The Gut-Brain Connection

            Dr. Kate Klemer, Cranial Conference Presenter 2016, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

Did you know that your brain influences your gut, and your gut talks to your brain? Your gut is also called “the second brain. ”The enteric nervous system is said to contain about 100 million neurons, which is more than in either the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system.” Why are we designed that way? Well let's read on…
A big part of our emotions are  influenced by the nerves in our gut. The Vagus nerve innervates the gut. To clarify, the gut includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine

The Vagus Nerve Reads The Gut Microbiome!
● By reading the gut microbiome the vagus nerve initiates a response to modulate
inflammation based on whether or not it detects pathogenic versus
non-pathogenic organisms. In this way, the gut microbiome can have an
affect on your mood, stress levels and overall inflammation.
 
Your Flora Is Also Known As Your Gut Biome
Your microbiome  is your friend. There is a co-regulation, and co-dependence that occurs between this community of microorganisms and our health in many ways. Our microbiome supports food digestion, protects against pathogens, provides essential nutrients, and trains our immune system. A disturbance of flora is linked to disease.

 Facts about our microbiome...
○ Is inhabited by 100 trillion
microorganisms
○ This is 10x the number of cells in the
human body
○ Has 150x as many genes than we have
○ Co-exists with gut pathogens
○ Regulates the immune system
○ Regulates the endocrine system
○ Modulates digestion (Vitamin K2, single
chain fatty acids, and fructose)
○ Weighs 2-6 pounds

These Are Ways the  Gut and Brain Connect:
1. Immune system= via endocrine/cytokines chemicals produced by the body
2. Neural Sensory (primarily Vagus Nerve picking up info from the gut, going to the brain)
3. Neurotransmitters made by microbiome =endocrine system to the brain
4. Solitary Nucleus brainstem + amygdala, Insular Cortex, Hypothalamus connect to Vagus
5. Corticosteroids via HPA axis affect Microbiome
6.The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Efferent/motor  activity= from the brain/ vagus nerve  causes acetylcholine  release in organs which lowers inflammation.

Communication of the gut-brain axis is bidirectional:
The brain and gut are also connected by the endocrine system. In a study a baby mouse was taken  away from its Mother. What they found is that the gut flora is
altered in the baby mouse after that stressful experience. They also learned that stress and sleep deprivation are known to increase cortisol ,which causes overgrowth of bad bacteria. An overgrowth of gut pathogens triggers the immune system to release more  cortisol  making   prostaglandins which cause swelling in the body.

Gut pathology is linked to brain pathology:
● Anxiety and depressive disorders are linked with autoimmune disease
○ Irritable bowel syndrome is linked with anxiety/depression
○ Schizophrenia is linked with celiac disease
○ Autism spectrum is linked with gut pathology (clostridium, and abnormal level of gut bacteria
*Leaky gut is related to depression which is related to an inflamed brain.
                                                    Probiotics stop this!

Lacking of the  microbiome creates brain changes
A study showed that germ free mice have too much myelin in their prefrontal cortex. This connects  lacking microbiome with disease. Myelin irregularities are associated with schizophrenia. This was reversed in mice when probiotics were  given to the mice.


What causes leaky gut (AKA dysbiosis)?

• stress/ cortisol
• Toxins (like Lipopolysaccharides) when bacteria die off in your gut they release a substance called lipopolysaccharides. These are very toxic.
• Pesticides and environmental chemicals
• Food  your system does not digest well like dairy, wheat, corn, and soy
• Certain medications
• Overgrowth of bad bacteria from food we do not digest
• Pathogens such as parasites that are ingested
• Organ malfunction;  especially the liver and pancreas that support digestion

Leaky Gut causes gastrointestinal inflammation, which creates food intolerances, and immune system issues:
Here are the full body effects of leaky gut:

• Brain: depression, anxiety, ADHD
• Skin: Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis
• Thyroid: Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism, Grave’s Disease
• Colon: Constipation, Diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Disease
• Adrenals: Fatigue
• Joints: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Headaches
• Sinus and Mouth: Frequent Colds, Food sensitivities

There is a lot of confusion around wheat/gliadin.
The bottom line is that all gliadin/wheat causes gut injury. The mechanism for this is that a substance called zonulin is excreted by the gut when exposed to lipopolysaccharides, (these come from the death of bacteria), wheat, and glyphosate/roundup. Zonulin then goes systemic and injures the gut wall, the blood brain barrier, the vascular system, and kidney tubules. This sets people up for lots of health issues if it is a chronic exposure.


Zonuling Breaches Barriers In The Body That Protect Us,
Top causes of increased zonulin and development of leaky gut:
● Overgrowth of harmful organisms, like bacteria or yeast in the intestine
   A. SIBO = small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (caused by low HCL, Ileocecal valve issues, low enz)
   B. Fungal dysbiosis or candida overgrowth
   C. Parasite infections
● Gliadin in the diet (gluten containing foods)

• ○ Gliadin is a protein in wheat, that like gluten, is a trigger for people with celiac disease. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 2006 clearly showed that gliadin can affect zonulin even in people without the gene for celiac. Researchers concluded that gliadin activates zonulin. This is  irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability.    Gluten affects intestinal permeability in all people but to different degrees. 100% of patients with autoimmune disease or leaky gut could potentially benefit from a gluten-free diet.

