POPULARITY
7 episodes with scfas
9 episodes with scfas
2 episodes with scfas
3 episodes with scfas
2 episodes with scfas
2 episodes with scfas
2 episodes with scfas
3 episodes with scfas
2 episodes with scfas
Story at-a-glance Type 2 diabetes affects 10.5% of adults globally, projected to rise to 12.2% by 2045, with 90% of cases being Type 2 diabetes A study revealed that gut microbiome responses to high- and low-carbohydrate diets influence blood sugar and metabolic health Dysbiosis in the gut microbiome is linked to Type 2 diabetes, affecting carbohydrate metabolism, fat storage, inflammation and glycemic control Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from gut bacteria reduce inflammation and enhance insulin sensitivity, playing a key role in preventing diabetes and metabolic imbalances Optimizing gut health through mitochondrial support, healthy carbohydrates and targeted supplementation like Akkermansia muciniphila improves glycemic control and overall metabolic function
EPISODE SUMMARYWelcome back to the Wellfuel Podcast with your host, Isabel Smith! In this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—the powerful compounds that support gut health, metabolism, and even brain function.Isabel breaks down what SCFAs are, why they're essential for overall health, and how you can naturally increase them through diet and lifestyle. Whether you're new to gut health or a seasoned wellness enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Don't miss this insightful episode—tune in now and share it with a friend! Be sure to follow the Wellfuel Podcast for more expert health tips.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSWhy SCFAs Matter – Their role in gut, metabolic, immune, and brain healthTypes of SCFAs – Acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and how they functionGut Lining & Nutrient Absorption – How SCFAs support digestion and reduce inflammationBoosting SCFA Production – The best foods and supplements to enhance SCFA levelsIsabel's Insights – Personal takeaways on how SCFAs impact overall well-beingCHAPTER MARKERS00:00 Welcome to the Wellfuel Podcast00:33 Introduction to Short-Chain Fatty Acids02:12 The Importance of Gut Health03:46 Should You Take Butyrate?04:06 SCFAs and Metabolism05:30 Impact on the Immune System06:40 The Gut-Brain Connection10:38 How to Increase SCFAs NaturallyHELPFUL DEFINITIONSShort Chain Fatty AcidsAcetate – Produced by gut bacteria during fiber fermentation, supporting gut health, metabolism, and energy balance.Propionate – Helps regulate appetite, control blood sugar, and reduce inflammation.Butyrate – Fuels colon cells, supports digestion, and plays a key role in overall gut health.Forms of ButyrateButyric Acid – A naturally occurring SCFA found in animal fats and plant oils.Tributyrin – A butyrate source that supports digestion and immune function.Related TermsPostbiotics – Beneficial compounds produced by gut bacteria, even after they're no longer alive.T-Cells – White blood cells that play a critical role in immune defense.Vagus Nerve – A key nerve in the parasympathetic nervous system, affecting digestion, heart rate, and immune response.Cytokines – Proteins that regulate immune responses and inflammation.BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) – A protein essential for brain health, learning, and memory.Sources: The Cleveland Clinic, National Library of Medicine, Vocabulary.comLEARN MOREThe WellFuel Podcast explores gut health, detox, hormones, mold, and more—hosted by Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN. Join Isabel as she shares her insights and chats with experts from across the wellness spectrum, to help support you on the path to health and wellness.Learn more about Isabel Smith Nutrition: Visit Our WebsiteCONNECT & BOOK A CALLFollow along on social media:YouTube: @isabelsmithnutritionInstagram: @isabelsmithnutritionPinterest: @isabelsmithnutritionWant to learn more about how Isabel Smith Nutrition can help support you on your journey to better health? Book a call with us today: Schedule Here
In this episode, we detail the intestinal mycobiome and the mechanisms by which beneficial microbes aid in regulating opportunistic fungal species: Candida albicans. We discuss Candida overgrowth virulence and how disruptions in microbial balance, immune function, and epithelial integrity impact Candida's pathogenicity. Additionally, we discuss the role of mast cells in the lamina propria, their involvement in mucosal immunity, and how Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) can be exacerbated by fungal dysbiosis / microbial imbalances.Topics: 1. Introduction - The intestinal mycobiome and its role in intestinal health. - Regulating populations of opportunistic fungal species like Candida albicans.- Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) intro. 2. Structure of the Intestinal Barrier- The microbiome and mucus layer: microbes, mucins, antimicrobial peptides, sIgA.- The epithelial monolayer: enterocytes, goblet cells, Paneth cells, enteroendocrine cells…- Tight junction proteins and paracellular transport.- The lamina propria beneath the epithelium: immune cells and more. 3. Candida's Pathogenicity and Barrier Disruption- Exists primarily in its yeast form, regulated by microbial competition, host immune defenses, antifungal peptides. - Secretory IgA (sIgA) and immune surveillance mechanisms help regulate fungal populations. - Chronic stress, immune suppression, and dysbiosis can deplete sIgA, increasing susceptibility to Candida proliferation. - Environmental triggers such as immune suppression, microbial depletion, inflammatory cytokines.- Yeast-to-hyphal transition, deeper tissue invasion. - Secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAPs), phospholipases, candidalysin: epithelial damage.- Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and overgrowth detection. 4. Impact of Beneficial Bacteria on Candida Overgrowth - Beneficial bacteria compete with Candida for nutrients and epithelial adhesion sites. - Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by beneficial bacteria.- Depletion of beneficial bacteria removes ecological resistance, allowing Candida to proliferate unchecked. 5. Mast Cells in the Lamina Propria and Their Role in Intestinal Immunity- Mast cell location - Upon activation, mast cells release histamine, cytokines, proteases, and more that regulate gut immune responses. - Histamine can increase gut permeability and modulate local immune activation. - Tryptase and chymase. - Pro-inflammatory cytokines. 6. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) - Mast cell hyperactivation.- Environmental triggers, toxins, chronic infections, and stress. - Candida overgrowth and mast cell activation.- Addressing microbial imbalances and reducing the body's total microbial, chemical, and toxin burden.- A diverse microbiome. 7. Conclusion- Candida overgrowth and regulation via immune defenses and beneficial bacterial competition.- MCAS, root cause approach.Thank you to our episode sponsor:1. Shop Fresh Press Farms'Peach Cider Vinegar at Sprouts locations nationwide, and check out their full collection here. Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellnessVisit synthesisofwellness.com
We're witnessing an exciting shift in how we understand gut health and disease—and it's all thanks to the powerful metabolites produced by the microbiome, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids. In today's episode, Dr. Tom Fabian shares groundbreaking insights into how these postbiotics influence intestinal barrier integrity, immune balance, and even muscle regeneration. These compounds are also connected to key processes like glucose metabolism and healthy aging. What's truly fascinating is how this science is opening up new frontiers in treating IBS, metabolic conditions, and chronic gut issues. With the upcoming launch of Diagnostic Solution Laboratories' StoolOMX test, an add-on to the GI-MAP, we now have a tool to measure these metabolites in clinical practice, making personalized and effective treatments more attainable. This is a pivotal moment in functional medicine that you don't want to miss. ~DrKF FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE CONVERSATION! Get the Updated GI-MAP® Guide with StoolOMX™ Insights! The new GI-MAP® Guide now includes StoolOMX™ insights on bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, enhancing your understanding of IBS, IBD, and gut motility. Refine treatment strategies and optimize patient care with this essential resource. Download now! https://tinyurl.com/5ehysjp7 Check out the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/2t55s3y3 for the full list of links and resources. GUEST DETAILS Thomas Fabian, PhD, CNTP Email: tom.fabian@diagnosticsolutionslab.com Dr. Fabian is a leading expert on the role of the microbiome in health, immune function, chronic disease, and aging. As a translational scientist, his primary focus is on the clinical application of microbiome research in the integrative and functional medicine space. He received his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has worked as a biomedical researcher in the biotechnology industry, and more recently, as a consultant in the microbiome testing field. Currently, Dr. Fabian serves a consultant and science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, and he is also a Science Advisory Board member with Designs for Health. In addition, he is certified as a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner by the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver. THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory: https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/ Phone: 877-485-5336 CONNECT WITH DrKF Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/ DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw
In this episode, we detail the bidirectional relationship between the HPA axis and the intestinal barrier, illustrating how HPA axis dysfunction and cortisol dysregulation can impact intestinal permeability. We further discuss how intestinal dysbiosis can contribute to HPA axis overstimulation. Lastly, we detail some of the roles of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secretory IgA (sIgA) in this bidirectional relationship.Topics: 1. Overview of the HPA Axis and Gut Bidirectional Relationship- Chronic HPA activation, intestinal permeability, mucosalimmunity, and microbiome composition. 2. Components and Function of the HPA Axis- Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. - Stress signals from the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, CRH release from the hypothalamus. - CRH stimulates ACTH release from the pituitary.- Cortisol production and release. 3. Structure of the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier- The gut barrier consists of the intestinal lumen, microbiome, mucus layer, epithelial cells, and lamina propria. - Specialized epithelial cells: goblet cells, enterocytes, enteroendocrine cells, and more.- The lamina propria contains immune cells, blood vessels, and lymphatics, supported by a smooth muscle layer. 4. Intestinal Permeability and Tight Junction Regulation- Transport across the intestinal epithelium: transcellular and paracellular pathways. - Nutrient absorption and selective permeability. - Tight junction proteins, such as occludin and claudins. 5. Cortisol's Impact on Gut Barrier Integrity- Cortisol can cross the intestinal microvascular endothelium and enter the lamina propria. - Chronic cortisol exposure and intestinal barrier function.- Increased permeability allows luminal antigens and bacterial endotoxins (e.g., LPS) to infiltrate the lamina propria. 6. Secretory IgA (sIgA) and Gut Immune Function - Chronic cortisol exposure can reduce sIgA levels, weakening mucosal immunity. - sIgA neutralizes pathogens, prevents microbial adhesion, and more. - Lower sIgA levels increase susceptibility to dysbiosis and infections. 7. CRH and Its Role in Intestinal Permeability- CRH is produced in the hypothalamus and also peripherally.- CRH can stimulate mast cells, triggering histamine and inflammatory mediator release. - Mast cell activation can increase gut permeability. 8. Microbiome's Influence on HPA Axis Regulation- Dysbiosis can disrupt HPA axis function.- IBS and sustained HPA activation.- Dysbiosis reduces SCFA production. - SCFAs, particularly butyrate, support colonocyte health, tight junction integrity, and anti-inflammatory pathways. - Inflammation and HPA axis dysfunction. 9. Root Cause Approach & Closing- Chronic cortisol exposure, CRH signaling, and gut barrier dysfunction. - The microbiome influences stress response and HPA axis activity. - Roles of SCFAs, sIgA, and tight junction proteins.- Addressing gut dysbiosis and GI-derived inflammation can support HPA axis regulation. - Root cause approach.Thank you to our episode sponsors:1. Shop Fresh Press Farms'Peach Cider Vinegar at Sprouts locations nationwide, and check out their full collection here. 2. Shop the Scalp Cleanser and Scalp Essence from T Stem Care. 3. Shop Ulyana Organics'Tallow Wild Yam Cream, and use code CHLOE10 10% off your order.Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellnessVisit synthesisofwellness.com
In this episode of Daily Value, we take a look at how fiber fuels anti-cancer gene activity - emphasizing the role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced during fiber fermentation. Drawing on new research PMID: 39789354) published in Nature Metabolism out of Stanford Medicine, we examine how fiber-derived metabolites influence gene activity to reduce cancer risk and promote overall health.Discussion Points:The epigenetic role of SCFAs, such as butyrate and propionate, in activating anti-cancer genes and inhibiting harmful pathways.Insights from recent studies, including findings showing a 10% reduction in colorectal cancer risk for every 10-gram increase in daily fiber intake.Practical strategies to optimize fiber consumption, including food sources and supplementation options tailored for individual needs.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39789354/Support the show
This episode explores three top topics from episodes in 2024: the mucus layer's protective role in maintaining gut barrier integrity, the bidirectional relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and the importance of methylation and the MTHFR gene. During the first topic of discussion, we detail ways to support the intestinal mucus layer; as we approach the third topic of discussion, we highlight the impact of MTHFR enzyme activity on methylation, emphasizing its importance for many cellular processes. Topics: 1. Introduction: 3 Top Topics of 2024 2. The Protective Mucus Layer Over the Intestinal Epithelial Lining The intestinal barrier: intestinal lumen, microbiome, mucus layer, epithelial cells, lamina propria, and more. The mucus layer functions as both a physical and biochemical barrier. Goblet cells secrete mucins, which form the gel-like mucus layer, critical for maintaining barrier integrity. Dysregulation of mucus turnover can lead to increased intestinal permeability and inflammation. Supporting mucus levels: SCFAs, N-acetylglucosamine (NAG). Plant-derived mucilage and sources. 3. HPA Axis and Microbiota-Gut-Brain Interactions The HPA axis and the stress response. Microbiota-gut-brain axis. SCFAs produced by gut bacteria can influence gut barrier integrity and stress resilience. Dysbiosis disrupts SCFA production, weakens the gut barrier, and triggers inflammation. Dysbiosis and HPA axis dysregulation. Chronic cortisol secretion and secretory IgA. 4. The MTHFR Gene and Methylation Methylation involves transferring methyl groups. The synthesis of SAMe, the universal methyl donor: methionine and ATP with active folate (L-methylfolate) as a precursor. MTHFR gene polymorphisms reduce enzyme efficiency, impairing methylation and affecting DNA stability, neurotransmitter synthesis, and detoxification. Strategies, supplements, and more to support methylation. Thank you to our episode sponsor: 1. Check out Ulyana Organics' Tallow Wild Yam Cream and Healing Facial Oil, and use code CHLOE10 10% off your order. Thanks for tuning in! Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
In this episode, we dive into the interplay between the gut microbiota (their postbiotics) and the immune system. We will examine how gut microbiome-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyphenol metabolites, influence immune function by modulating key cellular and molecular pathways within the intestinal mucosa. Additionally, we discuss strategies for supporting butyrate production and optimizing microbiome health to foster a balanced and resilient gut-immune axis. Topics: 1. Introduction Overview of the gut-immune axis. Importance of gut microbiome-derived metabolites in supporting immune function. 2. The Intestinal Barrier Layers of the intestinal wall Focus on mucosa, specifically the epithelium and lamina propria. 3. Structure of the Intestinal Layers The intestinal lumen, mucus layer, epithelium (with tight junctions), and lamina propria. Importance of the lamina propria as a hub for immune responses and structural integrity. 4. Cellular and Structural Components of the Lamina Propria Extracellular matrix (ECM): structural support. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Lymphatic vessels: immune cell transport, linking mucosal and systemic immune systems. 5. Immune Cells in the Lamina Propria T cells: immune tolerance, regulatory T cells (Tregs). B cells: Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Dendritic cells: antigen sampling and presentation. Macrophages: pathogen clearance. Mast cells 6. Role of Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) Functions as a first-line defense in the intestinal mucus layer. Neutralizes pathogens, prevents epithelial adhesion. 7. Postbiotics Overview Bioactive compounds produced by gut microbiota. Examples: short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) 8. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) and Their Functions Influence on Treg cells in the lamina propria, promoting immune tolerance. Butyrate also as an energy source for epithelial cells. 9. Supporting Butyrate Production Microbiome optimization to enhance beneficial butyrate-producing microbes. Use of prebiotics: resistant starch, soluble fibers, and polyphenols. Supplementation with sodium butyrate as an additional tool. 10. Other Postbiotics Antimicrobial peptides produced by beneficial microbes. Complex carbohydrates produced by beneficial microbes and can act as prebiotics. Polyphenol metabolites: Gut microbiota biotransforms polyphenols into bioactive metabolites with increased bioavailability. 11. Specific Polyphenols Examples: resveratrol, quercetin, and ellagitannins. Effects on intestinal barrier function, inflammation, and immune cell populations. "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
In this episode, we explore the intricate role of the vagus nerve as a central regulator within the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, examining its neuroanatomical structure, signaling mechanisms, and interactions with microbial metabolites and immune pathways. We discuss how vagal afferent fibers relay sensory input from the gut to the brain, including signals mediated by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gut-derived hormones, and how efferent fibers modulate gut motility, intestinal barrier integrity, and inflammation through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Finally, we explore vagal dysfunction as well as associated conditions and symptoms, and we touch on just a few potential root causes. Topics: 1. Introduction Focus on the vagus nerve's role in the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. Bidirectional communication between the brain and microbiota. Overview of communication pathways: neural (e.g., vagus nerve), endocrine (e.g., HPA axis), immune (e.g., cytokines), and metabolic (e.g., SCFAs). 2. Overview of the Nervous System The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord - control centers for the body. The peripheral nervous system extends beyond the CNS The peripheral nervous system is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. 3. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and Subdivisions Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) Enteric Nervous System (ENS) 4. The Vagus Nerve and Role in the PNS Principal component of the parasympathetic nervous system. Governs "rest-and-digest" activities Contains both afferent (80%) and efferent (20%) fibers. 5. Vagus Nerve Anatomy Fibers originate at the base of the skull and extend into the gut wall. Fibers distributed throughout the mucosa, submucosa, and beyond. Interact indirectly with gut luminal contents via specialized gut cells, including EECs and immune cells. 6. Interaction with Intestinal Cells Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) release gut hormones in response to microbial metabolites. SCFAs, such as butyrate, activate free fatty acid receptors on EECs, stimulating vagal afferents. Immune cells within the gut wall modulate vagal signals during inflammatory responses. 7. Review of Functions Sensory input (afferent fibers): Detects gut-derived signals like microbial metabolites and mechanical stretch. Motor output (efferent fibers): Regulates gut motility, secretion, immune responses, and more. 8. Impact of a Diverse Microbiome on Vagal Activity Enhanced SCFA production boosts vagal activity. SCFAs improve gut barrier integrity, reduce systemic inflammation, and assist in regulating stress responses. 9. Examples: Intestinal Barrier Function Releases acetylcholine (ACh) to modulate inflammatory pathways. Helps enhance tight junction protein expression, preserving gut barrier integrity. Helps prevent the translocation of microbial endotoxins like LPS into systemic circulation. 10. Dysfunction of the Vagus Nerve Reduced vagal tone disrupts gut homeostasis. Conditions such as IBS, IBD, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety, depression, and POTS. Chronic stress, infections, and dysbiosis are common contributors. 11. Root Causes 12. Tying Back to the HPA Axis Low vagal tone is associated with increased HPA axis activity. Highlighting the interplay between the gut, brain, and stress response systems. 13. Conclusion Identifying potential root causes. Contributing lifestyle factors. "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
In this episode, we dive into the interplay between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, highlighting their bidirectional communication through endocrine, immune, and neural pathways. We'll explore how gut-derived metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and endotoxins like LPS influence HPA axis activity; conversely, we explore how dysregulated cortisol can impact gut barrier function, immune signaling, and more. We also discuss testing including stool analysis and DUTCH tests. Topics: 1. HPA Axis and MGB Axis Interaction The HPA axis and microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis are bidirectionally connected. Gut microbiota influences the HPA axis via metabolites and more 2. Overview of the HPA Axis and Cortisol Secretion Stress signals activate the hypothalamus to release CRH. Stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce ACTH. ACTH signals the adrenal cortex. The adrenal cortex releases cortisol, which binds to glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). 3. Cortisol Dysregulation Impact on Intestinal Health Intestinal lining anatomy: epithelial cells Tight junction proteins regulate nutrient trafficking and prevent pathogen entry. The mucosa contains epithelial cells, connective tissue (lamina propria), and a thin muscle layer. 4. Glucocorticoid Receptors (GRs) in the Gut GRs are intracellular receptors that modulate gene expression when activated. Cortisol binding causes GRs to translocate to the nucleus and bind DNA at GREs. GRs on epithelial cells. Modified tight junction protein expression. 5. Gut Microbiome's Role in HPA Axis Activity SCFAs, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, produced by gut bacteria fermenting dietary fiber. SCFAs support gut integrity, reduce inflammation, and act as signaling molecules. A diverse and healthy microbiome can enhances HPA regulation via SCFAs. 6. SCFA Modulation of the HPA Axis SCFAs and cortisol. Research highlights SCFAs' ability to attenuate stress-induced cortisol increases. 7. Dysbiosis - Impact on the HPA Axis Dysbiosis reduces SCFA production, impairing gut barrier integrity and immune signaling. Dysbiosis, intestinal hyperpermeability and LPS. LPS activates inflammatory pathways. 8. Inflammation and Dysregulated HPA Activity Chronic inflammation and cortisol. Inflammatory signals from the gut exacerbate systemic and neural stress responses. 9. Symptoms of HPA Axis Dysfunction Chronic fatigue, disrupted sleep, mood disturbances... 10. Identifying Root Causes Dysbiosis, chonic infection / chronic inflammation... DUTCH Test Stool analysis Thanks for tuning in! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
A recent study published in the Journal of Functional Foods delved into the impact of kimchi consumption on body composition. Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, where participants were assigned to either a kimchi or placebo group. After a specific period of kimchi or placebo consumption, the kimchi group exhibited a significant reduction in body fat compared to the placebo group. This suggests that regular kimchi consumption may contribute to weight loss and improved body composition. #kimchi #bodyfat #weightloss #metabolism #Leuconostocmesenteroides Wooje Lee, Min-Sung Kwon, Ye-Rang Yun, et al. (2024) Effects of kimchi consumption on body fat and intestinal microbiota in overweight participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center clinical trial, Journal of Functional Foods. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106401. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464624004031 Alchepharma,Ralph Turchiano,citation,research,study,kimchi,gut microbiota,obesity,weight loss,body composition,probiotics,prebiotics,kimchi starter,fermented foods,metabolic health,inflammatory bowel disease,irritable bowel syndrome,digestive health,microbiome,microbiome diversity,short-chain fatty acids,SCFAs,Leuconostoc mesenteroides,mental health,Korean food,Asian diet,nutrition research,clinical trial,randomized controlled trial,Akkermansia muciniphila --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ralph-turchiano/support
In today's episode, we're diving into an exciting topic: how GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy, are not only transforming metabolic health but also influencing the gut microbiome. We'll explore the science behind it and practical ways to optimize your health. What Are GLP-1 Agonists? GLP-1 agonists are medications initially developed to manage diabetes, but they've gained widespread attention for their ability to support weight loss and improve metabolic health. These medications mimic the natural hormone GLP-1, which plays a crucial role in regulating insulin secretion, appetite, and blood sugar. So, What Exactly Is the Gut Microbiome? Now that we've covered GLP-1 agonists, let's shift gears and talk about something equally fascinating: the gut microbiome. This refers to the community of bacteria living in your digestive tract, and it's essential for not just digestion, but also immune function and mental health. The state of your microbiome can influence many aspects of overall health, including your metabolism. How Do Obesogenic Bacteria Work, and What Impact Do They Have on Our Bodies? Speaking of the microbiome, let's look at a specific group of bacteria—obesogenic bacteria. These microbes are particularly skilled at extracting extra calories from food. For example, some gut bacteria break down dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which can then be used for energy. But if these calories aren't burned off, they get stored as fat, contributing to weight gain. This imbalance can disrupt the body's energy management. When obesogenic bacteria extract more calories than the body needs, it can overwhelm the system and result in fat storage. This not only affects our waistlines but can also throw off hormones like insulin, leptin, and ghrelin—key players in regulating hunger, fullness, and fat storage. An imbalance in these hormones can lead to issues like high blood sugar and constant hunger, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight. When your gut microbiome is out of balance, a condition called dysbiosis, it often leads to low-grade chronic inflammation, which is linked to both weight gain and metabolic problems. How Do GLP-1 Agonists Affect Our Gut Health? So, how do GLP-1 agonists come into play here? These medications, like semaglutide, can shift the balance of gut bacteria by reducing the number of obesogenic bacteria and promoting healthier strains. This shift helps improve how the body manages hunger, blood sugar, and fat storage, all while reducing inflammation. One of the ways this happens is by increasing sodium butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut bacteria that supports gut health and reduces inflammation. This transformation in the gut microbiome might explain why GLP-1 agonists are so effective for weight loss and overall health improvement. How Can I Support Gut Health? If you're already on a GLP-1 medication or considering one, you'll want to support your gut health alongside your treatment. One of the best ways to do this is by focusing on a diverse diet, rich in fiber, prebiotics, and fermented foods, all of which nourish beneficial bacteria. Avoiding ultra-processed foods and excess sugars can help keep your microbiome in balance. In addition, staying hydrated, managing stress, and considering probiotics or other gut health supplements—especially after antibiotics—can give your gut an extra boost. Thanks again for listening to The Peptide Podcast. We love having you as part of our community. If you love this podcast, please share it with your friends and family on social media, and have a happy, healthy week! We're huge advocates of elevating your health game with nutrition, supplements, and vitamins. Whether it's a daily boost or targeted support, we trust and use Momentous products to supercharge our wellness journey. Momentous only uses the highest-quality ingredients, and every single product is rigorously tested by independent third parties to ensure their products deliver on their promise to bring you the best supplements on the market. If you're ready to dive deeper into the world of nutrition, don't miss my new ebook, Eat Smart: Powerful Tips for a Healthier You, now available on Amazon! It's packed with easy-to-understand, science-backed tips to help you optimize your diet, boost metabolism, and reduce inflammation. The best part? If you have Kindle Unlimited, it's always free! So grab your copy today and start your journey to a healthier, smarter way of eating!
