The study of how the mind and body interact is growing.

The gut-brain axis (GBA) has received a lot of attention in research, and with good reason.

Enabling us to perceive the body as it is,

…a system as a whole.

Not just a collection of connected systems.

This method of tackling health is gaining popularity.

It will soon become a common approach to health.

Because of the influence it has on our general health, the gut microbiome has received a lot of attention—and rightfully so!

Researchers have studied microbes to learn more about how they can affect our mood.

Additionally, how they affect diseases.

A recent study that showed how the microbiome affects the brain and plays a role in these changes.

In this article we’ll explore the connection between the gut microbiome and brain health. So that you can take steps to reduce brain fog by following the latest science on the gut-brain-axis.

What exactly is the gut microbiome?

The terms gut flora, gut microbiota, and microbiome may be familiar to you. Perhaps you’ve questioned what the difference was. To clear up any confusion, they all refer to the same thing. It’s widely accepted that bacteria make up a larger percentage of the body’s total cell count, but a new study aptly named “Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body.” suggests that the two populations are roughly balanced. The significant influence that bacteria have on our health is unaffected by this discovery.

Trillions of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungus, make up the microbiome. The specific microbes in the human body that have received the most research are bacterial cells. Although there are microorganisms in every part of the body, the colon has the highest concentration. The term “gut microbiome” typically refers to the colonisation of bacteria in the cecum, a region of the large intestine. The cecum, which is a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine, is pronounced “see-kum.”

Could the secret to health lie in microbes?

The key to treating many chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and brain disorders like depression, is to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. Additionally, mental illnesses like schizophrenia, autism, anxiety, and major depressive disorder have been linked to the gut-brain axis. (That is the relationship between your brain and your gut.)

Working to maintain a healthy gut flora will result in a strong immune system. Additionally, the gut produces the neurotransmitters serotonin and GABA, which change mood and sleep patterns and have a significant impact on the development of disorders like depression. In animal models, the microbiome has been shown to influence anxiety, hyperactivity, and cognition. It can also change how brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is expressed. BDNF helps the brain grow and renew.

What is serotonin?

Although serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain, 90% of it is thought to be produced in the gut. Serotonin affects our life on a variety of levels since it regulates our mood, appetite, sleep, memory, learning, body temperature, and various social behaviours. Serotonin, which is produced by the enterochromaffin (EC) cells that line the digestive canal, is a vital component of the gut-brain axis.

What is GABA, and why does it matter?

The body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, or GABA for short, is essential for stem and embryonic cell development. The major function of GABA is to lessen nervous system excitability. GABA is essentially your natural sedative. The body’s principal excitotoxin, glutamate, is neutralised by GABA. Which also aids in muscle tissue repair and promotes a pleasant night’s sleep. 

Neurotransmitters can work properly to signal appropriate patterns of rest and activity when the body is in a state of optimal balance. High levels of GABA are produced by some of the “good” bacteria in our stomach. Including Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Escherichia. Promoting healthy microorganisms is therefore crucial for general health and wellness.

The brain’s development

Despite having quite different anatomical structures, the stomach and the brain have a strong relationship. In fact, both the immune and hormonal systems’ postnatal development rely on having a healthy gut flora. Demonstrating the profound influence that a healthy microbiota has on foetal and postnatal development.

Children’s brain development is significantly influenced by a substance called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to have lower levels of BDNF, according to research. Neurodevelopmental processes in children can be affected by maternal lifestyle choices that affect the microbiome, such as smoking or drinking alcohol. To promote healthy development, it is crucial to take action to balance the microorganisms in the gut.

Molecular pathways of the gut-brain axis

Your brain and gut are always talking to each other because they are linked by the vagus nerve. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, which controls the stress response, is also involved in sending information through the central nervous system when the body is digesting. Because of this, it’s important to eat and digest food when you are calm and not stressed.

Gut permeability, also known as “leaky gut,” is the mechanism whereby the microbiota affects how well the brain works. Because GABA and serotonin are made by bacteria in the cells that line the gut, permeability can change how the brain works. Also, foreign proteins can get through the barrier between the gut and the brain and cause inflammation. Cytokines are proteins that cause inflammation and can cross the blood-brain barrier. When they do this, they deposit proteins in the brain and this can cause neuroinflammation. Making it hard for brain cells to work properly. Additionally this inflammation may cause plaque to form.

How to heal your microbiome in 5 steps

“Go with your gut” is a phrase that people often say, and it may  be more important than we previously thought. If the microbiome in your gut is out of balance, it can affect every part of your life. As such, healing your microbiome is an important part of getting your health back on track. The key is to increase the good bacteria and get rid of the bad ones. Here are five things you can do to heal your gut right now.

1. Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink
2. Get a good night’s sleep,  because not getting enough sleep changes the gut microbiome.
3. Don’t eat processed foods or sugars. Also cut out artificial sweeteners, because studies have shown that artificial sweeteners decrease the number of good bacteria in the gut.
4. Reduce stress. It has been shown that stress kills good bacteria and promotes the growth of bad bacteria.
5. You could also take a high quality probiotic daily.

What are foods that support the microbiome?

It’s impossible to overstate how important it is to have a healthy gut microbiome. The good news is that new research shows that you can improve your gut health in just a few days. To keep your microbiome healthy, you need to eat a lot of fibre. As a prebiotic, fibre feeds the good bacteria in your gut. Choose a plant-based diet with lots of green leafy vegetables and follow the 5 steps to heal your microbiome above to increase the good bacteria in your gut and decrease the bad bacteria.

The bottom line

Mounting evidence suggests that the microbes in our gut can be our worst enemy or our secret weapon. By changing lifestyle factors, such as reducing fast food and eating more leafy greens, we can begin to build a healthy gut. Bizarrely enough, this can change how our brains function. Probiotics can fast forward the promotion of good bacteria in our guts. However, it’s important to note that this will only work if we provide the correct fuel for our microbes. Our mind and body are more intricately linked than we dare to imagine, and science is now backing this theory up.

Best selling products