Elevated zonulin levels and leaky gut are  associated with the following:
1. Crohn's disease
2. Type 1 Diabetes
3. Multiple Sclerosis
4. Asthma
5. Glioma
6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

It is a good idea to not eat wheat very often.

What is going on nowadays that is creating so many chronic diseases???
● More environmental Toxins
● Too much sugar in mainstream diet
● Too many antibiotics, and given too young= leaky gut
● C-Sections, no breast feeding, no skin to skin with parents (this builds baby’s microbiome)
● Too many medications= leaky gut
● Low fat diets
● Amalgam/mercury fillings in the teeth
● Genetically Modified Foods= leaky gut
● Poor methylation= epigenetics

Facts about baby's microbiome:

• Antibiotics given early in life enhance susceptibility to allergic asthma
• Babies born vaginally and who are breastfed have a similar microbiome to their mom
• Babies that are bottle fed and/or c-section have a different microbiome than their mom
• Antibiotics given to babies the first six months of life leads to an increased risk of these kids being overweight even though these kids  mothers are of normal weight.

Having a good strong start with inheriting mom’s microbiome helps support better health throughout life. People that understand this are taking a sterile swab and putting it in mom’s vagina for an hour after a c-section and wiping all over the baby’s body and face. This helps establish a stronger microbiome for the baby. The earlier the microbiome is established the better health the baby will have into adulthood.

Low fat diets and drugs:
Statistics show that the increase of low fat diets and use of statin drugs to lower cholesterol have created an increase of dementia/Alzheimer’s disease.

Glyphosate/Roundup:
This pesticide destroys the Shikimate pathway in plants. This pathway makes a substance called Chorismate, and this in turn makes amino acids that we use: tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. These amino acids make neurotransmitters. Our microbiome is basically microscopic plants. The bottom line is that roundup destroys our microbiome.

Stephanie Seneff, Phd is a MIT researcher. She says: “ at today’s rate, by 2025, one in two children will be autistic. The side effects of autism closely mimic those of glyphosate toxicity including zinc and iron deficiency, low serum sulfate, seizures, and mitochondrial disorder.”
Rats fed a lifelong diet of one of the best selling strains of genetically modified corn suffered tumors and multiple organ damage.

More Facts
● Gut bacteria given to a germ free mouse, from a heavy mouse, made the germ
free mouse heavy. When a thin mouse gave a germ free
mouse their microbiome it caused them to be thin.
● Mice raised in a germ free environment where given specific bacteria, and it
was found to change their behavior
● Low Serotonin and High Dopamine is a recipe for violence and aggression
● 50% of all norepinephrine/noradrenaline is synthesized and used in the Gut
● Stress hormones cause rapid growth (4X) of pathogen e. Coli
● Bacteria steal Iron to grow rapidly, and can cause Iron deficient anemia
● Adrenalin Increases biofilm formation, Biofilm is what 90% of bacteria live in
● Bad bugs eat sugar and refined carbs
● Antibiotics kill good bacteria as well as bad bacteria and upset the gut
balance
● 25% women from 40-60 years old are on antidepressants, their gut biome is off!

 Brain health depends on a healthy gut environment.
Many symptoms we experience daily in our heads , are due to problems that are based in our guts. Modern lifestyle and medical practices have greatly harmed our microbiome. GMO foods interfere with our gut bacteria’s ability to produce neurotransmitters. Inflammation from leaky gut destroys serotonin, leading to insomnia, pain, anxiety, and excess stress. Overuse of antibiotics, poor stomach function, and lack of gut motility creates small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Here is a list of what the good guy microbiome do:

● Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species produce GABA
● Lactobacillus produces Acetylcholine
● Escherichia, Bacillus, and Saccharomyces produce
norepinephrine
● Candida, Streptococcus, Escherichia, and Enterococcus
produce serotonin
● Bacillus and Serratia produce dopamine

What we can do to support our gut brain axis...

• Probiotics lower anxiety, and increase learning
• Lower your stress level with our work and a mind-body daily practice
• Eat fermented food if you don’t have histamine issues
• Take probiotics, and prebiotics, switch brands often...
• Eat whole unrefined organic foods, grass fed meats, and free range poultry
• Drink bone broth to heal and support your gut walls
• Eat fiber to feed healthy bacteria: psyllium, acacia, inulin= fibers from fruits, healthy carbs, cooked cold sushi rice, unripe bananas, cooked cold potatoes
• Avoid too much alcohol, NSAIDs ( =Ibuprophen and naprosyn=cause leaky gut) , stress, and sleep loss
• Eating Low simple carb diets help avoid feeding bad bacteria
• Get muscle tested for food sensitivities: gluten, dairy, corn, soy are m/c

One last little tidbit of science. People with bacterial overgrowth in their small intestine/SIBO were studied in conjunction with concussions. Those with SIBO and concussion had the lowest score of neurological function, those with SIBO and no concussion had the next lowest score of neurological function, and those with a concussion without SIBO had the best neurological score. What this is saying is that gut imbalances strongly affect neurological function, more so than a concussion!

Yours in Health, Dr. Kate