Send us a textIn this episode of Inflamed in the Brain, host and registered dietitian Krissy dives into a topic that's often misunderstood—carbohydrates. For all the self-proclaimed carb lovers out there, this episode is a must-listen. Krissy debunks the myth that carbs are "bad" and shares science-backed reasons why carbs are, in fact, essential for managing inflammation and supporting overall health.Carbs have long been criticized, dating back to the low-carb diet trends of the 90s with Atkins and continuing with modern trends like keto and paleo. These diets have promoted the idea that carbs lead to weight gain and poor health. However, Krissy sets the record straight by explaining that not all carbs are created equal. From curbing cravings to promoting restful sleep, nourishing gut bacteria, delivering antioxidants, and boosting energy, carbs offer many benefits that contribute to a balanced, anti-inflammatory lifestyle.Key Points Covered in This Episode1. Carbs Help Curb CravingsKrissy explains how complex carbs, like whole grains, fruits, and legumes, provide long-lasting energy and help curb cravings. Unlike simple carbs that cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, complex carbs break down slowly, stabilizing blood sugar and reducing cravings for sweets. She emphasizes that cutting out carbs entirely often backfires, leading to intense cravings that can increase inflammation. Consuming carbs in a balanced way keeps cravings at bay, supporting anti-inflammatory habits over the long term.2. Carbs Fuel Your Gut BacteriaCarb-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are packed with fiber, which feeds beneficial gut bacteria. When these bacteria digest fiber, they produce anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that support gut health and immune function. Examples of fiber-rich, anti-inflammatory foods Krissy mentions include apples, oats, chickpeas, and brown rice. Nourishing gut bacteria in this way can significantly impact inflammation, especially in chronic conditions.3. Carbs Provide Energy for Physical ActivityKrissy discusses how carbs serve as the body's preferred energy source, breaking down into glucose and storing as glycogen in the muscles. This reserve of energy is crucial for staying active, which in turn reduces inflammation markers in the body. She highlights how regular movement—even gentle exercise—has an anti-inflammatory effect by releasing anti-inflammatory proteins and improving circulation.4. Carbs Deliver Antioxidants to Fight Oxidative StressMany carb-rich foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, are high in antioxidants, which combat oxidative stress—a contributor to chronic inflammation. Krissy shares examples like berries, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens, which not only provide carbs for energy but also protect cells from damage with powerful antioxidants. By incorporating these antioxidant-rich foods, listeners can actively lower their inflammation levels.5. Carbs Support Sleep QualityKrissy uncovers a lesser-known benefit of carbs: they can support restful sleep, which is essential for lowering inflammation. Complex carbs increase the availability of tryptophan, a precursor to the sleep-supporting hormones serotonin and melatonin. Krissy suggests foods like oatmeal, bananas, and potatoes as excellent options for promoting a good night's sleep, which in turn allows the body to repair and manage inflammation effectively.Krissy wraps up by encouraging listeners to view carbs as a valuable part of an anti-inflammatory diet rather than something to avoid. With the right choices—fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, and Follow along: https://betterwithcarbo.com/ Instagram
Send us a textIn this episode of The Autoimmune RESET podcast, host VJ Hamilton dives deep into the fascinating connection between gut health and skin health, known as the skin-gut axis. Exploring how the gut microbiome, gut barrier integrity, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) impact skin conditions, this episode offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of how internal health manifests externally.You will learn about the role of the gut barrier and how its dysfunction can lead to bacterial translocation and inflammation, triggering skin issues like acne, eczema, and rosacea. The episode also highlights the role of SCFAs, essential compounds produced by gut bacteria, that reduce inflammation and support skin resilience. Additionally, VJ covers how poor fat digestion and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can exacerbate skin problems and accelerate ageing.Practical steps are provided to strengthen gut health, including dietary changes to boost SCFA production, improve fat digestion, and repair the gut barrier. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help listeners achieve glowing, resilient skin by addressing gut health from within.Follow me on Tik Tok here for daily posts on skin health.You can download your free copy of The Autoimmune RESET here.And you can access all of VJ's free resources here.If you would like to book a free initial consultation with VJ Hamilton, The Autoimmunity Nutritionist, to find out how nutritional therapy and functional medicine could improve your health, you can book an appointment here.Learn more about the functional medicine services at The Autoimmunity Nutritionist Clinic here.Thanks for listening! You can join The Autoimmune Forum on Facebook or find me on Instagram @theautoimmunitynutritionist.
In this episode, we explore serotonin synthesis within enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the gut, detailing how tryptophan is converted into serotonin through enzymatic processes. We examine the role of gut microbiota-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in modulating the synthesis of serotonin including impacting tryptophan hydroxylase activity. We explore serotonin's interactions with receptors on enteric neurons and vagal afferent fibers, analyzing how these signaling pathways influence gut motility. Finally, we uncover conditions and symptoms associated with low serotonin production and the importance of the intestinal microbiome. Topics: 1. Introduction to Gut-Produced Serotonin - Serotonin production within the gut. - Serotonin's role beyond mood. - Synthesis, causes of low serotonin, related GI symptoms. 2. Gut Lining Structure and Cell Types - Layers of the gut lining, focusing on the mucosa. - Description of epithelial cells, including enterocytes, goblet cells, Paneth cells, and enteroendocrine cells. - Role of enterochromaffin (EC) cells in serotonin production. 3. Serotonin Synthesis in EC Cells - Location and function of EC cells. - How EC cells synthesize serotonin from tryptophan. 4. Biochemical Pathway of Serotonin Production - Step-by-step process: conversion of tryptophan to serotonin. - Enzymes involved, including TPH1 and AADC. - Importance of tryptophan availability in serotonin synthesis. 5. Storage and Release of Serotonin in EC Cells - Role of VMAT1 in serotonin storage within vesicles. - Controlled release. 6. Triggers for Serotonin Release - Physical triggers: mechanical stretch, pressure from food intake. - Chemical triggers: microbial metabolites, bile acids. - Receptors involved (GPCRs, TGR5) and signaling pathways. 7. Release of Serotonin into Intestinal Lining Layers - Serotonin exocytosis and interaction with nearby cells. - Release of serotonin on both luminal and basolateral sides of EC cells. - How luminal and basolateral release affects gut motility and barrier function. 8. Serotonin's Role in Gut Motility - Interaction with 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors on enterocytes and enteric neurons. - Activation of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses. - Coordination with pacemaker cells for peristaltic movement. 9. Immune Function and Serotonin in the Gut - Effect on immune cells. 10. Gut-Brain Communication via Serotonin and the Vagus Nerve - Activation of vagal afferent fibers by serotonin. 11. Contributing Factors to Low Serotonin Production - Impact of dysbiosis and reduced SCFA production. - SIBO specifically. - Intestinal inflammation in general. - Imbalanced microbiota and inflammation can disrupt EC cell function. 12. Manifestations of Low Serotonin in the Gut - Effects on motility: constipation, dysmotility... - Common GI symptoms, including bloating, discomfort, and fullness. - Association with conditions like IBS. 13. Supporting Serotonin Production in the Gut - Painting a full picture and identifying root causes. - Strategies to foster a healthy gut microbiome. - Role of sunlight and tryptophan-rich foods in serotonin production. - Stool testing for microbiome imbalances. Thanks for tuning in! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
If you want to learn more about SCFAs, I've linked to some episodes in the show notes. But now let's look at probiotic foods and how they can raise SCFA. Probiotic foods are cultured and fermented foods which have live beneficial bacteria in them. When we eat these foods, we ingest this bacteria, which then become part of our gut microbiome and improve our levels of beneficial bacteria. Many of these beneficial bacterial strains directly increase SCFA levels, but some of them indirectly support SCFA production by creating an environment that helps other SCFA producing bacteria to thrive, or by feeding specific bacteria that in turn, produce SCFAs. This is known as cross-feeding. So, which probiotic foods might be helpful for us in particular? Read more. Show notes SCFA resources https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endometriosis-short-chain-fatty-acids https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endometriosis-butyrate https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endometriosis-propionate-acetate https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endometriosis-ibs-psyllium-husk https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/phgg-endo-belly-sibo-ibs Probiotic research https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10180739/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5647158_Short_chain_fatty_acids_and_colonic_health https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S175646461630175 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0717345820300282 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272339114_Enhancement_of_Short_Chain_Fatty_Acid_Production_from_Millet_Fibres_by_Pure_Cultures_of_Probiotic_Fermentation https://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/apjcn/5/1/15.pdf https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0047212 https://aspenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0115426506021004351 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7230973/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11034488/ https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/8/2890 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523065000 Fermented food examples https://zoe.com/learn/top-fermented-foods Inflammation and fermented foods study https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00754-6 Mast cells and endo https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9396281/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028206014373 https://www.emjreviews.com/reproductive-health/article/targeting-mast-cells-as-a-viable-therapeutic-option-in-endometriosis/ Soy https://www.larabriden.com/how-soy-affects-hormones/ Free resources: This podcast! Endometriosis Net Column Endometriosis News Column Newsletter Instagram Email me: hello@theendobellycoach.com Ways to work with me: This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course One to one coaching info and application This episode is sponsored by BeYou Cramp Relief Patches. Soothe period cramps the natural way with these 100% natural and discreet menthol and eucalyptus oil stick on patches. Click here to find out more and to shop: https://beyouonline.co.uk/pages/how-it-works Produced by Chris Robson
In today's episode, we dive into the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation, with a particular focus on how gut-derived endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), perturb the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and propagate neuroinflammatory cascades. In more detail, we'll discuss how intestinal dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability can allow endotoxins such as LPS to enter systemic circulation and cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), where they activate microglia via the TLR4 signaling pathway. We will explore symptoms including brain fog, memory impairment, mood disturbances, decreased concentration, and cognitive fatigue; as well as tools to support the gut-microbiota-brain axis. Topics: 1. Introduction to Neuroinflammation - Definition and general overview - Key brain cells: neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells - Chronic neuroinflammation and microglial cells 2. Cellular Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation - Role of microglia in detecting damage or infection - Microglial activation through PRRs/TLRs - Release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) - Impact on neurons and synaptic plasticity: memory and learning 3. Astrocytes in Neuroinflammation - Astrocytes' contribution to the inflammatory response 4. Chronic Neuroinflammation and Brain Health - Prolonged activation: oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, impaired synaptic function - Impairment of synaptic plasticity and cognitive decline - Mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death cascades - Compromised blood-brain barrier integrity 5. Contributing Factors to Neuroinflammation - Environmental toxins and pollutants, viral or bacterial infections, chronic sleep deprivation, and more 6. Intestinal Dysbiosis and Neuroinflammation - Role of Gram-negative bacteria and LPS (lipopolysaccharides) - Increased intestinal permeability and passage of LPS - LPS transport: transcellular and paracellular pathways - Impact on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) 7. LPS Activation of Microglia - LPS binding to TLR4 on immune cells - Microglial activation and cytokine release - Cognitive impairments and neurodegenerative processes 8. Intestinal Hyperpermeability - Bioindividual approaches: prebiotics, probiotics, polyphenols, bacteriophages - Support for intestinal mucus secretions and sources of mucilage - Butyrate - Glutamine 9. Beneficial Gut Microbiome-Derived Metabolites and Brain Health - Types of metabolites: SCFAs, tryptophan metabolites, polyphenol metabolites - Role of butyrate in crossing the BBB and modulating brain function - Influence on gene expression and synaptic plasticity - Contribution to gut barrier integrity and protection against endotoxins 10. Conclusion - Recap of neuroinflammation's impact on cognitive function + symptoms Thank you to our episode sponsor: 1. Check out Daily Nouri and use code CHLOE20 for 20% off your order. Thanks for tuning in! Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
In this episode, we dive into how short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, and tryptophan metabolites support the gut-immune axis by promoting regulatory T cell differentiation, strengthening the intestinal barrier, and enhancing antimicrobial defenses through IL-22 signaling. We break down how butyrate can improve immune tolerance as well as epithelial integrity, aiding in the prevention of chronic inflammatory responses. We also detail practical ways to support butyrate levels and aid in strengthening both the epithelial barrier and gut-immune axis. Topics: 1. Introduction - Overview of the role of SCFAs and tryptophan metabolites in supporting the gut-immune axis. - Quick review of the location of immune cells in relation to the gut microbiota. 2. The Intestinal Barrier - Structure of the intestinal wall and layers - Focus on the mucosal layer, specifically epithelium and lamina propria. 3. The Lamina Propria - Structural elements: fibroblasts, extracellular matrix (ECM), and myofibroblasts. - Vascular components: endothelial cells, capillaries, and lymphatic vessels. - Importance of the lamina propria as a hub for immune responses. 4. Immune Cells in the Lamina Propria - T cells: Role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in immune modulation. - B cells: Production of IgA, class switching, and plasma cells. - Dendritic cells: Sampling luminal antigens and initiating immune responses. - Macrophages: Phagocytic activity, pro-inflammatory (M1) vs. anti-inflammatory (M2) states. - Mast cells: Role in allergic responses, chronic inflammatory conditions, and MCAS. 5. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) - Production of SCFAs (acetate, propionate, butyrate) by gut microbiota. - Butyrate's role in supporting regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation and immune tolerance. -Butyrate as fuel for epithelial cells and the production of tight junction proteins. 6. Mechanisms of Butyrate in Immune Modulation - Impact on Tregs through FoxP3 expression. - SCFA's role in maintaining immune balance. 7. Butyrate and Epithelial Integrity - Support for tight junction protein expression. - Prevention of translocation of harmful microbes and antigens. - Reduced systemic inflammation through a strengthened barrier. 8. Supporting Butyrate Production - Sodium butyrate supplementation and microbiome optimization. - Role of fiber, polyphenols, and probiotics. 9. Tryptophan Metabolites - Overview of tryptophan metabolism by gut bacteria into indoles. - Indoles' role in promoting IL-22 production, contributing to antimicrobial defense and immune tolerance. 10. IL-22 - IL-22's enhancement of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and mucin production. - Case Study: Role of Lactobacillus strains in restoring IL-22 and helping to mitigate colitis. 11. Conclusion - Recap of how SCFAs and tryptophan metabolites interact with the gut-immune axis. - Importance of gut microbiome support for maintaining immune balance. Thank you to our episode sponsor: 1. Check out Daily Nouri and use code CHLOE20 for 20% off your order. Thanks for tuning in! Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
In this episode, we explore the crucial role of the protective mucus layer in maintaining intestinal lining integrity, highlighting how it shields the epithelial cells from harmful substances and supports overall digestive function. We dive into the components and functions of mucins, goblet cells, and secretory IgA, explaining their contributions to gut immunity and barrier integrity. Additionally, we discuss strategies for supporting mucus production centered around butyrate, N-acetyl glucosamine, and plant-derived mucilage. Topics: 1. Introduction: Overview of the Gastrointestinal Mucus Layer - Importance of the mucus secretions in forming a protective layer - Brief review of the gastrointestinal lining and its structure 2. The Mucosal Layer and Its Components - The mucus layer on the epithelial cells of the mucosa - Four main layers of the intestinal wall, focusing on the mucosa - Epithelium: absorptive enterocytes and mucus-secreting goblet cells - Lamina propria: connective tissue rich in immune cells, blood vessels, and lymphatics - Smooth muscle aiding in subtle movements - Submucosa: thicker connective tissue layer with blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics 3. Dual Function of the Mucus Layer - Physical barrier preventing pathogens and toxins from reaching epithelial cells - Biochemical barrier housing antimicrobial peptides and immunoglobulins 4. Goblet Cells and Their Role in Mucin Production - Goblet cells: specialized epithelial cells producing mucins - Distribution of goblet cells from small to large intestine - Importance of goblet cells in maintaining the mucus barrier 5. Mucins: Structure and Glycosylation - Glycosylation and its role in mucus properties and host-microbiota interactions - Commensal bacteria and their interactions with mucins (e.g., Bacteroides and Akkermansia muciniphila) 6. The Importance of Controlled Mucin Degradation - Mutualistic relationship between mucin-degrading bacteria and the host - Risks of dysregulated mucin degradation, leading to dysbiosis and leaky gut 7. Secretory IgA and Its Role in Gut Immunity - Overview of secretory IgA (sIgA) and its production - sIgA's mechanism of neutralizing pathogens "without inflammation" - Immune exclusion as a defense mechanism to maintain gut barrier integrity 8. Recap: The Dynamic Nature of the Mucus Layer - Continuous renewal of the mucus layer and the role of goblet cells and plasma cells - Importance of regular mucus turnover for maintaining a healthy gut barrier 9. Supporting Gastrointestinal Mucus Production - Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and their role in stimulating mucus production - Butyrate and its effects on goblet cells and epithelial repair - N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) as a supplement to support mucin glycosylation 10. Supporting the Intestinal Lining After Dysbiosis or Increased Permeability - Mucilage and its role in coating and soothing mucosal surfaces - Plant-derived mucilage from slippery elm and marshmallow root - Physical protection provided by mucilage - Soothing effects on inflamed tissues and promoting smooth digestion Thank you to our episode sponsor: 1. Check out Daily Nouri and use code CHLOE20 for 20% off your order. Thanks for tuning in! Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
