Happy Gut, Happy Brain?

You may have heard it before: the gut is connected to the brain. It’s a hot topic right now, but is there science behind this, or is it the latest and soon-to-fade trend? Answer: there is a ton of science behind this notion. I’ll try to explain this in the easiest terms possible because let’s be real…you don’t have all day to read this blog post.

Dysbiosis of the gut (a fancy word for an unhealthy gut) has been linked to severe mental illnesses, including anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, and autism, to name a few (Clapp, et. al., 2017). The gut can throw off our Central Nervous System, which is composed of the brain and spinal cord, as well as the Peripheral Nervous System (Clapp, et. al., 2017). The Peripheral Nervous System connects the brain and spinal cord to the limbs, skin, and other organs in the body, regulates involuntary functions such as the heartbeat and breathing, and sends messages to and from the brain and spinal cord from other areas of the body (Cleveland Clinic, 2022; Thau, Reddy, & Singh, 2022). Both of these systems are extremely important and can have detrimental systemic impacts if not properly managed.

Bottom Line: If your gut isn’t performing optimally, then your mental health may not be optimal.

Dr. Amy Shah is one of my favorite experts on this subject, and shared in a podcast with Ed Mylett that our gut bacteria even can reverse neurological diseases by producing vitamin B3 which helps to protect the myelin sheaths in our brain, which is extremely important for conditions such as dementia, autism, depression, etc. (Shah, 2022).

You’re probably thinking, “Okay, I get it…but how do I improve the health of MY gut?!” That’s where I can help you beyond the traditional probiotics. https://regenics.com/?ref=5243
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BPC 157 is a cutting-edge peptide with anti-inflammatory and healing properties that is now beginning to be available only from functional medicine practitioners. It is something that is already created in the human body within gastric juices but is incredibly beneficial to many areas when used as a supplement (with little to no side effects). However, it has been studied to be safe and incredibly effective in treating GI disorders, healing the GI lining and ulcers, healing liver and pancreatic lesions, increasing collagen production, regrowth of nerve cells, and has been found to increase serotonin release in certain brain areas (Sikiric, et. al., 2016). It is truly a miracle “drug,'“ and worth trying if you have issues with mental health, stagnant weight loss, GI problems, etc. Follow this link to learn more and purchase directly! https://regenics.com/?ref=5243 (code JENNA10 for 10% off!)

Sources:

-Clapp, M., Aurora N., Herrera, L., Bhatia, M., Wilen, E., Wakefield, S. (2017, Sept.). Gut microbiota's effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clinics and Practice, 7(4): p. 987. doi: https://doi.org/10.4081/cp.2017.987

-Cleveland Clinic. (2023). The Peripheral Nervous System. Retrieved on January 10, 2024 from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23123-peripheral-nervous-system-pns

-Rathi, K., & Food, M. (2023). BPC-157 Peptide: Source and dose, benefits. Retrieved on January 10, 2024 from https://muscleandbrawn.com/peptides/bpc-157/

-Shah, A. (2022, May 3). Gut health for mental health.The Ed Mylett Show. Retrieved on January 10, 2024 from https://www.edmylett.com/podcast/dr-amy-shah-groundbreaking-science-between-your-mind-&-gut-health

-Sikiric, P., Seiwerth, S., Rucman, R., Kolenc, D., Vuletic, L.B., Drmic, D., Grgic, T., Strbe, S., Zukanovic, G., Crvenkovic, D., Madzarac, G., Rukavina, I., Sucic, M., Baric, M., Starcevic, N., Krstonijevic, Z., Bencic, M.L., Filipcic, I., Rokotov, D.S., Vlainic, J. (2016). Brain-gut Axis and Pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Theoretical and Practical Implications. Current Neuropharmacology, 14(8): pp. 857-865. doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159x13666160502153022

-Thau L, Reddy V, Singh P. (2022, Oct.). Anatomy, Central Nervous System. Retrieved on January 10, 2024 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542179/