with brain health issues.

Your gut IS a perfect place to look when dealing with mental health conditions, as doing so may prove to be effective in improving your mood, your brain’s overall health, and preventing brain-related illnesses such as Parkinson’s.

Your Gut is Your ‘Second Brain’

Have you ever had butterflies in your stomach when you were anxious or nervous? Have you had an upset stomach stressed or angry? This shows that there is a connection between your brain and your gut.

During your development in the womb, two nervous systems are formed from one tissue

•Central nervous system, which is made out of your brain and spinal cord
•Enteric nervous system, which is found in your intestinal tract

These two nervous systems are connected by the vagus nerve, or the 10th cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your abdomen. This nerve helps transmit information to your brain. Although many people see the brain as the master organ, your gut transmits more to your brain than the other way around. Furthermore, any problem in your gut can impact your brain health, raising your risk of anxiety, depression, autism, and related problems.

According to studies, your intestines contain neurons just like your brain does. This includes neurons that produce neurotransmitters like serotonin – known to help control mood, depression, and aggression.

How Your Brain and Gut Are Connected

There is a strong link between an abnormal gut flora and abnormal mental development. Due to imbalanced gut flora, a number of symptoms related to brain disorders may manifest, including symptoms of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), dyslexia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, just to name a few.

She adds that autistic children do not have this problem when they are born. They start with normal brains and sensory organs. Upon the exposure of the digestive system to toxic elements, these children can develop autistic symptoms.

Research by the American Society for Microbiology also revealed the discovery of a bacterium called Sutterella that is found in the intestines of children with autism. The researchers state that autistic children may have gastrointestinal problems that may contribute to behavioural issues.

Moreover, they reported: “These findings elevate this little-recognized bacterium to the forefront by demonstrating that Sutterella is a major component of the microbiota in over half of children with autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction (AUT-GI) and is absent in children with only gastrointestinal dysfunction (Control-GI) evaluated in this study."

It is through gene profiling that these researchers were able to find that an imbalance in gut bacteria caused problems in genes and pathways that are involved in memory, learning, and motor control. This finding suggests gut bacteria’s close association with brain development and behaviour.

Threats to Your Gut’s Wellbeing

There are a number of reasons why your gut’s healthy bacteria are severely compromised:

•Consuming of processed and sweetened foods – sugar of all forms feed bad bacteria and yeast

•Taking antibiotics

•Drinking chlorinated and fluoridated water

•Using antibacterial soaps

•Exposure to agricultural chemicals and pollution

While this information is crucial for everyone’s wellness, pregnant women should be extra careful, because a newborn relies on his mother’s supply of good bacteria for his initial gut flora.

Nevertheless, women of reproductive age are deficient in many essential probiotic strains. Dr. Campbell explains that a woman’s birth canal is highly populated with vaginal flora, which comes from the bowel. Whatever resides here becomes the baby’s gut flora. If the mother has abnormal gut flora, her vaginal flora will also be of the same nature.

How to Reseed Your Healthy Bacteria

Now that you have an idea of how your gut is your “second brain,” it is important to look out for its health, especially for the microorganisms that reside inside it.
 The solution is simple: “reseed” the good bacteria in your body.

How To optimize your system:

1. Eat more fermented foods - Consuming traditionally-made, unpasteurized fermented foods are one of the most important routes to optimal digestive health. Examples of these are kimchee, natto, sauerkraut, tempeh, kefir, and many others. Pasteurized foods can compromise your gut flora as pasteurization kills the probiotics in the food.

2. Take a probiotic supplement - An alternative to eating probiotic-rich foods is taking a high-quality probiotic supplement. This is an option for those who do not eat fermented foods.

3. Breastfeed your baby - Breast milk is far superior to formula. Research says that while breast milk contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fat, it also contains other substances that can help enhance your baby’s gut and brain development. This advantage can contribute to your child even as he or she becomes an adult.

According to FoodMatters.tv in their article “3 Foods That Could Change Your Life!” you can reseed your gut by consuming the following:

1. Kefir

Homemade kefir has 50 plus good bacteria and yeasts. It is so powerful that I recommend people consume only small amounts when they first start kefir, so as not to overwhelm their body with good bacteria. These bacteria are strong and will go to work killing pathogens and bad bacteria, making some individuals uncomfortable. Kefir and its special bacteria microbes will make you its home and keep things in balance for you. It will add probiotics to any kind of milk, whether it be cow, goat, coconut, or almond milk. It will transform the milk, increasing vitamins and nutrient absorption, and it will do this sitting on your counter in a glass jar while you go about your day. Then when you consume it, you will find it will digest your food, reduce inflammation, make elimination a breeze, and, well, the list is so long it would take this entire page to explain it all.

2. Kombucha

Talk about powerful! It is a wonder drink and there is nothing else like it on the market. It helps remove toxins through the kidney, liver, and bowels. You might notice that kombucha can help you lose a lot of excess water weight. It helps you eliminate the excess swelling and fluid that accumulates in your tissues from chemically laden foods and alcohol.
Kombucha is a liver cleanser and it will assist your liver in removing toxins that have accumulated. Kombucha will also help relieve the water retention that often happens when the body protects the organs by holding on to water when under stress or a heavy toxic load.

3. Cultured Vegetables

Everybody knows that vegetables are so, so good for you – but when you ferment vegetables, they become more powerful than they were previously. Fermented foods are the most potent source of beneficial bacteria, and these probiotics are some of the best chelators available, capable of drawing out a wide range of toxins and heavy metals. According to Dr. McBride, the GAPS Nutritional Protocol restores your own detoxification system in about 90 percent of people, and the fermented/cultured foods are instrumental in this self-healing process. Making your own fermented vegetables is inexpensive and less complicated than you might think.

If you are suffering from a systemic disorder you may want to try a diet formulated to heal your gut.

Courtesy: Centre for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research.