Last week I talked about short chain fatty acids and their benefits for endo, and why people with endo need to focus on these to help manage the disease. Today, I want to talk about how to boost one of these types of short chain fatty acids, called butyrate. Read more. Show notes SCFAs/Butyrate https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10233627/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-30114-4#:~:text=Probiotic treatment also significantly enhanced,SCFAs in the gut48. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/short-chain-fatty-acids-101#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9 https://biosignaling.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12964-023-01219-9 https://zoe.com/learn/what-are-short-chain-fatty-acids https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9577580/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10305054/ https://www.healthline.com/health/butyric-acid#bottom-line Endo and inflammatory markers https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7956504 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5859972/ Bacteria and endo https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10805679/ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(23)00221-5/fulltext https://www.healthline.com/health-news/endometriosis-may-be-caused-by-this-bacteria Endometriosis and blood sugar https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37673102/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7918300/ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/202670 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20497781/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19088375/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20537326/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7333061/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18508964/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12379575/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9783643/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC308109920 https://www.wildnutrition.com/blogs/our-blog/endometriosis-part-2-the-link-between-sugar-and-the-immune-system https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11511861/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2010896/ https://endometriosis.net/living/diet-sugar https://endometriosis.net/living/how-to-balance-your-blood-sugar-levels-to-reduce-endo-symptoms LPS https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4519769/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5902457/ Resistant starch https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Classification-of-types-of-resistant-starch-RS-food-sources-and-factors-affecting_tbl1_330644723 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464622001645 https://monashfodmap.com/blog/dietary-fibre-series-resistant-starch/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1464-5491.2010.02923.x https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8092089/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16155268/ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-high-in-resistant-starch https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464622001645 https://www.csiro.au/en/research/health-medical/nutrition/resistant-starch Rice safety https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/home-food-fact-checker Processed food https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835660/ https://zoe.com/learn/what-is-ultra-processed-food https://zoe.com/post/processed-food-gut-health Free resources: This podcast! Endometriosis Net Column Endometriosis News Column Newsletter Instagram Ways to work with me: This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course One to one coaching info and application This episode is sponsored by BeYou Cramp Relief Patches. Soothe period cramps the natural way with these 100% natural and discreet menthol and eucalyptus oil stick on patches. Click here to find out more and to shop: https://beyouonline.co.uk/pages/how-it-works Produced by Chris Robson
Short chain fatty acids are types of gut friendly fats that are produced when good bacteria in our large intestine eats fibre. So, when healthy bacteria eat let's say, beans, it will ferment our food, and create gas. Along with that gas, it creates short chain fatty acids. Short chain fatty acids are one of the key reasons gut health is so important to our overall wellbeing. Number one is that they are the primary source of food/fuel for the cells in our large intestine. They therefore help to keep our gut barrier intact and strong. When this barrier weakens and holes start to form between our cells, food particles, bacteria and toxins from gram-negative bacteria known as lipopolyscharrides (otherwise known as LPS) can leak through the gut into our blood stream and the surrounding pelvic area. Read more. Show notes https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10233627/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-30114-4#:~:text=Probiotic treatment also significantly enhanced,SCFAs in the gut48. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/short-chain-fatty-acids-101#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9 https://monashfodmap.com/blog/dietary-fibre-series-resistant-starch/ https://biosignaling.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12964-023-01219-9 https://zoe.com/learn/what-are-short-chain-fatty-acids https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2008/09001/wheat_dextrin,_psyllium,_and_inulin_produce.449.aspx#:~:text=Wheat Dextrin, Psyllium, and Inulin,and Gas Volumes In Vitro Free resources: This podcast! Endometriosis Net Column Endometriosis News Column Newsletter Instagram Ways to work with me: This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course One to one coaching info and application This episode is sponsored by BeYou Cramp Relief Patches. Soothe period cramps the natural way with these 100% natural and discreet menthol and eucalyptus oil stick on patches. Click here to find out more and to shop: https://beyouonline.co.uk/pages/how-it-works Produced by Chris Robson
In today's episode, we dive into the crucial roles that gut-derived microbial metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites, play in supporting the health of neurons and glial cells, ultimately promoting cognitive function. We explore how enhancing the body's natural production of these metabolites through a healthy gut microbiome and how strategic supplementation can both benefit brain health. The discussion includes detailed insights into the cellular mechanisms in the brain and practical strategies for fostering a healthy gut microbiome capable of producing high quantities of these beneficial compounds. Topics: 1. Introduction to Brain Cellular Makeup - Overview of Neurons and Glial Cells - Neurons: Structure and Function - Glial Cells: Types and Roles 2. Neuronal Communication and Synaptic Function - Neuronal Structure: Soma, Dendrites, Axon - Synaptic Communication: Presynaptic Terminal, Synaptic Cleft, Postsynaptic Membrane 3. Energy Demands - ATP Utilization and Energy Demands - Mitochondrial Function and Neuronal Vulnerability 4. Astrocytes and Microglial Cells - Astrocytes: Functions and Role in CNS Homeostasis - Microglial Cells: Immune Functions and Role in Neuroinflammation 5. Roles of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Supporting Brain Health - Overview of Gut-Derived Metabolites - Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): Acetate, Propionate, Butyrate - Tryptophan Metabolites: Indole, Indole-3-Propionate (IPA) 6. Impact of Gut-Derived Metabolites on Neurons - Promotion of Neurogenesis by SCFAs - Neuroprotective Effects of Tryptophan Metabolites 7. Impact of Gut-Derived Metabolites on Glial Cells - Impact on Astrocytes - Impact on Microglial Cells 8. Strategies to Enhance Metabolite Production - Diversity - Probiotic Supplementation - Fiber - Amino Acids 9. Direct Supplementation Options - Sodium Butyrate: Role in Neuroprotection and Cognitive Function Thank you to our episode sponsors: 1. Check out Daily Nouri and use code CHLOE20 for 20% off your order. 2. Check out AX3 Astaxanthin and use discount code CHLOE20 for 20% off your first order. 3. Check out Liver Medic and use code Chloe20 to save 20% on "Leaky Gut Repair" Brendan's YouTube Channel https://x.com/livermedic Thanks for tuning in! Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
Dr. Ben Bikman, professor of cell biology and metabolic scientist, delivers a lecture on the importance of fermentation and fermented foods from a metabolic perspective. He began by defining fermentation as the metabolic process where bacteria convert carbohydrates into organic molecules, emphasizing that bacteria primarily consume carbohydrates, not fats or proteins. Fermented foods such as dairy, vegetables, and beverages like kombucha and kefir are common examples. Fermentation not only changes the taste and texture of these foods but also has significant metabolic impacts.A key benefit of consuming fermented foods is the reduction in glycemic load, which helps control blood sugar and insulin levels. Dr. Bikman highlightes studies showing that fermented milk improves glycemic control and lipid profiles in people with type 2 diabetes. He pointed out the importance of choosing genuinely fermented products, such as real sourdough bread, which lower postprandial glucose levels compared to conventional bread.Dr. Bikman also discussed the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) during fermentation, such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These SCFAs have multiple health benefits, including improving gut health by maintaining gut barrier integrity, promoting an anti-inflammatory environment, and feeding gut cells. Additionally, SCFAs enhance metabolic functions, such as stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis and improving insulin sensitivity, which are crucial for overall metabolic health.Fermented foods also provide probiotics when consumed raw and unpasteurized. These beneficial bacteria can help balance the gut microbiota, improve digestion, and support immune function. Dr. Bikman emphasizes the importance of incorporating raw, fermented foods into the diet to reap these probiotic benefits.Lastly, Dr. Bikman introduced the concept of antinutrients, naturally occurring compounds in plant-based foods that can interfere with nutrient absorption. He explained that fermentation helps reduce the levels of antinutrients such as phytic acid, lectins, oxalates, and tannins, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of essential nutrients. He concludes by encouraging the incorporation of fermented foods into the diet as part of a strategy to control carbohydrate intake and improve metabolic health.https://www.insuliniq.com 01:00 – Overview of Fermentation02:00 – Definition and Examples of Fermented Foods04:00 – Benefits of Fermented Dairy: Kefir06:00 – Fermented Foods and Glycemic Control08:00 – Sourdough Bread vs. Conventional Bread10:00 – Introduction to Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)12:00 – SCFAs and Gut Health13:00 – SCFAs and Metabolic Benefits15:00 – Probiotics in Fermented Foods16:00 – Importance of Raw, Unpasteurized Fermented Foods17:00 – Introduction to Antinutrients18:00 – Examples of Antinutrients: Phytic Acid, Lectins, Oxalates, Tannins20:00 – Fermentation's Role in Reducing Antinutrients#FermentedFoods #MetabolicHealth #DrBenBikman #Fermentation #GutHealth #Probiotics #ShortChainFattyAcids #GlycemicIndex #InsulinResistance #Kefir #Sauerkraut #Kimchi #Kombucha #HealthyEating #NutritionScience #DiabetesManagement #AntiNutrients #HealthyGut #Mitochondria #InsulinIQMy favorite meal-replacement shake: https://gethlth.com (discount: BEN10)My favorite electrolytes (and more): https://redmond.life (discount: BEN15)My favorite allulose source: https://rxsugar.com (discount: BEN20)References:(Due to character length constraints, references are not posted here. For a complete list, please email: support@insuliniq.com with your request.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Boost Your Wellness Journey: Register for my upcoming training, “Beat Insulin Resistance and Boost Your Energy” https://rawfoodmealplanner.ck.page/3cfd7f3bcc Join the Conversation: Subscribe to the Raw Food Health Empowerment Podcast and share this episode with anyone on their own path of health and transformation. // HOST Samantha Salmon, Certified Brain Optimization Coach The information provided in this broadcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration, or the equivalent in your country. Any products/services mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. RawFoodMealPlanner.com © 2024
High Vibe & Healthy: Gut Health | Functional Nutrition | Whole Foods
You may have heard of probiotics, but have you heard about prebiotics, postbiotics, and short-chain fatty acids? In this week's episode, we're breaking down how these key elements work together to enhance your gut health and support overall well-being.This week, you'll learn:• The differences between probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics• How SCFAs support gut and metabolic health• Practical tips for incorporating these into your diet• The importance of high-quality supplements and food sourcesSubscribe & ReviewI'd absolutely love for you to subscribe to my podcast so you don't miss an episode! I'll be adding a new episode each week, and if you're not subscribed you might miss out. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you have a few minutes to spare, I would be so grateful if you left a review over on iTunes. These reviews help other people find my podcast and they're also so much fun for me to read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you enjoyed about the podcast. Thank you!Links from today's episodeJoin my new gut healing membership, The High Vibe & Gut Healthy Collective (use code “PODFRIEND” for $10 off your monthly membership): https://frandargaville.com/collectiveFollow Fran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frandargavilleSubmit a question: frandargaville.com/askfranClick here to book a free call with Fran: https://frandargaville.com/callGot a question you'd like answered? Contact Fran via Instagram on @frandargaville or by email on hello@frandargaville.com.
Fuel Her Awesome: Food Freedom, Body Love, Intuitive Eating & Nutrition Coaching
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of prebiotics and probiotics, with a special focus on the trendy probiotic sodas that are taking the market by storm. Join us as we explore the definitions, benefits, and practical applications of these gut health powerhouses. Learn how incorporating these elements into your diet can enhance your digestive health, boost your immune system, improve your mental well-being, and aid in weight management. Key Points Discussed: Definition of Prebiotics and Probiotics: Prebiotics: Non-digestible food components that promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. Probiotics: Live beneficial bacteria naturally found in fermented foods and supplements. How Prebiotics Work: Examples of Prebiotic Foods: Garlic, onions, bananas, asparagus, whole grains. Mechanism: Prebiotics feed and promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. How Probiotics Work: Examples of Probiotic Foods: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi. Mechanism: Probiotics add beneficial bacteria to the gut microbiome. Importance of Gut Health: Gut Microbiome Overview: Brief overview of the gut microbiome and its impact on overall health. Digestive Health: Improved digestion, prevention of diarrhea, and relief from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Immune System: Enhanced immune response and reduced risk of infections. Mental Health: Potential effects on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Weight Management: Role in maintaining a healthy weight. How to Incorporate Them Into Your Diet: Practical Tips: Adding prebiotic and probiotic foods to daily meals. Supplement Recommendations: How to choose supplements if necessary. Research on Prebiotic Beverages: Gut Microbiota Enhancement: Prebiotic beverages promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, improving digestion and reducing gastrointestinal issues. Immune System Support: Prebiotic beverages enhance the immune response and reduce the incidence and duration of common colds and respiratory infections. Appetite Regulation: Consumption of prebiotic beverages can help regulate appetite and support weight control by lowering levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. Mental Health Benefits: Prebiotic consumption can reduce anxiety and improve mood through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and modulation of neurotransmitter levels. Caution: Consuming more than 30 grams of prebiotics may increase inflammation. It's essential to listen to your body and adjust intake accordingly. Practical Advice on Prebiotic Beverages: Supplement Form: Consider supplements like Sunfiber, which can be added to beverages such as Polar Joe. Considerations for Kids: Monitor the amount of prebiotics to avoid overconsumption. Biofeedback: Pay attention to your body's responses and adjust your diet as needed. Conclusion: Prebiotic and probiotic foods and beverages are a convenient and effective way to boost gut health and overall well-being. With ongoing research, we continue to uncover the long-term benefits and optimal ways to incorporate these elements into our daily lives. Want to learn more? Tune into the FREE Biofeedback Boss Workshop! Cheers, and happy eating! Jess
Today, I am fortunate to welcome Spencer Feldman back to the show for the fourth time. Spencer is the founder of https://remedylink.com/ — where, for the last 20 years, he has been formulating and manufacturing detoxification products for doctors and their patients. His company specializes in helping support your body's natural responses to heavy metal toxins. Spencer discusses three severe diagnoses: Lyme disease, cancer, and gadolinium poisoning, with the latter being potentially the worst. He focuses on cancer, emphasizing the need for better understanding due to its prevalence. Criticizing the conventional "war on cancer" approach, he prefers the term "feral tissue" to reflect that cancerous cells were once normal. Later, Spencer explains that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced in the large intestine's microbiome and can injure tissues. When injured, tissue converts into stem cells to aid repair, which he likens to the transformation seen in cancerous or "feral" tissue. He suggests this may be an intentional response to injury rather than a mistake. Resources from this episode: Website: https://remedylink.com/ Email: Info@remedylink.com Pokegeshi: Microbiome Reset: https://remedylink.com/product/pokegeshi/ Bicarbamet: https://remedylink.com/product/bicarbamet-metabolic-acid-detox-due-may-1st/ Phylamet: https://remedylink.com/product/phylamet-scfa-support-complex/ Revealing the Gut-Cancer Connection + Using Fermented Foods to Heal and Balance the Gut with Spencer Feldman: https://podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/781-revealing-the-gut-cancer-connection-using/id1470779784?i=1000656828263 Spencer Feldman | Is Histamine Intolerance The Cause Of Your Mysterious Symptoms?: https://soundcloud.com/ben-azadi-522032578/spencer-feldman-is-histamine-1 / / E P I S O D E S P ON S O R S ⭐️ BonCharge: Blue light Blocking Glasses, Red Light Therapy, Sauna Blankets & More. Visit https://boncharge.com/pages/ketokamp and use the coupon code KETOKAMP for 15% off your order. *BON CHARGE products are all HSA/FSA eligible, giving you tax free savings of up to 40% ⭐️ Beam Minerals: BEAM Minerals products are the perfect support for the keto/carnivore/fasting way of living as they won't break your fast, PLUS they taste just like water and will help you keep carb cravings at bay as you move into a fat-adapted state. Give BEAM Minerals a try today for an enhanced keto experience. Head to http://www.beamminerals.comand use the coupon code AZADI for a sweet discount! ⭐️ Join the Nutrisense program to get a continuous glucose monitor and a dedicated nutrition expert. Head over to http://www.nutrisense.io/freedom and use the code freedom to get $50 off your first month. ⭐️ Equip beef protein powder and colostrum. 100% grass fed and finished beef. Head to http://www.equipfoods.com/benazadi for 20% off. (Coupon code automatically applied) Text me the words "Podcast" +1 (786) 364-5002 to be added to my contacts list. // F O L L O W ▸ instagram | @thebenazadi | http://bit.ly/2B1NXKW ▸ facebook | /thebenazadi | http://bit.ly/2BVvvW6 ▸ twitter | @thebenazadi http://bit.ly/2USE0so ▸clubhouse | @thebenazadi Disclaimer: This podcast is for information purposes only. Statements and views expressed on this podcast are not medical advice. This podcast including Ben Azadi disclaim responsibility from any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained herein. Opinions of guests are their own, and this podcast does not accept responsibility of statements made by guests. This podcast does not make any representations or warranties about guests qualifications or credibility. Individuals on this podcast may have a direct or non-direct interest in products or services referred to herein. If you think you have a medical problem, consult a licensed physician.
This episode dives into the emerging concept of psychobiotics, exploring how these live (probiotic) microorganisms can positively impact mental health by interacting with the gut-brain axis. We'll provide an in-depth look at the anatomy of the gut lining and the enteric nervous system, explaining how these pathways facilitate communication between the gut and the brain. Additionally, we'll spotlight the psychobiotic Bifidobacterium longum 1714, detailing its mechanisms and benefits for stress and anxiety relief. Topics: 1. General Overview of Psychobiotics - Definition and origin of the term "psychobiotics". - Mental health benefits: alleviating anxiety, depression, enhancing cognitive function, and stress resilience. - Introduction to the gut-brain axis. 2. The Gut-Brain Axis - Detailed explanation of the gut-brain axis. - Overview of the divisions of the nervous system (CNS and PNS). - Further division of the PNS into somatic and autonomic nervous systems. - Division of the autonomic nervous system. - Detailed structure and function of the enteric nervous system (ENS). 3. Gut Lining Anatomy - Layers of the gut lining from the inside out: gut lumen, mucus layers, intestinal epithelium. - Structure and function of the intestinal epithelium and its renewal process. - The role of villi and microvilli in increasing the surface area for nutrient absorption. - Overview of the lamina propria and its immune components. - Overview of the muscularis mucosae 4. Submucosa and Enteric Nervous System (ENS) - Description of the submucosa and its components (blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves). - Detailed structure and function of the submucosal (Meissner's) plexus. - Beyond the submucosa: muscularis externa and the myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus. - Interaction between the ENS and the vagus nerve. 5. Psychobiotics in Action: Bifidobacterium longum 1714 - Introduction to Bifidobacterium longum 1714 and its mental health benefits. - Production of key metabolites (SCFAs, serotonin, GABA) and their roles. - Interaction of metabolites with the ENS and the vagus nerve. - Detailed pathway of signals from the gut to the brain. 6. Other Notable Psychobiotics - Quick overview of other psychobiotics studied for mood regulation: - Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG - Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 - Bifidobacterium breve M-16V - Lactobacillus casei Shirota - Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 - Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 Thank you to our episode sponsor: Liver Medic Use code Chloe20 to save 20% on "Leaky Gut Repair" Brendan's YouTube Channel https://x.com/livermedic Thanks for tuning in! Get Chloe's Book Today! "75 Gut-Healing Strategies & Biohacks" Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
We already knew eating quality food make you feel great, and conversely that eating like trash makes you feel like... trash. What we might not know however that the gut brain axis, where your foods DIRECTLY impact your mood and immunity is like a secondary nervous system. Probably worth considering every time we make the brilliant decisions to eat quality foods and the immediately gratifying decisions to eat like trash pandas. Specific Health Benefits of Probiotics and Prebiotics: Digestive Health: Probiotics: Regular consumption of probiotics can help manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. For instance, strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis are shown to improve intestinal health and bowel regularity. Prebiotics: Foods rich in prebiotics like garlic and onions support the growth of beneficial bacteria, which enhance gut barrier function and can reduce the risk of gastroenteritis and infections. Mental Health - Depression and Anxiety: Gut-Brain Axis: Both probiotic and prebiotic foods can affect the gut-brain axis, a critical pathway that mediates the impact of gut health on mental health. For example, the fermentation of prebiotics like inulin from chicory root can produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that possess anti-inflammatory properties, reducing systemic inflammation that is often linked with depression. Clinical Evidence: Studies suggest that certain probiotics (often referred to as "psychobiotics") can produce and deliver neuroactive substances like serotonin and dopamine, which act on the brain to improve mood and cognitive function. A meta-analysis has shown that patients who consumed probiotics saw a statistically significant improvement in depression symptoms. Immune System Enhancement: Probiotics: They can enhance immune function by increasing the production of immune cells like macrophages and lymphocytes. Regular consumption of fermented dairy products has been linked with reduced severity and duration of respiratory infections. Prebiotics: By supporting the growth of good bacteria, prebiotics help compete against pathogenic bacteria, enhancing immune response. Foods like bananas and leeks that are high in prebiotics can thus help bolster your body's defenses against common pathogens. Weight Management and Metabolism: Influence on Obesity: Research has indicated that the microbiota composition influenced by diet can affect the body's metabolism and fat storage. For example, a diet high in prebiotic fibers can help manage body weight and improve metabolic health by enhancing feelings of fullness and reducing inflammation. Probiotic Intervention: Some studies suggest that probiotics can influence hormone levels that regulate appetite and fat storage, such as leptin and ghrelin, potentially helping to prevent obesity. Integrating Probiotics and Prebiotics into Your Diet: Daily Intake Recommendations: While specific doses can vary, incorporating a variety of these foods into your daily meals can provide a sustained source of support for gut and overall health. Practical Tips: Include a probiotic yogurt or kefir at breakfast, add garlic or onions to your cooked meals, snack on bananas or apples, and choose whole grains like barley and oats as part of your meals. By understanding and leveraging the specific benefits of probiotics and prebiotics, you can consciously tailor your diet to not only support general health but also address specific conditions and improve your mental and physical well-being. #GutBrainConnection #MentalHealth #NutritionPodcast #BrainHealth #HealthyEating #Psychobiotics #MoodFood #MentalClarity #DietAndWellness #Probiotics
I'm excited to be back with part 2 of our 2 part episode series on gut health! In case you missed part 1, make sure to check out last week's episode all about the gut and digestive process, signs of poor gut health, the gut brain connection, how it affects your immune system, common gut health issues we see in our practice, and more! For this episode, I'm diving into some of the major reasons WHY people experience poor gut health. We're diving into how antibiotics affect your gut, birth control, your diet, stress, toxicity and more. I'm also sharing some very easy to incorporate gut-healing strategies you can begin doing right away to improve your digestion, and answering some FAQs from my Instagram community.These episodes were LONG overdue for me to cover, because gut health is definitely one of my favorite topics to deep dive into. I hope you found this information helpful, and feel more confident when it comes to optimizing your gut health in your everyday life!Episode Recap: The high sugar, low fiber diet, or what I like to call “the 90s kid diet” + its impact on us and our gut health {3:20}The benefits of short-chain fatty acids, aka SCFAs + what can enhance the production of these {5:51}IG question: “Why do certain foods tend to make you have mood swings?” {7:03}How chronic stress can affect gut health and lead to increased inflammation {9:04}What really happens when you regularly take antibiotics {12:32}How a sluggish liver and gallbladder play a pivotal role in overall gut health {15:24}The toxicity from heavy metals on your gut health over time {18:39}The connection between your oral microbiome and your gut {23:46}The significant impact of birth control {25:17}Your diet's role in maintaining a healthy gut + a variety of food ideas to integrate into your diet {31:02}Gut-healing strategies that you can incorporate into your everyday life and positively impact your metabolism {39:34}Answering questions received from my Instagram community {49:06}**Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is NOT meant to be taken as individual or medical advice. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.Complete show notes (including all links and resources I mentioned in this episode): https://margaretpowell.com/podcast/episode26Connect with me on Instagram @margaretannpowell and @fueledandfreenutritionFor questions or suggestions about the podcast, send us an email at fueledandfreepodcast@gmail.com
Synbiotic drink result in important Fat Loss Ep. 1167 DEC 2023 This study investigated the effects of consuming a combination of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 and inulin on abdominal fat reduction. The results showed that participants who consumed the combined beverage had significant reductions in visceral fat area and total fat area compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the intervention increased the total number of bifidobacteria in the gut and affected several lipid markers. The authors suggest that the combined intake of GCL2505 and inulin improves the intestinal environment and reduces abdominal fat through a mechanism involving short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Further research is needed to investigate the full mechanisms involved in this effect. Overall, the study suggests that the combined intake of GCL2505 and inulin may be a simple and effective way to reduce abdominal fat and potentially prevent metabolic abnormalities. #probiotics #weightloss #BMI Baba Y, Saito Y, Kadowaki M, Azuma N, Tsuge D. Effect of Continuous Ingestion of Bifidobacteria and Inulin on Reducing Body Fat: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Comparison Study. Nutrients. 2023; 15(24):5025. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15245025 visceral fat reduction, inulin and bifidobacteria, GCL2505 probiotic, gut health and weight loss, natural ways to reduce abdominal fat, reducing inflammation through diet, probiotics for metabolic health, improving digestion and gut microbiome, "GCL2505 and inulin combined", "Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 study", --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ralph-turchiano/support
This study investigated the effects of consuming a combination of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 and inulin on abdominal fat reduction. The results showed that participants who consumed the combined beverage had significant reductions in visceral fat area and total fat area compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the intervention increased the total number of bifidobacteria in the gut and affected several lipid markers. The authors suggest that the combined intake of GCL2505 and inulin improves the intestinal environment and reduces abdominal fat through a mechanism involving short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Further research is needed to investigate the full mechanisms involved in this effect. Overall, the study suggests that the combined intake of GCL2505 and inulin may be a simple and effective way to reduce abdominal fat and potentially prevent metabolic abnormalities. #probiotics #weightloss #BMI Baba Y, Saito Y, Kadowaki M, Azuma N, Tsuge D. Effect of Continuous Ingestion of Bifidobacteria and Inulin on Reducing Body Fat: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Comparison Study. Nutrients. 2023; 15(24):5025. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15245025 visceral fat reduction, inulin and bifidobacteria, GCL2505 probiotic, gut health and weight loss, natural ways to reduce abdominal fat, reducing inflammation through diet, probiotics for metabolic health, improving digestion and gut microbiome, "GCL2505 and inulin combined", "Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 study", --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ralph-turchiano/support
BUFFALO, NY- November 8, 2023 – A new #researchpaper was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 20, entitled, “Tissue immunoexpression of IL-6 and IL-18 in aging men with BPH and MetS and their relationship with lipid parameters and gut microbiota-derived short chain fatty acids.” Recent studies indicate that inflammation is one of the causes of the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Inflammation may result from past infections, metabolic disorders, but also from the state of functioning of the intestinal microbiota. In this new study, researchers Weronika Ratajczak, Maria Laszczyńska, Aleksandra Rył, Barbara Dołęgowska, Olimpia Sipak, Ewa Stachowska, Marcin Słojewski, and Anna Lubkowska from Poland's Pomeranian Medical University and State University of Applied Sciences aimed to assess whether the diagnostic lipid parameters for metabolic syndrome and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are related to the immunoexpression of interleukins in prostate tissue with benign hyperplasia. The study involved 103 men with BPH, who were divided into two groups depending on the presence of MetS. “We analysed tissue immunoexpression of two proinflammatory interleukins: IL-6, which is known to be involved in the development of BPH, and IL-18, which has not been analysed so far.” The results of their study indicated that men with BPH + MetS in the stroma of the prostate have a significantly higher overall percentage of IL-6+ cells compared to men without MetS (p = 0.034). The analysis of IL-18 immunoexpression in prostate tissue indicated that in men with BPH + MetS, the glandular part of the prostate had a significantly higher percentage of cells with strong IL-18 expression (p = 0.040). They also noticed a relationship between tissue expression of IL-6 and IL-18 and lipid parameters (TG and HDL). “We conclude that lipid disorders occurring in men with BPH increase inflammation in the prostate gland. Moreover, it has also been demonstrated for the first time that, indirectly, through SCFAs, the gut microbiota can act to prevent or create an inflammatory microenvironment in the prostate gland.” DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.205091 Corresponding author - Anna Lubkowska - anna.lubkowska@pum.edu.pl Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://aging.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Faging.205091 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts Keywords - aging, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), metabolic syndrome (MetS), lipids, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 18 (IL-18), short-chain fatty acids About Aging-US Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways. Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com and connect with us: SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/Aging-Us Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Media Contact 18009220957 MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM
Na zijn masteropleiding Revalidatiewetenschappen en Kinesitherapie aan de KU Leuven (2013) is Len De Nys onderzoek gaan uitvoeren naar hoe men de groeiende golf van chronisch ziekten effectiever kan aanpakken. Dit is uitgegroeid tot een voltijdse bezigheid, om het belang van een gezondere levensstijl te benaderukken via onderzoek, wetenschappelijke lezingen en maatschappelijke projecten. Verder is hij zelf betrokken bij de LifeMe (Lifestyle as Medicine) vereniging in België, en voert hij een doctoraatsproject uit aan de University of Stirling (Schotland), waar hij met een team het project ‘stress, slaap, gezond ouder worden & fysieke activiteit' uitwerkt. Contacteren of volgen kan je via Instagram: @huisderlevensstijl.ne of LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/len-de-nys/. ------------------------------------------------------ De LifeMe podcast laat zich vanaf heden bijstaan door Springfield Nutraceuticals. Dit is een producent en leverancier van voedingssupplementen met een onderbouwde, bewezen werking. Juist die wetenschappelijk bewezen werking is voor ons bij LifeMe essentieel. Voor de professional die meer (wetenschappelijke) artikelen wil lezen over diverse onderwerpen binnen het preventieve gezondheidsdomein, kan zich best aanmelden op hun website via https://springfieldnutra.com/registreren/ ------------------------------------------------------ Verloop van aflevering: 00:00-Intro darmbacteriën en immuniteit 3:55-Microbiële vingerafdrukken bij chronische ziekten 05:50-Rol van darmbacteriën en immuunsysteem 06:55-Darmbarriere, cytokines, postbiotica (SCFAs) 08:45-Dysbiose 09:35-Stappenplan darmgenezing 13:00-Top Vijf Tips Om Te Eten Voor een Betere Immuunrespons. 16:00-Studie over vezels vs gefermenteerde voeding 21:30-Methoden om veranderingen te meten ------------------------------------------------------ Aangehaalde literatuur: Vezels vs gefermenteerde voeding: DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.019 De rest van de wetenschapscommunicatie gebeurt via instagram op @Huisderlevensstijl.be ------------------------------------------------------ De host van de LifeMe podcast is Len De Nys: Instagram: @huisderlevensstijjl.be Twitter: @LenDeNysLife Site: https://lendenys.eu/ ------------------------------------------------------ Verder staat het hele LifeMe team ook steeds voor je klaar om vragen te beantwoorden en voor goede doorverwijzingen: info@lifeme.be. Facebook: @LifeMeBelgium Instagram: @lifeme_vzw Site: www.lifeme.be
The Secrets of Managing Food Sensitivities with Better Oral Tolerance Delving Deep into the Gut's Role in Food Sensitivities and Overall Health In this episode of "The Hashimoto's Doctor Podcast", we're diving deep into the fascinating world of oral tolerance and its pivotal role in managing food sensitivities. We'll explore the intricate dance between our gut, the foods we consume, and the immune responses they trigger. Our exploration will lead us through the science of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the unsung heroes of our gut, and their profound impact on our body's ability to tolerate diverse foods. We'll also shed light on the gut-brain connection, revealing how our gut health can influence everything from mood to cognitive function. As we unravel these complexities, we'll be guided by the principles of functional medicine, emphasizing a holistic approach to health. We'll discuss the importance of nurturing our gut microbiome, the potential benefits of SCFA supplements, and the significance of understanding individual body responses. Join us on this enlightening journey as we uncover the secrets of oral tolerance and its implications for managing food sensitivities. Whether you're battling food sensitivities, curious about the wonders of the gut, or simply aiming to optimize your health, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Please note that the information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle, or treatment plan Facebook: The Office of Dr. Brad Shook, DC Support Group: Greater Hickory Thyroid Support Group | Facebook Instagram: Brad Shook, DC | Functional Medicine Practitioner (@drbradshook) | Instagram Youtube: Dr. Brad Shook | The Hashimoto's Doctor - YouTube Twitter: Brad Shook, DC (@shookdc) / Twitter More: About Dr. Shook | Best Resources Telemedicine: Application for Care - The Office of Dr. Brad Shook, DC (drbradshook.com)
Welcome to another episode of The Synthesis of Wellness Podcast! This in a super in-depth episode dedicated to understanding how genetics work, how epigenetics work, and how you can essentially "hack" the way your genes are expressed in order to optimize you biological state. Topics: 1. Introduction - Defining epigenetics and its role in gene expression - Overcoming limiting beliefs about genetic predispositions 2. DNA Structure and Organization - Nucleotides: The building blocks of DNA - Double helix structure and base pairing - Chromosomes and genes: Organizing genetic information 3. Epigenetic Regulation: DNA Methylation - DNA methylation and its impact on gene expression - Enzymes involved in DNA methylation (DNMTs) - Factors affecting DNA methylation, including toxins 4. Epigenetic Regulation: Histone Modifications - Histone acetylation and deacetylation - Other histone modifications and their role in gene expression 5. Epigenetic Regulation: Non-coding RNAs - Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their regulatory functions - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) - Influence of ncRNAs on gene transcription and expression 6. Strategies for Optimizing Epigenetic Expression - Dietary considerations for DNA methylation support - Impact of polyphenols and SCFAs on histone acetylation - Sleep optimization and its effect on gene expression 7. Environmental Factors and Epigenetics - Avoiding toxins and their influence on epigenetic regulation - Role of infections in epigenetic modifications - Air pollution, PCBs, phthalates, and their impact on gene expression 8. Mindfulness and Stress Reduction - Mindfulness practices to mitigate epigenetic dysregulation - Reducing stress and its effects on gene expression Thanks for tuning in! If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review or share it to your stories over on Instagram. If you tag @synthesisofwellness, Chloe would love to personally thank you for listening! Follow Chloe on Instagram @synthesisofwellness, or use the link: https://www.instagram.com/synthesisofwellness/ Follow Chloe on TikTok @chloe_c_porter Visit synthesisofwellness.com to purchase products, subscribe to our mailing list, and more! Or visit linktr.ee/synthesisofwellness to see all of Chloe's links, schedule a BioPhotonic Scanner consult with Chloe, or support the show! Thanks again for tuning in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chloe-porter6/support
This week on ReInvent Healthcare, I bring back an episode about a talk I had on Microbiomes with my guest, Steph Jackson. Together we talk about the importance of diversity, butyrate, and using fermentation , and how to balance the microbiome for optimal health. Listen to the full episode to find out more.IN THIS EPISODE:Importance of Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) productionIt is beneficial for clients to improve their short chain fatty acid production, as SCFAs play a crucial role in gut lining integrity, metabolic balance, and sleep schedule regulation. SCFAs like butyrate are essential for overall gut health.Resistant Starch on Gut MicrobiotaIf clients do not consume enough resistant starch, it can lead to a reduction in beneficial bacteria like bifidobacteria and other essential microbes. Resistant starches naturally discourage the opportunistic bacteria and encourage biodiversity in the microbiome. Food preparation and a variety of resistant starches is needed to increase the diversity in the microbiome to improve gut integrity and benefit metabolic health.Diverse Fiber-Rich Diet for Gut HealthTo support the growth of beneficial bacteria like bifidobacteria, clients need to consume a spectrum of fiber-rich foods, including colorful plant foods. Just relying on probiotics or isolated fibers may not be enough to promote a healthy gut microbiome. A varied diet with different types of fiber is essential for overall gut health.References:Get our FREE Guide to Taking a Detailed Health History that gets you to root causes with Access Additional Resources for Practitioners ready to improve clinical outcomes through our Nutritional Endocrinology Practitioner Training. Watch the video version with charts and graphics here.Check out our other episodes about Functional Food Facts here. Biohack your Gut with Steph Jackson's The Friendly Flora Collective.Listen to my full Part 1 with Steph here.Listen to my full Part 2 with Steph here.
The Perfect Stool Understanding and Healing the Gut Microbiome
Learn how dietary and supplemental fiber can help maintain regular bowel movements, promote a healthy gut microbiome, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Plus, find out how fiber different supplements can help with constipation, reduce cholesterol levels, and restore butyrate producers in the colon, as well as when and what kinds of fiber are best in IBD and IBS/SIBO. Lindsey Parsons, your host, helps clients solve gut issues and reverse autoimmune disease naturally. Take her quiz to see which stool or functional medicine test will help you find out what's wrong. She's a Certified Health Coach at High Desert Health in Tucson, Arizona. She coaches clients locally and nationwide. You can also follow Lindsey on Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest or reach her via email at lindsey@highdeserthealthcoaching.com to set up a free 30-minute Gut Healing Breakthrough Session. Show Notes
There is SO much information in the media and in magazines about what to eat to enhance running performance….but how much of it is actually evidence-based and factual rather than just being sensationalist?? This plethora of information can lead to confusion for many runners on what to eat to fulfil their running goals. Karen, one of your Podcast hosts, attended the ISENC (International Sports and exercise Nutrition Conference) in Manchester in December. This conference is dedicated to outlining and discussing the most up to date science and research in the world of sport and exercise nutrition. So, in this episode we share some of that information with you so you feel informed when making YOUR food and nutrition choices to support your run training. The two principle topics we focus on are:Overtraining Syndrome and Relative Energy Deficit in Sport and how they potentially overlapDietary Fibre and its potential role in sports performance SHOW NOTES(07:13)Defining Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): Overtraining syndrome: is viewed as a condition associated with a long-term imbalance between training and recovery and is generally characterized by:Reduced sports performance FatigueMood disturbances It is thought to affect between 20% and 60% of athletes throughout their careers.It is grouped in with functional and non-functional overreaching, but compared to these conditions OTS is the most severe and reflects a chronic accumulation of training and non-training stressors that can take months to years to fully recover from.Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: In 2014 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defined RED-S as:“….a syndrome resulting from relative energy deficiency that affects many aspects of physiological function…..” and this is thought to be as a result of inadequate energy intake (EI) compared to energy expenditure of exercise (EEE) and daily living, resulting in poor health and reduced sporting performance(10:00)Establishing the possible overlap between these two conditions:Current research is focusing on low energy availability (LEA) being what underpins both conditionsNote: LEA = inadequate energy intake (EI) compared to energy expenditure of exercise (EEE) and daily livingThere also appears to be symptoms common to both conditions including:Poor performancePoor recovery from trainingFatigueMind/mood symptoms(23:54)Uncovering the latest research on the use of dietary fibre to enhance sports performance. Studies have revealed that limiting fibre intake could reduce the diversity of an athlete's microbiota as well as reducing the health of an individual's gut bacteria. Additionally, current research has shown that Short Chain Fatty Acids (produced from the fermentation of certain dietary fermentable fibre by the gut bacteria) appear to support sports performance both directly and indirectly.Note: Fibre is fermented into SCFAs in the large intestine by specific bacteria called Saccharolytic microbial species. The 3 key SCFAs produced are called Acetate, Proprionate and Butyrate and produced in a ratio of 60:20:20 respectively. (30:36)Outlining ways in which Short Chain Fatty Acids are thought to support sports performance:All three are thought to increase overall energy expenditureAll three are involved in altering substrate oxidation (increasing fat metabolism/oxidation and reducing CHO metabolism) therefore possibly helping preserve glycogen storesIt has been found that...
Omega-3 and Omega-6 supplement improves reading for children University of Gothenburg, Sweden - September 14, 2022 Supplement of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may improve reading skills of mainstream schoolchildren, according to a new study from Sahlgrenska Academy, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Children with attention problems, in particular, may be helped in their reading with the addition of these fatty acids. The study included 154 schoolchildren from western Sweden in grade 3, between nine and ten years old. The children took a computer-based test (known as the Logos test) that measured their reading skills in a variety of ways, including reading speed, ability to read nonsense words and vocabulary. The children were randomly assigned to receive either capsules with omega-3 and omega-6, or identical capsules that contained a placebo (palm oil) for 3 months. The children, parents and researchers did not learn until the study was completed which children had received fatty acids and which had received the placebo. After three months, all children received real omega-3/6 capsules for the final three months of the study. "Even after three months, we could see that the children's reading skills improved with the addition of fatty acids, compared with those who received the placebo. This was particularly evident in the ability to read a nonsense word aloud and pronounce it correctly (phonologic decoding), and the ability to read a series of letters quickly (visual analysis time)," says Mats Johnson, who is chief physician and researcher at the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. No children diagnosed with ADHD were included in the study, but with the help of the children's parents, the researchers could identify children who had milder attention problems. These children attained even greater improvements in several tests, including faster reading already after three months of receiving fatty acid supplements. Mango could help maintain gut bacteria at risk from high-fat diets Oklahoma State University, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 Mango consumption could help prevent the loss of beneficial gut bacteria caused by a high fat diet, according to research on mice. The findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition , appears to reveal for the first time the positive impact of mango on gut microbiota. In the study, 60 male mice were assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups for 12 weeks - control (with 10% of calories from fat), high fat (with 60% calories from fat), or high fat with 1% or 10% mango. All high-fat diets had similar macronutrient, calcium, phosphorus, and fiber content. “We investigated the effects of freeze-dried mango pulp combined with an high-fat diet on the cecal microbial population and its relation to body composition, lipids, glucose parameters, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and gut inflammatory markers in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity,” the study reports. The high-fat dietary treatment with 10% mango (equivalent to 1½ cups of fresh mango pieces) was found to be the most effective in preventing the loss of beneficial bacteria from a high-fat diet without decreasing body weight or fat accumulation. Specifically, mango supplementation regulated gut bacteria in favor of Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia and enhanced short-chain fatty acid (SFCA) production. SCFAs have been shown to possess a wide range of beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory properties. Yoga improves arthritis symptoms and mood, study finds Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, September 15, 2022 A randomized trial of people with two common forms of arthritis has found that yoga can be safe and effective for people with arthritis. Johns Hopkins researchers report that 8 weeks of yoga classes improved the physical and mental wellbeing of people with two common forms of arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The study is believed to be the largest randomized trial so far to examine the effect of yoga on physical and psychological health and quality of life among people with arthritis. The study recruited 75 people with either knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Participants were randomly assigned to either a wait list or eight weeks of twice-weekly yoga classes, plus a weekly practice session at home. Participants' physical and mental wellbeing was assessed before and after the yoga session by researchers who did not know which group the participants had been assigned to. Compared with the control group, those doing yoga reported a 20% improvement in pain, energy levels, mood and physical function, including their ability to complete physical tasks at work and home. Walking speed also improved to a smaller extent, though there was little difference between the groups in tests of balance and upper body strength. Improvements in those who completed yoga was still apparent nine months later. Stevia Kills Lyme Disease Pathogen Better Than Antibiotics (Preclinical Study) University of New Haven, September 21, 2022 A promising new preclinical study has revealed that whole stevia leaf extract possesses exceptional antibiotic activity against the exceedingly difficult to treat pathogen Borrelia Burgdorferi known to cause Lyme disease. The study found, "Stevia whole leaf extract, as an individual agent, was effective against all known morphological forms of B. burgdorferi." At present, the CDC acknowledges that at least 300,000 are infected with Lyme disease, annually, with the conventional standard of care relying on antibiotics that are not only toxic but increasingly coming under scrutiny for addressing only surface aspects of the infection, often leaving antibiotic-resistance Lyme disease deep within the system to continue to cause harm. The new study was published in the European Journal of Microbiology & Immunology and conducted by researchers from the Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT. The researchers directly compared an alcohol extract of a whole stevia leaf product commonly found on the U.S. retail market to conventional antibiotics, and assessed their respective abilities to kill the various forms of Borrelia burgdorferi, including so called "persister" forms. The researchers explored Stevia's potential effectiveness against B. burgdorferi cultures, comparing it to three common antibiotics sometimes used to treat Lyme's disease: doxycycline, cefoperazone, daptomycin, as well as their combination. The study results were summarized as follows: Our results demonstrated that Stevia had significant effect in eliminating B. burgdorferi spirochetes and persisters. Sub-culture experiments with Stevia and antibiotics treated cells were established for 7 and 14 days yielding, no and 10% viable cells, respectively compared to the above-mentioned antibiotics and antibiotic combination. When Stevia and the three antibiotics were tested against attached biofilms, Stevia significantly reduced B. burgdorferi forms. Results from this study suggest that a natural product such as Stevia leaf extract could be considered as an effective agent against B. burgdorferi." Notably, the study found that the most antibiotic resistant form of B. burgdorferi, the biofilm form, actually increased in mass when individual antibiotics were administered. Stevia, on the other hand, reduced the biofilm mass on both tested surfaces (plastic and collagen) by about 40%. Green soy extract could prevent cognitive dysfunction: Mouse data University of Shizuoka (Japan), September 19, 2022 Intake of green soybean extract could help reverse cognitive dysfunction and its associated accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain, say researchers. The accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins has long been linked to the development of brain stunting conditions including Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Writing in the Journal of Functional Foods, the team revealed that brain functions were ‘significantly better-preserved' in aged mice fed green soybean than age-matched control mice with or without yellow soybean feeding. An increased expression of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (Ptgds) and a significant reduction in the amyloid precursor protein Aplp1 was reported by the team, led by Keiko Unno from the University of Shizuoka in Japan. “Furthermore, the amount of beta-amyloid 40 and 42 was reduced in the insoluble fraction of cerebral cortex,” the team noted. In the current study, the isoflavones found to be present in soybean extracts were mostly the glycosides genstin and daidzin. Furthermore, the contents of saponin and carotene in green soybean were found to be slightly higher in the green than in yellow, however the contents of other components were not different between green and yellow soybeans. JAMA study links low vitamin D levels to ‘profound' and ‘rapid' cognitive decline Rutgers University & University of California Davis, September 15, 2022 Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency may have “substantial” accelerating effects on cognitive decline in the elderly, says a new study from UC Davis and Rutgers University. Low levels of the sunshine vitamin were associated with a three times faster rate of cognitive decline than those with adequate vitamin D levels, according to findings published in JAMA Neurology . The low vitamin D levels were associated with impaired performance, particularly in domains such as memory loss that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, added the researchers. The researchers said their findings amplify the importance of identifying vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly, particularly high-risk groups such as African-Americans and Hispanics, who are less able to absorb the nutrient from its most plentiful source: sunshine. Among those groups and other darker-skinned individuals, low vitamin D should be considered a risk factor for dementia, they added. Dr Miller and his co-workers analyzed data from 382 racially and ethnically diverse men and women (mean age of 76) in Northern California participating in longitudinal research at the Alzheimer's Disease Center in Sacramento. Of the participants, 41% were white, 30% were African American, 25% were Hispanics, and 4% were from other racial/ethnic groups. The participants were either cognitively normal, or had mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Baseline data showed that 26% of the participants were vitamin D deficient, while 35% were insufficient. Among Caucasians, 54% had low vitamin D, compared with 70% of African-Americans and Hispanics. The rate of cognitive decline was found to be two-to-three times faster in the vitamin D deficient people over five years of study, compared to people with adequate serum vitamin D levels. In other words, it took only two years for the deficient individuals to decline as much as those with adequate vitamin D declined during the five-year follow-up period.
Berberine is an isoquinolone alkaloid that is bitter and bright golden yellow in color. It is derived mainly from the roots, stems and rhizomes of plants such as Coptis chinensis (Chinese golden thread), Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape), and Berberis vulgaris (barberry). It has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and is generally considered safe, though it should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Berberine Click here to learn more about the Hedberg Institute Membership. Gastrointestinal side effects may occur due to berberine's impact on bowel motility. These include abdominal pain, distention, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Side effects appear to be dose dependent, with increased symptoms such as low blood pressure, dyspnea, and flu-like symptoms at higher doses. Berberine is commonly used as an antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antihyperlipidemic agent. The many therapeutic applications of berberine are due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it one of the top supplements of choice in clinical practice. It has traditionally been used for gastrointestinal related issues as well as issues involving liver dysfunction, digestive complaints, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and infectious diseases. While berberine has exhibited a bioavailability of
That's Cool News | A weekly breakdown of positive Science & Tech news.
News: New prehistoric human unknown to science discovered in Israel | The Jerusalem Post (01:20) A new type of early human previously not known to scientists has been discovered in Israel, Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University researchers announced Thursday, July 14th. They believe this new “Homo” species intermarried with Homo sapiens and was an ancestor of the Neanderthals. The dig site, Nesher Ramla, a few kilometers from the modern-day city, was probably close to a water reservoir where early humans could hunt animals.Filled with many animal bones, stone tools for making fire and butchering Prof. Israel Hershkovitz talked on the dig site:“We know that modern humans – or Homo sapiens – arrived in this area some 200,000 years ago … When we started excavating and examining the different archaeological layers, we found that they dated back between 140,000 and 120,000 years ago, so we expected to find remains of Homo sapiens. We did not realize that another form of human was living alongside them.” The researchers believe that the newly discovered human type, which they named after the site, lived in the region hundreds of thousands of years ago and at least until 130,000 years ago. The findings may radically change what researchers have so far believed about how ancient populations evolved and interacted.Especially how sapiens and Neanderthal, other ancient human types, related to each other. Researchers believe the Nesher Ramla was an ancestor of the Neanderthals and other archaic Asian populations.Thought Neanderthals arrived in what is now Israel 70,000 to 50,000 years ago from Europe, but here they found a human species 130,000 years old. Some features of the remains, like the teeth and the jaws, were more similar to Neanderthal species, while the skulls resembled the Homo type. According to Hershkovitz, Nesher Ramla Homo and Homo sapiens not only coexisted peacefully and exchanged technology, but also produced offspring.“In Europe, the story was very different because when modern humans arrived there around 45,000 years ago, they completely eliminated the local Neanderthals. This did not happen here” In the past, geneticists had already suggested that an unknown population represented the missing link between sapiens and Neanderthal.The Nesher Ramla population could represent the answer. Prunes can restore bone loss, research finds | Brighter Side News (06:58) New research provides evidence that prunes are a prebiotic food that reverses bone loss in mice.Findings show the carbohydrates and polyphenols in prunes act as prebiotics and help restore bone health. Principal Investigator, Brenda Smith, PhD explains:“Both the carbohydrate component and the polyphenols within the prunes altered the gut microbiota and were associated with positive effects on bone, namely restoring bone. By definition, prebiotics are substrates that alter the composition or activity of the microbiota and confer benefits to the health of the individual” Researchers isolated the polyphenol (PP) compounds as well as the carbohydrates (CHO) from prunes and fed them to two separate groups of estrogen-deficient, female mice with substantial bone loss for 5- and 10-week durations. In the study they had 4 groups of mice with different diets:Receiving the polyphenol (PP) compounds and carbohydrates directly Whole prunes Prune crude extract with both PP and CHO prune components Control (i.e. no prunes or extract) Compared to the mice who did not consume any prune or prune component, those who consumed isolated CHO, isolated PP, prune crude extract, or whole prunes experienced restored bone previously lost. Showed a significant increase in short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in their guts Favorable changes to their gut microbiota. Researchers saw increases in SCFAs n-butyrate and propionate, which are thought to be most effective at preventing bone loss by suppressing biomarkers associated with bone breakdown. Smith suggests the findings make a strong case for consuming whole prunes “because you're getting some of the benefit from the carbohydrate in the short term, and the long-term benefit from the polyphenols.”Smith also noted that the vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds in prunes may contribute to the bone and the gut benefits. This research gets us closer to understanding the unique attributes of prunes while underscoring the importance of eating the fruit in its entirety. Scientists create a nearly invisible solar cell with up to 79% transparency | Interesting Engineering (11:07) A team of scientists from the Tohoku University in Japan has created a near-invisible solar cell using indium tin oxide (ITO) as a transparent electrode and tungsten disulfide (WS2) as a photoactive layer.Potential to achieve a transparency of 79 percent This type of PV device is known as the Schottky junction solar cell.An interface put between a metal and a semiconductor provides the band required for charge separation. The suggested device and ideal band structure separate the photogenerated electron-hole pairs by a difference in the work function between one of the electrodes and the semiconductor. WS2 is a member of the transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) family of materials, which the scientists claim are perfect for near-invisible solar cells due to their acceptable band gaps in the visible light range and greatest absorption coefficient per thickness. The contact barrier between WS2 and ITO was adjusted by coating various thin metals on top of ITO material and introducing a thin layer of WO3 (Tungsten trioxide) between ITO and the monolayer WS2.Result: the Schottky barrier height increased dramatically. Potential for increasing the efficiency of charge carrier separation in this Schottky-type solar cell. The power conversion efficiency of the solar cell with the optimized electrode (WO3/Mx/ITO) was more than 1,000 times greater than that of a device employing a regular ITO electrode. With the aid of studies like this one, we may eventually develop transparent solar panels, which would have far-reaching ramifications.There are reportedly five to seven billion square meters of glass surfaces in the United States, from phone screens to skyscrapers. Drug Treatment for Cataracts Might Soon Become a Reality | SciTechDaily (16:11) According to the World Health Organization, cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world. Cataracts account for more than 51 percent of blindness throughout the world. In the United States alone, over 24.4 million people over the age of 40 have been affected by cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that develops over time and compromises the quality of vision. Caused by a disorder of the proteins in the lens that leads to clumps of protein accumulating that scatter light and substantially limit transmission to the retina. Currently, cataracts can only be cured with surgery. However, a groundbreaking new treatment for cataracts has had incredibly positive laboratory test results suggesting that the affliction might soon be able to be treated with drugs. A team of international scientists at Anglia Ruskin University, have been carrying out advanced optical tests on an oxysterol compound that had been proposed as an anti-cataract drug. In laboratory trials, treatment with the oxysterol compound VP1-001 showed an improvement in refractive index profiles – a key optical parameter that is needed to maintain high focusing capacity – in 61% of lenses.Meaning that the protein organization of the lens is being restored, resulting in the lens being better able to focus. Professor Barbara Pierscionek, lead researcher, stated:“This study has shown the positive effects of a compound that had been proposed as an anti-cataract drug but never before tested on the optics of the lens. It is the first research of this kind in the world.” She continues mentioning this compound could only affect a certain kind of cataracts:“Improvements occurred in some types of cataracts but not in all indicating that this may be a treatment for specific cataracts. This suggests distinctions may need to be made between cataract types when developing anti-cataract medications. It is a significant step forward towards treating this extremely common condition with drugs rather than surgery.” Cancer drug triggers remarkable recovery from spinal cord injury in mice | New Atlas (21:08) A drug under investigation as a cancer treatment has shown exciting promise in a rather different branch of medical research, with scientists demonstrating how it can promote nerve repair following spinal injury. The drug acts on a DNA damage response mechanism and triggers a "remarkable" recovery in mice with injured spinal cords. The DNA Damage Response system, which swings into action in response to DNA damage caused by several common cancers, and also in response to spinal cord injury. Led by scientists at the University of Birmingham, the research focused on an experimental drug called AZD1390. Under investigation as a cancer therapy due its potential to make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation treatment. The authors of the new study hypothesize that the activation of this DNA Damage Response system may slow or prevent recovery from spinal cord injury, by hampering nerve repair.The thinking was that by using AZD1390 to inhibit the ATM signaling pathway, they could clear the way for the growth of new nerve cells. In mice with spinal cord injuries, oral administration of AZD1390 was also shown to significantly suppress the pathway. Further, it promoted nerve regeneration beyond the site of the injury, and enhanced the capacity of these nerves to relay electrical signals Study author Professor Zubair Ahmed, stated:“This is an exciting time in spinal cord injury research with several different investigational drugs being identified as potential therapies for spinal cord injury … We are particularly excited about AZD1390 which can be taken orally and reaches the site of injury in sufficient quantities to promote nerve regeneration and restore lost function. Our findings show a remarkable recovery of sensory and motor functions, and AZD1390-treated animals being indistinguishable from uninjured animals within four weeks of injury." Such a rapid and effective recovery, making injured mice appear much like uninjured mice in 4 weeks, positions AZD1390 as an exciting potential treatment for a condition that has no cure. Though just an initial study, the fact that it centers on a drug already under investigation may also shorten its path to clinical use.
With diets like keto and carnivore gaining traction, I've had many people ask - what impact do plants specifically have on our microbiome and human health? Today I interview Dr. Veronique Braesco, Dr. Petra Louis, and Dr. Ian Rowland, researchers that have contributed to the latest scientific update summarizing the impact of plant-based diets on the gut microbiome and published through the Alpro Foundation. The Alpro Foundation has been a scientific platform for over 25 years dedicated to supporting research and the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge on plant-based nutrition and its impact on health and environment amongst academics, healthcare professionals and key stakeholders in nutrition. The ultimate aim is to help drive the transition to more healthful plant-based diets for human and planetary health. Underpinning Alpro Foundation's scientific integrity is an independent Scientific Advisory Board of 8 leading academic experts who provide direction and advice and ensure the scientific credibility of the education tools. Professor Ian Rowland is the chair of this Scientific Advisory Board. Professor Ian Rowland is editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Nutrition. Until his recent retirement, he was the Hugh Sinclair Professor of Human Nutrition at University of Reading. He holds a BSc and PhD in microbiology from University College London. Prof. Rowland's main research area is the role of diet (in particular probiotics, prebiotics, phytoestrogens, and phytochemicals) in the prevention of colon, breast and prostate cancer. In his current research, he is investigating the role of fruit and vegetable intake on markers of cancer risk. In 2005 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Gent in Belgium for his work on nutrition and cancer. Professor Rowland has published over 300 papers. Petra Louis is a molecular microbiologist with an interest in the human gut microbiome, diet and health. She obtained her Diploma in Biology and PhD in Microbiology from the University of Bonn, Germany, where she conducted research on osmoadaptation in halophilic bacteria. Véronique Braesco holds a PhD in human nutrition. Her academic carrier in Public Research at INRA, as senior scientist, has been focused on vitamins. She then headed the Nutrition Research Department of the Danone Group. In this position, she managed the design and implementation of scientific strategies, in particular in the field of probiotics. She was later responsible for the Human Nutrition Research Centre in Auvergne, dedicated to studying the role of diet in healthy aging. She is now at the head of VAB-nutrition, a consulting firm specialized in human nutrition that she created in 2007. We talk about: What characteristics are associated with better health by way of the gut microbiome Beneficial and deleterious dietary components and their influence on gut microbiome Fibre from supplements versus food - is one ‘better' for the gut microbiome? The role of the food matrix, the various chemical compounds found in food like polyphenols, and the role variety of fibres plays in the gut microbiome composition Polyphenols - where are they found, and what are potential ways in which they influence our health by way of the gut microbiome What are SCFA's, what their role is in our health, and what influences the production of SCFAs in the gut Microbial metabolites from protein - when do we digest protein, how this occurs, how does it influence health? How fibre impacts microbial metabolite production in our bodies Dietary recommendations we can ultimately take away from the current evidence The most recent Scientific update with the Alpro Foundation is about the 'Interaction of Plant-based diets and gut microbiota'
Video: Edward Dowd: Economic Fallout of Covid Vax Fraud (start @ 1:00 Stop @ 14:45) Asian Plum extract significantly benefit liver functions over placebo Stragen Pharma (Switzerland), The Asian plum of the rosaceae family, has been studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver protecting properties. A study funded by Swiss company Stragen Pharma looks deeper into how this plum extract can benefit the liver. “Most of the currently available data supporting a potential hepatoprotective [liver protecting] effect of P. mume have been obtained using in vitro testing, in vivo animal models, or non-controled human trials,” the researchers wrote in the study published in Phythotherapy Research. Hence, the current study was the first that looked into the effects of two doses of a P. mune extract supplement on liver enzymes through a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. From the 44 subjects who participated throughout the 3-month long study, researchers found a “beneficial and statistically significant effect versus placebo of P. mune extract on liver function.” Researchers found that, over the course of the study, participants supplemented with the low dose of Prunus mume experienced significant decreases in their high aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase liver enzymes, all of which induce hepatotoxicity, whereas the high dose group did not experience significant changes in their liver enzymes. Dietary fiber in the gut may help with skin allergies, says new study Monash University (Australia), A Monash University study exploring the emerging gut-skin axis has found that microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gut can protect against allergic skin disease. The research could potentially lead to novel treatments to prevent or treat allergies. Professor Ben Marsland from the Central Clinical School's Department of Immunology, together with Swiss colleagues at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), showed that the fermentation of fiber in the gut by bacteria and subsequent production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in particular butyrate, protected against atopic dermatitis in mice. University of Maine study shows chocolate is brain food University of Maine, University of Maine published findings in the journal Appetite, saying people who ate chocolate at least once per week performed better on multiple cognitive tasks compared to those who ate chocolate less frequently. “We don't know if people are going to get smarter,” Elias, a psychologist and epidemiologist, said from his office on the Orono campus. “What we found out is that people who ate chocolate performed better [on cognitive functions] than people who did not.” The study, directed by Elias, tracked more than 1,000 people over 35 years and looked specifically at chocolate consumption's effect on visual-spatial memory and organization, working memory, abstract verbal reasoning, scanning and tracking and overall cognitive functioning. “We did not follow cognitive function over time and see any rise in intelligence,” he said. “What we did find was that people who ate chocolate on a regular basis performed better on cognitive functions than people who did not.” The researchers hypothesized that regular intake of cocoa flavanols may be one of several mechanism explaining the cognitive benefits of chocolate. According to the team's publication, flavonols have multiple effects on the brain on the cellular and molecular levels in the regions involved in learning and memory and by increasing blood flow in the brain promoting development of new blood vessels. Want to reduce stroke risk? Sit less. Move more. Do chores. San Diego State University, Imagine watching “The Batman” movie back-to-back four times every day or driving a whopping 390 miles each way on a daily commute. Either uncomfortable choice will take about 12 hours—or the same amount of time most Americans stay seated throughout any day. The dangerous consequences of prolonged inactivity in humans are widely known. Too much sitting leads to an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, including depression. To offset the severe side effects of a sedentary lifestyle, doctors recommend adults complete at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise a week. However, a new study from San Diego State University, published in JAMA Network Open, found that doing lighter intensity daily activities such as household chores can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. “Light-intensity physical activity can include vacuuming, sweeping the floor, washing the car, leisure strolling, stretching, or playing catch,” said Steven Hooker, dean of SDSU's College of Health and Human Services and lead researcher of the cohort study. They found those who were sedentary for 13 hours or more a day had a 44% increased risk of having a stroke. Uncovering why playing a musical instrument can protect brain health Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care (Canada), A recent study conducted at Baycrest Health Sciences has uncovered a crucial piece into why playing a musical instrument can help older adults retain their listening skills and ward off age-related cognitive declines. This finding could lead to the development of brain rehabilitation interventions through musical training. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that learning to play a sound on a musical instrument alters the brain waves in a way that improves a person's listening and hearing skills over a short time frame. This change in brain activity demonstrates the brain's ability to rewire itself and compensate for injuries or diseases that may hamper a person's capacity to perform tasks. This finding supports Dr. Ross' research using musical training to help stroke survivors rehabilitate motor movement in their upper bodies. Baycrest scientists have a history of breakthroughs into how a person's musical background impacts the listening abilities and cognitive function as they age and they continue to explore how brain changes during aging impact hearing. The study involved 32 young, healthy adults who had normal hearing and no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders. The brain waves of participants were first recorded while they listened to bell-like sounds from a Tibetan singing bowl (a small bell struck with a wooden mallet to create sounds). After listening to the recording, half of the participants were provided the Tibetan singing bowl and asked to recreate the same sounds and rhythm by striking it and the other half recreated the sound by pressing a key on a computer keypad. “This study was the first time we saw direct changes in the brain after one session, demonstrating that the action of creating music leads to a strong change in brain activity.” Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cognitive Function and Quantitative EEG in Alzheimer Patients Seoul Medical Center (Korea) According to news reporting originating in Seoul, South Korea research stated, “Korean red ginseng (KRG) has a nootropic effect. This study assessed the efficacy of red ginseng on cognitive function and quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).” Research from Seoul Medical Center stated “Fourteen patients with AD (mean age, 74.93 years; 11 women and 3 men) were recruited and treated with KRG (4.5 g per day) for 12 weeks. EEG performed before and after treatment were analyzed with quantitative spectral analysis. The Frontal Assessment Battery score improved significantly after 12 weeks of treatment. In the relative power spectrum analysis performed according to responsiveness, alpha power increased significantly in the right temporal area of the responders. The increments of relative alpha power in the right temporal, parietal, and occipital areas were significantly higher in the responders than the nonresponders.” According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “This study indicates the efficacy of KRG on frontal lobe function in AD, related to increasing relative alpha power.”
The Gut-Brain Axis—what does that connection represent? Well, the gut-brain connection is often described as a bidirectional highway that is linked to many cause and effect health consequences, and many studies have explored the impact of the gut environment and microbiome on brain health in that gut-brain dynamic. Indeed, the role of the gut-brain axis is a significant factor in the risk for numerous health disorders throughout life, and it can have substantial implications on your body-brain health as you age. For example, numerous studies have examined the role of gut health and disorders such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and their consequences on brain health that includes mood and mental health disorders. Additionally, significant research that links SIBO and pro-inflammatory disorders such IBD in the risk for cognitive decline and dementia has been accruing now for well over two decades and I have been following that science since the 1990s and to this very day. In today's podcast, I'll be sharing about the findings of a few studies that investigated aspects of the gut-brain axis with regard to the risk for cognitive decline and dementia in aging. On such study, a substudy of CARDIA titled Association of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife, it was determined that " gut microbial community composition, was significantly associated with cognitive scores in an analysis of middle-age CARDIA participants," The parent CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), was initiated in 1985-86 for the purpose of “examining the development and determinants of clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease and their risk factors.”, from young adulthood into middle age. Since its inception, the CARDIA study has investigated the role of several risk factors that affect cognition and brain health in aging including cardiometabolic disease (diabetes, heart disease, obesity) which is highly associated with an increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease in aging. There are two main findings that I focus on in this podcast with regard to the CARDIA substudy (Association of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife) that were significant modifiers of the gut-brain axis and cognitive performance... a gut bacteria associated with SIBO and cognitive performance and, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which are beneficial metabolites produced by healthy fermentation of resistant starches—a fiber that functions as a prebiotic. I also briefly review the findings of a few studies on the neuroprotective benefit of several probiotic strains and probiotic therapy in modifying the risk for type 2 diabetes and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Please listen in to hear the rest of the gut-brain axis story! Ralph Sanchez, MTCM, CNS, D.Hom www.TheAlzheimersSolution.com https://www.facebook.com/TheAlzheimersSolution https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-sanchez https://www.instagram.com/alzheimers_solution
In today's episode, we will be talking about the fiber paradox and overcoming food intolerances with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz. He will be answering questions like, What is the Fiber Paradox? Why do people struggle with dysbiosis, constipation, collagen deficiency, SIBO, and excessive histamine production? If we struggle with fiber, why not just eliminate it? Why do we care about fiber? What are SCFAs and what role do they play in optimizing human health? Link to download the freemiumhttps://www.theplantfedgut.com/cookbook Website www.theplantfedgut.com Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes! Please leave us a review to ensure that the Mastering Diabetes message reaches as many people living with diabetes as possible. Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook
* SUPPORT THE SHOW * Donations are so appreciated (PayPal Me )As you know I believe minerals run the show of the human body, even the microbes in your gut rely on mineral balance. Minerals & Microbes are foundational elements every one of us needs to thrive. In this episode I want to hone in on one aspect of gut health that I see as a key anyone can focus on improving to also benefit their whole health. When the gut microbiome is running low in its keystone species this impacts systemic functionality as well. For example; one function I see low on all of my clients BiomeFX stool sample results is low butyrate function. It's one of many BUT here's why even this one function alone in the low range can impact many things. What is butyrate? Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that provides fuel for the cells of our gut lining, supports immune system functions of the colon wall and protects against certain diseases of the digestive tract. There are other SCFAs like acetate and propionate, but the benefits of butyrate are particularly well-researched.Butyrate is produced by your gut bacteria and supports digestive health and disease prevention.Our gut bacteria digest tough plant fibers for us and turn them into a number of organic compounds, including “short-chain fatty acids” (SCFAs) that have well known proven benefits for our health and well-being. Our gut bacteria produce fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids that have a range of beneficial effects for the body, from promoting healthy immune system function to maintaining the integrity of the gut lining. Check out episode #35 from October 30 2020 that I did with Kiran Krishnan - you will get a massive education on the microbiome one that is SO needed -so do yourself a favor and listen to that episode. In many ways your microbiome and immune system are one in the same. Learn more about how I support you on your health journey: https://lydiajoy.mykajabi.com
Today I've brought back Steven Wright of the Healthy Gut Company to talk about the tremendous impact short-chain fatty acids have on the gut microbiome.Short-chain fatty acids are produced when the good bacteria in your gut break down certain dietary fibers, which is why dietary and supplemental fiber sources are so important for optimal health.Both clinical application and peer-reviewed research have shown that short-chain fatty acids enhance intestinal barrier function, regulate the immune system, and reduce oxidative stress. They can also help with insomnia, food sensitivities, histamine intolerance, and autoimmune diseases.We discuss good sources of the right kinds of dietary and supplemental fibers, as well as how and when to supplement short-chain fatty acids like butyric acid.Listen to the full episode to hear:How short-chain fatty acids are produced in the gut and why they're so important for maintaining the health of your microbiomeHow butyrate interacts with the immune system to protect against leaky gut and autoimmune issuesWhat to eat to support your body's ability to produce short-chain fatty acidsWhat to look for in a butyrate supplementGet $15 off plus free shipping with coupon code: eatforlife15 at Healthy Gut CompanyLearn more about Steven Wright:Healthy Gut CompanyLearn more about Sami:Eatfor.lifeBook Your Complimentary ConsultationEat For Life cookbooks for each unique biotypeResources:Sanna, S., van Zuydam, N.R., Mahajan, A. et al. Causal relationships among the gut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids and metabolic diseases. Nat Genet 51, 600–605 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-019-0350-xAbdul Rahim, M.B.H., Chilloux, J., Martinez-Gili, L. et al. Diet-induced metabolic changes of the human gut microbiome: the importance of short-chain fatty acids, methylamines, and indoles. Acta Diabetol 56, 493–500 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-019-01312-xWeronika Ratajczak et al. Immunomodulatory potential of gut microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Acta Biochimica Polonica, Vol. 66 No. 1 (2019). https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2018_2648Magzal, F., Even, C., Haimov, I. et al. Associations between fecal short-chain fatty acids and sleep continuity in older adults with insomnia symptoms. Sci Rep 11, 4052 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83389-5
Does farting mean that I'm unhealthy...?NO! Everyone farts! Even the healthiest people.But.... not all farts are equal! You probably had a sense (or smell) of that.Also, some flatulence is associated with excessive bloating, GI cramping, and irregular bowel habits - not very pleasant symptoms that could indicate imbalances in the digestive system.Here in this episode, we intend to distinguish normal, healthy gas from the more pathologic and problematic gas while also giving you some tips, tricks, and guidance for dealing with gas as you keep optimizing your digestive health.If you'd like to join these conversations live, be sure to Subscribe to the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealthSome highlights from today's MM episode...Gas is the byproduct of fermentation in the gut, a natural part of the digestive processDifferent plant fibers (carbohydrates) fuel the various strains of microbes inhabiting the gut - which in tern give us SCFAs (postbiotics - acetate, propionate, and butyrate)Microbial breakdown of protein (amino acids) creates a whole bunch of other end products (amines, phenols, indoles, thiols, CO2, H2, and H2S) many of which have toxic propertiesProteins takes longer to digest and can contribute to a slower GI transit time (time it takes for foods to pass from mouth to toilet) - 12-24 hours is healthy, 48-96 hours is “normal”Fiber, hydration, movement, relaxation/peace helps optimize transitA main cause of foul smelling farts is protein putrification which takes place in the context of high protein diets and a slowed transit timeFiber-rich carbohydrate diets diversity the microbiome and lead to enhanced SCFA production which is protective against GI disorders and other chronic diseases.Tips for relieving gas - carminative herbs, digestive bitters, food hygiene...Links to some more good stuff- Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitionerPeace and Love.
SPOTLIGHT ON....Probiotics for Performance Are you aware that Probiotics, in the form of food and/or nutritional supplementation, may support your running performance? It is well known that Probiotics have the ability to enhance general health through modulation of the immune system and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity as well as by limiting pathogen adhesion to host tissue BUT a lot less is known about Probiotics potential to enhance exercise performance. Research in the area of Probiotic use as an ergogenic aid in sport and exercise performance is relatively new, but growing especially linked to athletes and their Gastrointestinal health and Immunity. BUT research is also looking at Probiotics linked to specific aspects of exercise and performance including recovery, physical fatigue, and body composition. So here we: Delve into the effects of Probiotics on athletic performance Discuss the different types of Probiotics (Food and Supplements) Give advice on choosing Probiotics https://sunny-trailblazer-4067.ck.page/22871f11a5 (BOOK YOUR PLACE) on our next FREE TRAINING: Learn all about our Healthy Woman Healthy Runner Method. We love podcasting but we love being with you LIVE even more so we can't wait to meet you in our ZOOM ROOM!https://sunny-trailblazer-4067.ck.page/22871f11a5 (BOOK HERE!) SHOW NOTES: (03:50) Understanding Probiotics and What They Are In our digestive system (and other parts of the body, but primarily the digestive tract) reside many different microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful. This is known as an individual's Microbiome – each person's microbiome being unique to them. Most microbes (also known as microbiota) are symbiotic meaning both the human body and microbiota benefit. BUT some, in smaller numbers can be pathogenic (promoting disease). In a healthy body, pathogenic and symbiotic microbiota coexist without problems. BUT if there is a disturbance in that balance—brought on for example by an infectious illness, a certain eating style/diet choice, or the prolonged use of antibiotics or other bacteria-destroying medications then DYSBIOSIS (imbalance of the microbiota) occurs, stopping these normal interactions. As a result, the body may become more susceptible to illness/disease, primarily immune related disorders as 70% of the immune system resides in the digestive tract. Probiotics (which can be taken in the form of food or nutritional supplements) are micro-organisms that are widely considered to be health-promoting. Both the World health Organisation (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) state: “Probiotics are live micro-organisms that when administered orally for several weeks can increase the numbers of beneficial bacteria in the gut. These have been associated with a range of potential benefits to gut health, as well as modulation of immune function”. In the general population research into Probiotics has determined their ability to enhance health in many different ways including: Modulation of the immune response Maintenance of the intestinal barrier Limiting pathogen adhesion to host tissue Production of different metabolites such as vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and other molecules that act as neurotransmitters involved in gut–brain axis communication and health BUT the research into Probiotics and their effects on sports and exercise performance is much more limited. (08:11) What is the research saying about Probiotics for Exercise Performance? Recent research has indicated that probiotic supplementation could promote specific improvements in exercise performance through various pathways in athletes and physically active individuals using targeted strains of probiotics. The research appears to be focusing on Probiotics in athletes in relation to Gut health and Immunity but also particular aspects of exercise and performance including:
Natural compound in basil may protect against Alzheimer's disease pathology University of South Florida, October 5, 2021 Fenchol, a natural compound abundant in some plants including basil, can help protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease pathology, a preclinical study led by University of South Florida Health (USF Health) researchers suggests. The new study published Oct. 5 in the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, discovered a sensing mechanism associated with the gut microbiome that explains how fenchol reduces neurotoxicity in the Alzheimer's brain. Emerging evidence indicates that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)– metabolites produced by beneficial gut bacteria and the primary source of nutrition for cells in your colon—contribute to brain health. The abundance of SCFAs is often reduced in older patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. However, how this decline in SCFAs contributes to Alzheimer's disease progression remains largely unknown. Gut-derived SCFAs that travel through the blood to the brain can bind to and activate free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2), a cell signaling molecule expressed on brain cellscalled neurons. "Our study is the first to discover that stimulation of the FFAR2 sensing mechanism by these microbial metabolites (SCFAs) can be beneficial in protecting brain cells against toxic accumulation of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein associated with Alzheimer's disease," said principal investigator Hariom Yadav, Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery and brain repair at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, where he directs the USF Center for Microbiome Research. One of the two hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer's disease is hardened deposits of Aβ that clump together between nerve cells to form amyloid protein plaques in the brain. The other is neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein inside brain cells. These pathologies contribute to the neuron loss and death that ultimately cause the onset of Alzheimer's, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of memory, thinking skills and other cognitive abilities. Dr. Yadav and his collaborators delve into molecular mechanisms to explain how interactions between the gut microbiome and the brain might influence brain health and age-related cognitive decline. In this study, Dr. Yadav said, the research team set out to uncover the "previously unknown" function of FFAR2 in the brain. The researchers first showed that inhibiting the FFAR2 receptor (thus blocking its ability to "sense" SCFAs in the environment outside the neuronal cell and transmit signaling inside the cell) contributes to the abnormal buildup of the Aβ protein causing neurotoxicity linked to Alzheimer's disease. Then, they performed large-scale virtual screening of more than 144,000 natural compounds to find potential candidates that could mimic the same beneficial effect of microbiota produced SCFAs in activating FFAR2 signaling. Identifying a natural compound alternative to SCFAs to optimally target the FFAR2 receptor on neurons is important, because cells in the gut and other organs consume most of these microbial metabolites before they reach the brain through blood circulation, Dr. Yadav noted. Dr. Yadav's team narrowed 15 leading compound candidates to the most potent one. Fenchol, a plant-derived compound that gives basil its aromatic scent, was best at binding to the FFAR's active site to stimulate its signaling. Further experiments in human neuronal cell cultures, as well as Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans (worm) and mouse models of Alzheimer's disease demonstrated that fenchol significantly reduced excess Aβ accumulation and death of neurons by stimulating FFAR2 signaling, the microbiome sensing mechanism. When the researchers more closely examined how fenchol modulates Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, they found that the compound decreased senescent neuronal cells, also known as "zombie" cells, commonly found in brains with Alzheimer's disease pathology. Zombie cells stop replicating and die a slow death. Meanwhile, Dr. Yadav said, they build up in diseased and aging organs, create a damaging inflammatory environment, and send stress or death signals to neighboring healthy cells, which eventually also change into harmful zombie cells or die. "Fenchol actually affects the two related mechanisms of senescence and proteolysis," Dr. Yadav said of the intriguing preclinical study finding. "It reduces the formation of half-dead zombie neuronal cells and also increases the degradation of (nonfunctioning) Aβ, so that amyloid protein is cleared from the brain much faster." Before you start throwing lots of extra basil in your spaghetti sauce or anything else you eat to help stave off dementia, more research is needed—including in humans. In exploring fenchol as a possible approach for treating or preventing Alzheimer's pathology, the USF Health team will seek answers to several questions. A key one is whether fenchol consumed in basil itself would be more or less bioactive (effective) than isolating and administering the compound in a pill, Dr. Yadav said. "We also want to know whether a potent dose of either basil or fenchol would be a quicker way to get the compound into the brain." Researchers find sense of purpose associated with better memory Florida State University, October 6, 2021 Add an improved memory to the list of the many benefits that accompany having a sense of purpose in life. A new study led by Florida State University researchers showed a link between an individual's sense of purpose and their ability to recall vivid details. The researchers found that while both a sense of purpose and cognitive function made memories easier to recall, only a sense of purpose bestowed the benefits of vividness and coherence. The study, which focused on memories related to the COVID-19 pandemic, was published in the journal Memory. "Personal memories serve really important functions in everyday life," said Angelina Sutin, a professor in the College of Medicine and the paper's lead author. "They help us to set goals, control emotions and build intimacy with others. We also know people with a greater sense of purpose perform better on objective memory tests, like remembering a list of words. We were interested in whether purpose was also associated with the quality of memories of important personal experiences because such qualities may be one reason why purpose is associated with better mental and physical health." Nearly 800 study participants reported on their sense of purpose and completed tasks that measured their cognitive processing speed in January and February 2020, before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S. Researchers then measured participants' ability to retrieve and describe personal memories about the pandemic in July 2020, several months into the public health crisis. Participants with a stronger sense of purpose in life reported that their memories were more accessible, coherent and vivid than participants with less purpose. Those with a higher sense of purpose also reported many sensory details, spoke about their memories more from a first-person perspective and reported more positive feeling and less negative feeling when asked to retrieve a memory. The researchers also found that depressive symptoms had little effect on the ability to recall vivid details in memories, suggesting that the connection between life purpose and memory recall is not due to the fewer depressive symptoms among individuals higher in purpose. Purpose in life has been consistently associated with better episodic memory, such as the number of words retrieved correctly on a memory task. This latest research expands on those connections to memory by showing a correlation between purpose and the richness of personal memory. "We chose to measure the ability to recall memories associated with the COVID-19 pandemic because the pandemic is an event that touched everyone, but there has been a wide range of experiences and reactions to it that should be apparent in memories," said co-author Martina Luchetti, an assistant professor in the College of Medicine. Along with the association with better memory, previous research has found other numerous benefits connected with having a sense of purpose, from a lower risk of death to better physical and mental health. "Memories help people to sustain their well-being, social connections and cognitive health," said co-author Antonio Terracciano, a professor in the College of Medicine. "This research gives us more insight into the connections between a sense of purpose and the richness of personal memories. The vividness of those memories and how they fit into a coherent narrative may be one pathway through which purpose leads to these better outcomes. Vitamin D protects against severe asthma attacks Queen Mary University of London, October 3, 2021 Taking oral vitamin D supplements in addition to standard asthma medication could halve the risk of asthma attacks requiring hospital attendance, according to research led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Asthma affects more than 300 million people worldwide and is estimated to cause almost 400,000 deaths annually. Asthma deaths arise primarily during episodes of acute worsening of symptoms, known as attacks or 'exacerbations', which are commonly triggered by viral upper respiratory infections. Vitamin D is thought to protect against such attacks by boosting immune responses to respiratory viruses and dampening down harmful airway inflammation. The new study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, and published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, collated and analysed the individual data from 955 participants in seven randomised controlled trials, which tested the use of vitamin D supplements. Overall, the researchers found that vitamin D supplementation resulted in: a 30 per cent reduction in the rate of asthma attacks requiring treatment with steroid tablets or injections - from 0.43 events per person per year to 0.30. a 50 per cent reduction in the risk of experiencing at least one asthma attack requiring Accident and Emergency Department attendance and/or hospitalisation - from 6 per cent of people experiencing such an event to 3 per cent. Vitamin D supplementation was found to be safe at the doses administered. No instances of excessively high calcium levels or renal stones were seen, and serious adverse events were evenly distributed between participants taking vitamin D and those on placebo. Lead researcher Professor Adrian Martineau said: "These results add to the ever growing body of evidence that vitamin D can support immune function as well as bone health. On average, three people in the UK die from asthma attacks every day. Vitamin D is safe to take and relatively inexpensive so supplementation represents a potentially cost-effective strategy to reduce this problem." The team's use of individual participant data also allowed them to query the extent to which different groups respond to vitamin D supplementation, in more detail than previous studies. In particular, vitamin D supplementation was found to have a strong and statistically-significant protective effect in participants who had low vitamin D levels to start with. These participants saw a 55 per cent reduction in the rate of asthma exacerbations requiring treatment with steroid tablets or injections - from 0.42 events per person per year to 0.19. However, due to relatively small numbers of patients within sub-groups, the researchers caution that they did not find definitive evidence to show that effects of vitamin D supplementation differ according to baseline vitamin D status. Professor Hywel Williams, Director of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme, said: "The results of this NIHR-funded study brings together evidence from several other studies from over the world and is an important contribution to reducing uncertainties on whether Vitamin D is helpful for asthma - a common condition that impacts on many thousands of people worldwide." Dr David Jolliffe from QMUL, first author on the paper, added: "Our results are largely based on data from adults with mild to moderate asthma: children and adults with severe asthma were relatively under-represented in the dataset, so our findings cannot necessarily be generalised to these patient groups at this stage. Further clinical trials are on-going internationally, and we hope to include data from them in a future analysis to determine whether the promise of today's results is confirmed in an even larger and more diverse group of patients." Study Shows Lifestyle Choices Have Significant Impact on Multiple Chronic Conditions, Significant Implications For Reducing Costs Yale University, October 05, 2021 In a study published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine, Adams and colleagues showed a linear association between a number of modifiable risk factors and multiple chronic conditions, making those modifications a key to health care cost savings and to preventing a wide range of conditions. The data analyzed for the study, https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1VpFeKt2pmc9H, were from the publicly available 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and included 483,865 non-institutionalized US adults ages 18 years old or older. Chronic conditions included asthma, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive impairment, cancer other than skin, and kidney disease. Risk factors included obesity, current smoking, sedentary lifestyle, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption and sleeping other than seven to eight hours, while depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes were considered in each category. Previous research by Thorpe and colleagues had estimated that the care of adults with four or more chronic conditions (17.1% of all adults in the study) is responsible for 77.6% of all health care costs in the U.S. today. The potential savings by reducing just two risk factors (diabetes and hypertension) and their related comorbidity was estimated previously by Ormond and colleagues at $9 billion annually over one to two years and closer to $25 billion a year after 5 years or more, factoring in possible complications. True Health Initiative founder, at Yale University Director and study co-author David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACLM, pointed out that in addition to costs, another implication of the study results is an individual's access to healthcare if they have one or more of the chronic conditions. "Although insurers decide what qualifies as a pre-existing condition, all the chronic conditions used in this study except cognitive impairment are commonly included," he said. "Individuals with a pre-existing condition could be denied coverage or face higher premiums. While having a pre-existing condition might not affect coverage for adults eligible for Medicare, over half of all adults with multiple chronic conditions are ages 18 to 64 years." American College of Lifestyle Medicine President George Guthrie, MD, MPH, FACLM, said the study confirms the necessity for addressing the root cause of chronic conditions. "The evidence shows that the risks for chronic disease are rooted in lifestyle choices," he said. "More than ever, it is important to emphasize lifestyle medicine as the first treatment option for preventing, treating, and in some cases, reversing the cause of chronic conditions. If we can help people with chronic conditions, we can add years to their life and life to their years, as well as lower the ever-increasing costs of healthcare for everyone." Physical athletes' visual skills prove sharper than action video game players University of Waterloo (Canada), October 7, 2021 Athletes still have the edge over action video gamers when it comes to dynamic visual skills, a new study from the University of Waterloo shows. For an athlete, having strong visual skills can be the difference between delivering a peak performance and achieving average results. "Athletes involved in sports with a high-level of movement—like soccer, football, or baseball—often score higher on dynamic visual acuity tests than non-athletes," said Dr. Kristine Dalton of Waterloo's School of Optometry & Vision Science. "Our research team wanted to investigate if action video gamers—who, like e-sport athletes, are regularly immersed in a dynamic, fast-paced 2D video environment for large periods of time—would also show superior levels of dynamic visual acuity on par with athletes competing in physical sport." While visual acuity (clarity or sharpness of vision) is most often measured under static conditions during annual check-ups with an optometrist, research shows that testing dynamic visual acuity is a more effective measure of a person's ability to see moving objects clearly—a baseline skill necessary for success in physical and e-sports alike. Using a dynamic visual acuity skills-test designed and validated at the University of Waterloo, researchers discovered that while physical athletes score highly on dynamic visual acuity tests as expected, action video game players tested closer to non-athletes. "Ultimately, athletes showed a stronger ability to identify smaller moving targets, which suggests visual processing differences exist between them and our video game players," said Alan Yee, a Ph.D. candidate in vision science. All participants were matched based on their level of static visual acuity and refractive error, distinguishing dynamic visual acuity as the varying factor on their test performance. These findings are also important for sports vision training centers that have been exploring the idea of developing video game-based training programs to help athletes elevate their performance. "Our findings show there is still a benefit to training in a 3D environment," said Dalton. "For athletes looking to develop stronger visual skills, the broader visual field and depth perception that come with physical training may be crucial to improving their dynamic visual acuity—and ultimately, their sport performance." The study, Athletes demonstrate superior visual dynamic visual acuity, authored by Waterloo's School of Optometry & Vision Science's Dalton, Yee, Dr. Elizabeth Irving and Dr. Ben Thompson, was recently published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science. Probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila and environmental enrichment reverse cognitive impairment associated with high-fat high-cholesterol consumption University of Oviedo (Spain), September 8, 2021 Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the most prevalent diseases globally. A high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet leads to an early NASH model. It has been suggested that gut microbiota mediates the effects of diet through the microbiota–gut–brain axis, modifying the host's brain metabolism and disrupting cognition. Here, we target NASH-induced cognitive damage by testing the impact of environmental enrichment (EE) and the administration of either Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) or Akkermansia muciniphila CIP107961 (AKK). EE and AKK, but not LGG, reverse the HFHC-induced cognitive dysfunction, including impaired spatial working memory and novel object recognition; however, whereas AKK restores brain metabolism, EE results in an overall decrease. Moreover, AKK and LGG did not induce major rearrangements in the intestinal microbiota, with only slight changes in bacterial composition and diversity, whereas EE led to an increase in Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia members. Our findings illustrate the interplay between gut microbiota, the host's brain energy metabolism, and cognition. In addition, the findings suggest intervention strategies, such as the administration of AKK, for the management of the cognitive dysfunction related to NASH. In this study, we described cognitive, brain metabolism, and microbiota alterations associated with high-fat and high-cholesterol consumption. In addition, we clearly showed that environmental enrichment and A. muciniphila CIP107961 restore cognitive dysfunction. Furthermore, we revealed that cognitive improvement is associated with differential effects of environmental enrichment and this strain of A. muciniphila on brain metabolism and gut microbiota. Finally, we discovered that restored cognitive function was associated with the administration of A. muciniphila CIP107961, but not L. rhamnosus GG, which may be clinically relevant when selecting probiotics for treating HFHC-derived pathologies. In conclusion, the microbiota and cognition are intimately connected through the gut–brain axis, and in HFHC pathologies they can be influenced by environmental enrichment and A. muciniphila CIP107961 administration. Cognitive improvement was accompanied by changes in brain metabolic activity and gut microbial composition analysis, pointing to specific microbiota targets for intervention in diet-induced pathologies. However, some mechanisms other than major changes in microbiota composition and the combined effect of environmental enrichment and A. muciniphila administration, which we identified in this study, may also be biologically relevant and will need to be investigated in future studies due to their relative contributions to the selection of effective treatments for patients.
Dietary propolis supplementation reduced proinflammatory cytokines associated with air pollution exposure, without impacting on immune cell infiltration or lung function New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, September 10, 2021 Air pollution is estimated to cause 7 million annual deaths globally. Our aim was to determine if dietary propolis consumption could prevent the immune and functional damage in a mouse model of acute urban dust exposure. Female C57BL/6J mice were challenged three times with intranasal urban dust over seven days which significantly increased proinflammatory cytokines and immune cells in the lung 24 h post final challenge. Dietary New Zealand propolis (2%) with gamma cyclodextrin supplementation reduced urban dust-induced lung TNFα, IL-4, and IL-6 cytokine production; but did not alter immune cell infiltration into the lung, or lung function outcomes. This suggests that daily consumption of 8% propolis with gamma cyclodextrin supplemented food was sufficient to reduce urban dust pollution-induced proinflammatory cytokine production but was not sufficient to prevent immune cell recruitment into the lung or lung function decline in a murine model of lung inflammation. In this study we found that daily consumption of a New Zealand propolis reduced proinflammatory cytokines within the lung in response to acute urban dust exposure but this inhibition was not sufficient to reduce immune cell infiltration or prevent increased airways tissue constriction. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of 8% propolis with gamma cyclodextrin (equivalent to 2% propolis resin) does not result in sufficient bioavailable concentrations of the bioactive polyphenolics to fully overcome urban dust pollution-induced acute immune cell infiltration into the lung. Other studies have shown that acute gavage consumption or intraperitoneal injection of specific propolis bioactive components can protect against a number of different immune challenges within the lung. These effects appear to be both concentration and administration route dependent, and may not be achievable using unenriched propolis as a dietary intervention. 20-Week Study of Clinical Outcomes of Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Prophylaxis and Treatment Comprehensive Pain Management Institute (Ohio), August 6, 2021 New research published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine shows that early intervention against a Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) infection using natural, over-the-counter remedies is a safe and effective way to avoid complications. Researchers from Ohio looked at modalities that are readily available for the Chinese Virus, including zinc, zinc ionophores, vitamins C, D3, and E, and l-lysine. These items were categorized in the study as “preventive measures” and “early-stage treatments” that can help to avoid the need for more “advanced” anti-covid measures such as pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines. Each of these tested remedies is natural, by the way, and the results of what they can do are impressive. Once again, nature wins out as our most abundant medicine cabinet, far exceeding anything cooked up in a lab. The clinical study found that this “multi-component OTC (over-the-counter) ‘core formulation' regimen” successfully protected test subjects against getting sick from the Chinese Virus, even as others got sick. “While both groups were moderate in size, the difference between them in outcomes over the 20-week study period was large and stark: Just under 4% of the compliant test group presented flu-like symptoms, but none of the test group was COVID-positive,” the paper reveals. “[W]hereas 20% of the non-compliant control group presented flu-like symptoms, three-quarters of whom (15% overall of the control group) were COVID-positive.” For 20 weeks, test subjects took these natural supplements. Adjustments were made for those with pre-existing health conditions and other health factors that may have influenced the outcome. Since all of the remedies utilized fall into the “low cost” category, anyone can access them. They are all dubbed as “anti-viral” as well, meaning they are safe and effective for use against viruses. By taking advantage of these remedies early, the paper explains, people can help to protect themselves against the types of adverse events that are causing some people to have to be hospitalized and put on a ventilator. “From early March through the end of July 2020, one of us (LM) monitored approximately 600 patients in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio cities heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and did consultations with several colleagues (including JL) in the New York City metropolitan area, also heavily hit,” the paper explains. “Over that 5-month period, we dealt with dozens of clinical and/or test-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Much of the monitoring was performed via telemedicine; approximately 20% was performed in-office. It is from in-office monitored patients and staff that the study groups emerged.” We have been covering some of these same remedies along with others that have been scientifically shown to help protect against spike protein-induced illness. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), as one example, is a zinc ionophore that helps to deliver more zinc into cells for improved immune function. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol component of green tea, is a natural zinc ionophore that improves zinc absorption. For this latest study, the research team used quina (cinchona) plant bark extract and quercetin as zinc ionophores, as these, too, help to deliver more healing nutrients like zinc to the cells. “The core supplementation formulation components have been demonstrated … to have beneficial effects both outside of and within clinical settings in the prevention of viral infections and also in the treatment of early stages of such diseases,” the study reveals. “Zinc ionophores can … be utilized to gain the anti-viral benefit of enhanced intracellular Zn+2 concentrations while limiting tolerance / side-effect / toxicity issues associated with elevated serum levels of zinc supplementation.” You can review the full paper at this link. Neuroprotective effect of L-carnitine against glyceraldehyde-induced metabolic impairment University Politecnica delle Marche (Italy), September 7, 2021 According to news reporting originating from Ancona, Italy, research stated, “Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive regression and memory loss. Dysfunctions of both glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics have been recognized as the main upstream events of the degenerative processes leading to AD.” Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the School of Medicine, “It has been recently found that correcting cell metabolism by providing alternative substrates can prevent neuronal injury by retaining mitochondrial function and reducing AD marker levels. Here, we induced an AD-like phenotype by using the glycolysis inhibitor glyceraldehyde (GA) and explored whether L-carnitine (4-N-trimethylamino-3-hydroxybutyric acid, LC) could mitigate neuronal damage, both in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and in rat primary cortical neurons. We have already reported that GA significantly modified AD marker levels; here we demonstrated that GA dramatically compromised cellular bioenergetic status, as revealed by glycolysis and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) evaluation. We found that LC ameliorated cell survival, improved OCR and ATP synthesis, prevented the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Dps) and reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Of note, the beneficial effect of LC did not rely on the glycolytic pathway rescue. Finally, we noticed that LC significantly reduced the increase in pTau levels induced by GA. Overall, these findings suggest that the use of LC can promote cell survival in the setting of the metabolic impairments commonly observed in AD.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Our data suggest that LC may act by maintaining mitochondrial function and by reducing the pTau level.” Hyperbaric oxygen study shows reversal of biologic hallmarks responsible for development of Alzheimer disease Tel Aviv University & Shamir Medical Center (Israel), September 10, 2021 A new study, published today in peer-review medical journal Aging, marks the first time non-pharmaceutical clinical exploration proves efficacy in reversing the main activators of Alzheimer's disease. Using a specific protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), cerebral blood flow (CBF) improved/increased in elderly patients by 16-23%, alleviating vascular dysfunction and amyloid burden. The study, part of a comprehensive research program directed toward aging and accompanying ailments as a reversible disease, holds promise for a new strategic approach to the prevention of Alzheimer's by addressing not only the symptoms or targeting biomarkers, but rather the core pathology and biology responsible for the advancement of the disease. Vascular dysfunction is a crucial element in the development of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline: Amyloid beta deposits in the brain blood vessel walls are the most common vascular pathology in Alzheimer's. Reduced blood flow to the brain and its related decrease in oxygen supply (hypoxia) can precede the clinical onset of dementia and correlates with the degree of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's. The comprehensive research, conducted at the Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University and the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Center, was led by study co-authors, Professor Shai Efrati, M.D.; Professor Uri Ashery, Ph.D.; Ronit Shapira, Ph.D.; Pablo Blinder, Ph.D.; Amir Hadanny, M.D. Using combined data from an animal model of Alzheimer's, where effects were evaluated directly on brain tissue (Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University); humans, assessed with the use of high-resolution MRI and computerized cognitive test (Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Center); correlating results displayed beneficial effects of HBOT on patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the stage before dementia. Each patient received 60 HBOT sessions over a 90-day period, showcasing substantial improvement in cognitive functions – with memory, attention and information processing speed exhibiting the strongest results. "After dedicating our HBOT research to exploring its impact on the areas of brain functionality and age-related cognitive decline, we have discovered for the first time HBOT induces degradation and clearance of pre-existing amyloid plaques – treatment, and the appearance of newly formed plaques- prevention," explains Professor Uri Ashery. "Elderly patients suffering from significant memory loss at baseline revealed an increase in brain blood flow and improvement in cognitive performance, demonstrating HBOT potency to reverse core elements responsible for the development of Alzheimer's disease." "By treating vascular dysfunction, we're mapping out the path toward Alzheimer's prevention. More research is underway to further demonstrate how HBOT can improve cognitive function and become an influential tool in the imperative fight against the disease," affirms Professor Efrati, research group leader and medical advisor to Aviv Scientific. Aviv has developed a unique medical treatment protocol that includes HBOT, cognitive and physical training, and nutritional coaching, to enhance brain and body performance of aging adults at Aviv Clinics, currently available in Central Florida and Dubai. HBOT is already used in patients with other pathologies and is known to be a relatively safe treatment modality, illustrating its potential to be easily implanted in clinical practice. In recent years, there is growing scientific evidence that certain protocols of HBOT can improve brain oxygen supply, induce proliferation of neuronal stem cells and induce generation of new blood vessels and neurons in the brain. Increased flatulence from eating plant-based diet found to indicate healthier gut microbiome Center for Biomedical Research Network for Liver and Digestive Diseases (Spain), September 10, 2021 A team of researchers affiliated with a host of institutions across Spain has found that the increase in flatulence experienced by people switching to a plant-based diet is an indication of a healthier gut microbiome. In their paper published in the journal Nutrients, the group describes experiments they conducted with healthy, male volunteers regarding diet, fecal sample size and flatulence. It is widely known that switching from a fat or carbohydrate-based diet to one that features more vegetables results in more flatulence—particularly if the switch is to cruciferous vegetables. But as the researchers with this new effort have noted, little research has been done to learn more about the association between diet and flatulence. To learn more about the impact of switching to a plant-based diet on digestion and the gut biome, the researchers enlisted the assistance of 18 healthy, adult male volunteers. Each was asked to eat a western-style diet and then to switch to the plant-based Mediterranean diet for two weeks. Over the study period, the volunteers were asked to count the number of times they defecated each day and to capture and weigh each stool sample. Each of the volunteers was also asked to count the number of times they passed gas. The volunteers were also asked to submit to randomized testing that involved measuring the amount of gas that was emitted during episodes of flatulence, using balloons. The researchers found that the change in diet did not change the number of times the volunteers defecated each day—but it did change the amount of material discharged. The researchers found the plant-based diet doubled the stool size on average. The researchers note this was due to a huge increase in the mass of bacterial growth and excretion. The data also showed that the number of flatulence episodes increased by seven times per day on the plant-based diet—and each discharge had approximately 50% more gas. The researchers note this was due to fermenting of plant material in the gut. The researchers suggest their experiments show that a plant-based diet promotes more healthy types of gut bacteria which leads to better overall gut health. Physical exercise can relieve tumor-associated anemia University of Basel (Switzerland), September 10, 2021 Many cancer patients suffer from anemia leaving them fatigued, weak, and an impaired ability to perform physical activity. Drugs only rarely alleviate this type of anemia. Researchers at the University of Basel have now been able to show what causes the anemia, and that physical exercise can improve this condition. The two major symptoms of cancer are loss of muscle mass and a reduced hemoglobin level, leading to weight loss, fatigue, lethargy and reduced physical performance. Moreover, both symptoms—atrophy and anemia—prompt many patients to schedule a doctor's appointment, then resulting in the diagnosis of a tumor. Why cancer causes muscle atrophy and anemia is not yet understood, and treatment is currently difficult. The fact that anemia leads to a decline of the overall state of health and can negatively affect the course of cancer therapy highlights the urgency to obtain insights into causes and potential remedies. In collaboration with the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel, the research group of Professor Christoph Handschin at the Biozentrum has now been able to show in a mouse model that cancer not only triggers a systemic inflammatory reaction, but also massively changes the handling of lipids and other metabolites in the body. The body's fight is unsuccessful These changes result in a tumor-related enhanced destruction of red blood cells. The study published in Science Advances shows that exercise normalizes these metabolic abnormalities and thereby reduces the anemia caused by cancer. The body tries to counteract the degradation by increasing red blood cell productionin the bone marrow and the spleen—without success. However, the increased production of blood cells is insufficient to prevent tumor-associated anemia. "We have now been able to clarify how cancer causes the degradation of red blood cells," says Christoph Handschin. "Cancer massively alters the metabolism of lipids and other compounds. This alters not only the red blood cells but also the macrophages, causing a sharp increase in red blood cells destruction by the macrophages." Macrophages are a type of white blood cells and part of the immune system. Exercise normalizes metabolism and alleviates anemia The research group attempted to normalize the metabolism by pharmacological means. However, none of the drugs could significantly improve the anemia. In contrast, however, the metabolism was regulated to such an extent by exercise that the anemia also decreased. Even the abnormal increase in red blood cell production could be reduced to a lower level. "Training was able to restore tumor-induced metabolic remodeling and inflammation sufficiently to blunt the excessive blood cell formation and destruction," explained Handschin. This study provides novel insights into the development of tumor-associated anemia. The findings suggest that exercise is a useful therapy for cancer patients, in order to counteract anemia and associated fatigue and lethargy and in turn to improve their general well-being and quality of life. This also leads to improved tolerance of radio- and chemotherapy, as has previously been established. Mango could help maintain gut bacteria at risk from high-fat diets Oklahoma State University, September 13, 2021 Mango consumption could help prevent the loss of beneficial gut bacteria caused by a high fat diet, according to research on mice. The findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition , appears to reveal for the first time the positive impact of mango on gut microbiota. In the study, 60 male mice were assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups for 12 weeks - control (with 10% of calories from fat), high fat (with 60% calories from fat), or high fat with 1% or 10% mango. All high-fat diets had similar macronutrient, calcium, phosphorus, and fiber content. “We investigated the effects of freeze-dried mango pulp combined with an high-fat diet on the cecal microbial population and its relation to body composition, lipids, glucose parameters, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and gut inflammatory markers in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity,” the study reports. The high-fat dietary treatment with 10% mango (equivalent to 1½ cups of fresh mango pieces) was found to be the most effective in preventing the loss of beneficial bacteria from a high-fat diet without decreasing body weight or fat accumulation. Specifically, mango supplementation regulated gut bacteria in favor of Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia and enhanced short-chain fatty acid (SFCA) production. SCFAs have been shown to possess a wide range of beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory properties. Fibre benefits In previous studies, Bifidobacteria, for example, has been found to be lower in both obese individuals and those with type-2 diabetes. Similar results have been observed withAkkermansia in animal studies. High-fat diets, meanwhile, have been linked to gut dysbiosis, or bacterial imbalances within the intestinal tract. "Fibre and other bioactive compounds in plant-based foods are suggested to prevent gut dysbiosis caused by a high-fat diet," said Edralin A. Lucas, professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University and lead researcher of the study. "Mango is a good source of fibre and has been reported in previous studies to have anti-obesogenic, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory properties. The results of this animal study showed that adding mango to the diet may help maintain and regulate gut health and levels of beneficial bacteria levels.” India, China, Indonesia and Thailand are the top four Mango growing countries, accounting for well over half the total global production. Although more research is needed on the effects of mango on human health, this study suggests that mango consumption may be important in improving gut health particularly for those consuming a high-fat diet, the researchers concluded.
Short chain fatty acids: An 'ace in the hole' against SARS-CoV-2 infection Scientists find that short chain fatty acids can be used to reduce susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality from COVID-19 University of Fukui (Japan), July 14, 2021 Humans are no stranger to coronavirus (CoV) pandemics. Just like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), another member of the coronavirus family--SARS-CoV--caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic across parts of Asia in 2003. But, its spread was contained way faster than COVID-19. So, what makes SARS-CoV-2 so contagious? Both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses bear "spike proteins" which get inside our cells by binding to a protein called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that is found in our cells. However, the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein has been found to have a higher binding affinity (10 to 20 times that of SARS-CoV) to ACE2, thus establishing a link between the pathogen and the protein. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that patients with COVID-19 who have rhinosinusitis (i.e., inflammation of the nose) have a low risk of hospitalization. Moreover, the expression of ACE2 was reduced in patients with rhinosinusitis. Coincidentally, another study has shown that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by bacteria in the gut have beneficial effects in allergy and viral infections. These separate findings prompted an investigation of the effect that SCFAs in the nasal cavity against SARS-CoV-2 infection by scientists from the University of Fukui, Japan, led by Dr. Tetsuji Takabayashi. In a new study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, the scientists attempted to understand the effect of SCFAs on ACE2 expression in the nasal passage, and the potential impact on COVID-19 infection. "This is the first report that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) effectively reduce the ACE2 levels in human airway epithelial cells," remarks Dr. Takabayashi. To understand the status of ACE2 expression in patients with allergies, the researchers studied the levels of ACE2 in the inner lining of the nose in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by Japanese cedar pollen (SAR-JCP) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Using techniques like real time-PCR to quantify the expression of ACE2, the researchers found that there was no increase in ACE2 expression in in patients with SAR-JCP, whereas it was decreased in patients with CRS. To better understand the effect of SCFAs on ACE2 expression, the researchers cultured nasal epithelial cells and exposed them to either SFCA and double-stranded RNA (similar to the nuclear material found in some viruses and known to enhance ACE2 expression). Upon examining the expression of ACE2, the researchers saw that the SFCAs had suppressed ACE2 expression in the presence of the RNA as well. These results suggest that SFCAs has potential therapeutic applications against COVID-19. Dr. Takabayashi explains, "The nasal mucosa exhibits the highest ACE2 expression among human organs and hence is a prominent target of original infection. Therefore, the development of strategies to downregulate ACE2 expression in nasal epithelial cells could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and be useful as a novel therapeutic approach." The team's timely findings will certainly aid in our fight against COVID-19. Flavonoids may slow Alzheimer onset Tufts University Human Nutrition Center, July 13, 2021 The following information was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 or older live with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is projected to nearly triple by 2160. Fortunately, USDA-funded research may have found a tasty way to slow disease onset. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that diets high in flavonoids may protect cognitive health. Flavonoids are plant nutrients known for their antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer properties and are found in berries, tea, dark chocolate, and other foods. "Alzheimer's disease is a significant public health challenge," said Paul Jacques, nutritional epidemiologist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. "Given the absence of drug treatments, preventing Alzheimer's disease through a healthy diet is an important consideration." Jacques's study, which followed 2,809 people for nearly 20 years, revealed that diets high in fruits and vegetables showed significant promise to quell the onset of Alzheimer's. "Our study showed that individuals with the highest intakes of flavonoids were more than 50% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, relative to those with the lowest intakes," he said. "Plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds are good sources of flavonoids." According to Jacques, flavonoid-rich diets help more than just Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. "The bottom line is that there are many reasons to consume a healthy diet, including lower risks of cardiovascular disease and some cancers. We can now add protection of cognitive health and prevention of Alzheimer's disease to that list." Mitochondria malfunction shown to be the major cause of Parkinson's University of Copenhagen (Denmark), July 9, 2021 12,000 people in Denmark and 7 to 10 million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's Disease (PD). It is the second most common neurogenerative disorder of aging and the most common movement disorder, but the cause of the disease is largely unknown. In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen show that the most common form of the disease, encompassing 90 to 95 percent of all Parkinson's Disease cases known as sporadic PD, is caused by a blockage of a pathway that regulates the nerve cell's powerhouse, the mitochondria. "Just like when people eat, cells take what they need and get rid of the rest waste products. But if our brain cells have this specific kind of signaling blockage, it means that the powerhouse of the cell—mitochondria—cannot get cleaned up after being damaged," explains corresponding author and group leader Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas at the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre. The blockage leads to an accumulation of high amounts of damaged mitochondria, while not being able to produce enough energy for the cells. It causes neurons to gradually die, which is the reason for the development of Parkinson's Disease symptoms, and why it leads to dementia. The blockage is caused by a dysregulation of the immune genes, more specifically a pathway called type 1 interferon, which is normally important for fight against viruses, but now we show that it is also responsible for regulating the energy supply of the nerve cells. "Every part of our body needs to be regulated. We get a signal to stop eating, when we are full, and the same thing happens everywhere else in our body. If we get an infection, parts of our body need to fight it and stop it from replicating. But when the infection is cleaned up, the signal should subside. This is the job of a protein called PIAS2. That causes the blockage of the type 1 interferon-pathway, and when the infection is over, the blockage should stop and go back to normal. But that does not seem to be the case in patients with Parkinson's Disease. We further demonstrate that this dysregulation leads to a defect in the mitochondrial energy supply, as mentioned before," says Issazadeh-Navikas. These pathways are very important for brain functions, but they are also associated with microbial and virus recognition. For example, they are very important for fighting COVID-19, and a mutation in the related gene has been shown to be linked to a deadly outcome after contracting COVID-19. The researchers combined and analyzed four data sets, which studied neurons from brains with Parkinson's Disease and looked at what type of genes they express. They then looked at which gene patterns were disturbed in patients with Parkinson's Disease and especially those who had also developed PD with dementia. In order to test the results, the major findings of the combined data was tried in three different mouse models using a negative regulator of the type I interferon pathway, PIAS2, which had been identified from the patients study as one of the key proteins linked to the progression of Parkinson's Disease and dementia. "We show that a high accumulation of the PIAS2-protein is what is causing the blockage in the pathway, which should have activated the processes responsible for removing damaged protein and mitochondrial garbage," says Issazadeh-Navikas. "The accumulation of damaged mitochondrial mass further leads to increase of other toxic proteins. So when we compare patients to same-aged healthy patients without Parkinson's Disease, we see that this PIAS2-protein is highly expressed in the neurons, which is why this pathway should be evaluated for potential roles in the other forms of familial Parkinson's Disease that we have not studied here." The researchers hope the study will encourage research to counteract the pathway blockage, which could have a beneficial impact on the disease and towards preventing dementia. In the next stages, the Issazadeh-Navikas group will study how the pathwaycontributes to neuronal homeostasis and survival, as well as how its dysregulation causes neuronal cell death. Combining plant-based diet and a healthy microbiome may protect against multiple sclerosis Metabolism of isoflavone by gut bacteria protects mice from MS-like inflammation University of Iowa, July 13, 2021 A new University of Iowa study suggests that metabolism of plant-based dietary substances by specific gut bacteria, which are lacking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), may provide protection against the disease. The study led by Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD, UI associate professor of pathology, shows that a diet rich in isoflavone, a phytoestrogen or plant-based compound that resembles estrogen, protects against multiple sclerosis-like symptoms in a mouse model of the disease. Importantly, the isoflavone diet was only protective when the mice had gut microbes capable of breaking down the isoflavones. The findings were published July 9 in Science Advances. "Interestingly, previous human studies have demonstrated that patients with multiple sclerosis lack these bacteria compared to individuals without MS," Mangalam says. "Our new study provides evidence that the combination of dietary isoflavones and these isoflavone metabolizing gut bacteria may serve as a potential treatment for MS." Isoflavones are found in soybeans, peanuts, chickpeas and other legumes. The study also found that mice fed the isoflavone diet have a microbiome that is similar to the microbiome found in healthy people and includes the bacteria which can metabolize isoflavones. Conversely, a diet lacking isoflavones promotes a microbiome in mice which is similar to one observed in patients with MS and lacks beneficial bacteria that can metabolize isoflavone. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord where the immune system attacks the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers. The symptoms of this disease include muscles weakness, balance issues, and problems with vision and thinking. While there are treatments that slow down the disease, there is currently no cure for MS. Although the exact cause of MS is unknown, a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors are thought to initiate the disease. Recently, the gut microbiome--the trillions of gut bacteria the live inside human intestines--has emerged as a potential environmental factor that contributes to MS. In prior work, Mangalam and colleagues demonstrated that there are significant differences between the gut microbes of patients with MS and people without MS. Specifically, patients with MS lacked bacteria that are able to metabolize isoflavones. Although role of gut microbiome in human diseases such as MS is being appreciated, the mechanism through which these gut bacteria might influence the disease is poorly understood. In the current study, Mangalam's team, including first author Samantha Jensen, a UI graduate student in immunology, found that the bacteria that are lacking in patients with MS are able to suppress inflammation in a mouse model of MS. The team compared the effects of an isoflavone diet and an isoflavone-free diet on disease in the mouse model of MS. They found that the isoflavone diet led to disease protection. However, when the team placed the mice on the isoflavone diet but removed the isoflavone-metabolizing gut bacteria, the isoflavone diet was no longer able to protect against MS-like symptoms. When the bacteria were reintroduced, the protective effect of the isoflavone diet was restored. Furthermore, the team was able to show that a specific isoflavone metabolite called equol, which is produced by the gut bacteria from isoflavone, is also able to provide protection against disease. "This study suggests that an isoflavone diet may be protective so long as the isoflavone metabolizing gut bacteria are present in the intestines," say Mangalam, who also is a member of the Iowa Neuroscience institute and Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. How a Mediterranean diet could reduce osteoporosis University of East Anglia (UK), July 12, 2021 Eating a Mediterranean-type diet could reduce bone loss in people with osteoporosis - according to new research from the University of East Anglia. New findings published today show that sticking to a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts, unrefined cereals, olive oil, and fish can reduce hip bone loss within just 12 months. The study is the first long-term, pan-European clinical trial looking at the impact of a Mediterranean diet on bone health in older adults. More than 1,000 people aged between 65 and 79 took part in the trial, and volunteers were randomised into two groups - one which followed a Mediterranean diet and a control group which did not. Bone density was measured at the start and after 12 months. The diet had no discernible impact on participants with normal bone density, but it did have an effect on those with osteoporosis. People in the control group continued to see the usual age-related decrease in bone density, but those following the diet saw an equivalent increase in bone density in one part of the body - the femoral neck. This is the area which connects the shaft of the thigh bone to its rounded head, which fits in the hip joint. UK study lead Prof Susan Fairweather-Tait, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "This is a particularly sensitive area for osteoporosis as loss of bone in the femoral neck is often the cause of hip fracture, which is common in elderly people with osteoporosis. "Bone takes a long time to form, so the 12-month trial, although one of the longest to date, was still a relatively short time frame to show an impact. So the fact we were able to see a marked difference between the groups even in just this one area is significant." The EU-funded trial, led by the University of Bologna, was completed by 1142 participants recruited across five centres in Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Poland and France. Those following the Mediterranean diet increased their intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, unrefined cereals, olive oil, and fish, consumed small quantities of dairy products and meat and had a moderate alcohol intake. People in the intervention group were provided with foods such as olive oil and wholemeal pasta, to encourage them to stick to the diet, and were also given a small vitamin D supplement, to even out the effects of different levels of sunlight on vitamin D status between the participating countries. At the start and end of the trial, blood samples were taken to check for circulating biomarkers. Bone density was measured in over 600 participants across both groups at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Of these participants, just under 10% were found to have osteoporosis at the start of the study. Co-researcher from UEA, Dr Amy Jennings said: "Although this is a small number it is sufficient for the changes in femoral neck bone density between the two groups to be statistically significant. "Those with osteoporosis are losing bone at a much faster rate than others, so you are more likely to pick up changes in these volunteers than those losing bone more slowly, as everyone does with age. "With a longer trial, it's possible we could have picked up changes in the volunteers with normal bone density. However, we already found it quite challenging to encourage our volunteers to change their diet for a year, and a longer trial would have made recruitment more difficult and resulted in a higher drop-out." The researchers would now like to see a similar, or ideally longer, trial in patients with osteoporosis, to confirm the findings across a larger group and see if the impact can be seen in other areas of the body. If the condition could be mitigated through diet, this would be a welcome addition to current drug treatments for osteoporosis, which can have severe side effects. But in the meantime, say the researchers, there is no reason for those concerned about the condition not to consider adapting their diet. "A Mediterranean diet is already proven to have other health benefits, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer," said Prof Fairweather-Tait. "So there's no downside to adopting such a diet, whether you have osteoporosis or not." 'A Mediterranean-like dietary pattern with vitamin D3 (10 μg/day) supplements reduced rate of bone loss in older Europeans with osteoporosis at baseline: results of a one year randomised controlled trial' is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . Rishi mushroom promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-involved pathway Hang-zhou Medical College (China), July 10, 2021 According to news reporting out of Zhejiang, People's Republic of China, research stated, “Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine with putative tranquilizing effects. However, the component of G. lucidum that promotes sleep has not been clearly identified.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Hangzhou Medical College, “Here, the effect and mechanism of the acidic part of the alcohol extract of G. lucidum mycelia (GLAA) on sleep were studied in mice. Administration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg GLAA for 28 days promoted sleep in pentobarbital-treated mice by shortening sleep latency and prolonging sleeping time. GLAA administration increased the levels of the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine and the Tph2, Iptr3 and Gng13 transcripts in the sleep-regulating serotonergic synapse pathway in the hypothalamus during this process. Moreover, GLAA administration reduced lipopolysaccharide and raised peptidoglycan levels in serum. GLAA-enriched gut bacteria and metabolites, including Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium animalis, indole-3-carboxylic acid and acetylphosphate were negatively correlated with sleep latency and positively correlated with sleeping time and the hypothalamus 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration. Both the GLAA sleep promotion effect and the altered faecal metabolites correlated with sleep behaviours disappeared after gut microbiota depletion with antibiotics.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Our results showed that GLAA promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-associated pathway in mice.” Vitamin C found to block growth of cancer stem cells, says peer reviewed study University of Salford (UK), July 8, 2021 Increasingly, researchers are discovering the role played by cancer stem cells in the growth and spread of the disease. In groundbreaking new research, vitamin C showed its ability to target cancer stem cells and stop their growth – preventing the recurrence of tumors. Although mainstream medicine has been slow to accept the cancer-fighting properties of vitamin C, the exciting results of this study could help to change that. In a newly-published study conducted at the University of Salford in Manchester, vitamin C demonstrated its power to stop tumors in their tracks by interfering with cancer stem cell metabolism – suppressing their ability to process energy for survival and growth. Cancer stem cells are responsible for triggering tumor recurrence, and promoting their growth and metastasis. Researchers believe that cancer stem cells give cancer its ability to resist chemotherapy and radiation – the reason for treatment failure in advanced cancer patients. The study, helmed by researchers Michael P. Lisanti and Gloria Bonucelli, was published last month in Oncotarget, a peer-reviewed journal. Peer-reviewed studies are considered the gold standard of scientific research. The study was the first to explore the effects of vitamin C on cancer stem cells – and provided the first evidence that vitamin C, in the form of ascorbic acid, can target and kill them. In a side-by-side comparison of seven different substances, vitamin C even outperformed an experimental cancer drug. The team investigated the impact on cancer stem cells of seven different substances. Three were natural substances, three were experimental drugs, and one was an FDA-approved clinical drug that is widely used. The natural products studied, along with vitamin C, were silibinin – derived from milk thistle seeds – and caffeic acid phenyl ester – or CAPE – derived from honeybee propolis. The experimental drugs were actinonin, FK866 and 2-DG, and the clinical drug was stiripentol. Researchers noted that vitamin C destroyed cancer stem cells by inducing oxidative stress. And, the vitamin performed this process ten times more effectively than 2-DG. Vitamin C used two different mechanisms of action to attack cancer stem cells. It worked as a pro-oxidant in cancer cells, depleting them of the antioxidant glutathione and causing oxidative stress and apoptosis – or cell death. It also inhibited glycolysis, which is the process that creates energy production in cell mitochondria. By inhibiting glycolysis, vitamin C inhibited mitrochondrial protein synthesis in cancer stem cells – while leaving healthy cells unaffected. Both experimental and approved cancer drugs can feature serious adverse effects, including thrombocytopenia – a deficiency of platelets in the blood that can cause bruising and slow blood clotting. They can also induce lymphopenia – a decrease in the body's infection-fighting white blood cells – and anemia, or low red blood cells. And the clinically-approved drug used in the study, stiripentol, can cause severe nausea, vomiting and fatigue. On the other hand, the National Cancer Center reports that high-dose vitamin C has caused very few side effects when used in clinical studies. All seven of the substances tested inhibited the growth of cancer cells to varying degrees – including the non-toxic natural substances. But researchers said the most “exciting” results were with vitamin C. The research team concluded that vitamin C was a “promising new agent,” and called for more study to explore its use as an adjunct to conventional cancer therapies to prevent tumor recurrence and growth. “Vitamin C is cheap, natural, non-toxic and readily available, so to have it as a potential weapon in the fight against cancer would be a significant step,” observed Dr. Lisanti. As in most of the successful studies showing vitamin C's cancer-fighting properties, researchers used high doses of vitamin C, administered intravenously. IV vitamin C therapy is available in some alternative and holistic cancer treatment clinics worldwide. Again, vitamin C was 1,000 percent more effective than 2-DG, an experimental pharmaceutical drug – in targeting cancer stem cells. If vitamin C were developed by big pharma, these results would be shouted from the rooftops and featured in newspaper headlines. Yet, as always, “the powers that be” in mainstream medicine respond with…crickets. The reason; say natural health experts, is all too obvious. As a natural nutrient and vitamin, vitamin C can't be patented, and is inexpensive and easy to obtain. Therefore, there is no incentive for cancer clinics to promote it – when they can instead rake in the profits from chemotherapy. The indifference of conventional medicine to vitamin C is all the more frustrating because the nutrient has been shown to be an effective and non-toxic anti-cancer agent in previous studies, including many conducted by Nobel prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling. Vitamin C has been shown in a Japanese study to cut mortality in cancer patients by 25 percent. In addition, it has inhibited tumors in animal studies, and been shown to kill cancer cells in a wide variety of cancer cell lines. How much longer will the potential of this safe and powerful cancer-fighting nutrient be overlooked?
Why You Should Listen: In this episode, you will learn about how to create a healthy gut. About My Guest: My guest for this episode is Steven Wright. Steven Wright is a medical engineer, Kalish Functional Medicine Institute Graduate, and gut health specialist. He spent close to $400,000 overcoming his own health challenges using everything from western medicine to shamans. Steven is the founder of healthygut.com. He lives in Boulder, CO with his fiancé Shay and their two dogs. Key Takeaways: - Why are so many people dealing with SIBO today? - What are the upstream issues and less commonly discussed contributors to SIBO? - What is the migrating motor complex? - What is the role of parasites in gut health? - What contributes to low stomach acid? How can it be tested for? - Is acid reflux actually a lack of stomach acid? - Can hydrochloric acid be used in people that have H. Pylori? - What are the different enzymes that are needed for optimal digestion and assimilation? - What role do SCFAs like butyrate play in gut health? - Can addressing stomach acid, enzymes, and SCFAs reduce histamine and improve food options for those on restricted diets? - What is the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in supporting the microbiome? - How are HCL Guard+™, HoloZyme™, and Tributyrin-X™ unique? What symptoms do people report improve with them? How are they dosed? - How might Xylanase in HoloZyme™ help with sensitivity to phenolics? - Do people generally tolerate enzymes created from Aspergillus? - Are there any contraindications for the Healthy Gut products? Resources: HCL Guard+™ HoloZyme™ Tributyrin-X™ Interview Date: July 13, 2021 Transcript: To review a transcript of this show, visit http://BetterHealthGuy.com/Episode149 Additional Information: To learn more, visit http://BetterHealthGuy.com. Disclosure: BetterHealthGuy.com is an affiliate of HealthyGut.com. Disclaimer: The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today's discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your own personal medical authority.
What does a HEALTHY Microbiome Look Like?This is a question that needs to be asked if you want to experience greater health!The reason being that your MICROBIOME is connected with virtually every aspect of physical health (and to some degree, mental health)!HEALTH BEGINS IN THE GUT.If you'd like to join these conversations live, join the Plant Based & Stress Free FB group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/alterhealthRegistration for the WFPB Enegy Upgrade Challenge is OPEN! Join us here: https://www.alter.health/wfpb-challenge-energy-upgradeSome highlights from today's MM episode on MICROBIOME...- Every part of the body has a MICROBIOME, but here we're of course focusing on the GUT- A HEALTHY microbiome is a DIVERSE microbiome - Why you should NOT swallow probiotic capsules or rely on fermented food to modulate your microbiome- Prebiotics are your gut bugs' best friends, and every plant food has them!- Diversity of the microbiome begins with a diversity of plants on your plate- Your microbiome serves YOU through creating short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are potent antiinflammatory and healing compounds- Antibiotics, including herbicides/pesticides, are certainly harsh on the gut, but a healthy microbiome creates resilience!- If you have digestive issues, increase plants/fiber LOW and SLOWLinks to some more good stuff- Join the WFPB Enegy Upgrade Challenge: https://www.alter.health/wfpb-challenge-energy-upgrade- Join the Plant Based &. Stress Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/alterhealth- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants- ATTN Health Practititioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitionerPeace and Love.
The Whole View, Episode 457: The Problem with a Low-FODMAP Diet Welcome back to episode 457! (0:28) Sarah and Stacy last covered FODMAPs in detail in TPV Podcast Episode 238, What's a FODMAP and Why Do Some People Avoid Them? The science on them has definitely evolved, so it's time to revisit what FODMAPs are and why there can be a problem with a low-FODMAP diet! This show is sponsored by Stacy and Sarah's favorite probiotic company, Just Thrive! Formulated by microbiologists, Just Thrive Probiotic includes four science-backed, clinically proven, super-beneficial Bacillus species. It is free of wheat, gluten, Dairy, nuts, soy, salt, sugar, artificial colors or flavors, binders, fillers, allergens, and GMO's. Stacy and Sarah only invite brands they love to be a part of this show and never endorse something they don't use themselves. Just Thrive is offering 15% off with code THEWHOLEVIEW at checkout, or follow this link! Quick Review of FODMAPs The term FODMAP is an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polyols. (4:10) FODMAPs are sugar alcohols and short-chain carbohydrates rich in fructose molecules. These molecules are inefficiently absorbed in the small intestine but are highly fermentable by our gut bacteria in the large intestine. Many dietary carbohydrates that have prebiotic actions are members of the FODMAP group of carbohydrates: Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), polyols, and fructose. These FODMAPs selectively stimulate the growth of super beneficial specific types of bacteria. They include Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia municiphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia intestinalis, Eubacterium rectale, and Anaerostipes caccae. When FODMAPs enter the large intestine full of those wonderful beneficial bacteria, they increase the metabolic activity of our gut bacteria. This increases the production of SCFAs and gasses. Because of the increase in production, we might notice even if we eat a ton of FODMAPs all at once is an increase in flatus frequency. Sarah adds that this is perfectly normal. FODMAP Intolerance Where it flips into FODMAP intolerance is when it becomes uncomfortable. (10:34) Typical symptoms of FODMAPs include bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, and sometimes excessive belching. This is why a typical diagnosis is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Some researchers even believe that 100% of IBS is caused by FODMAP intolerance. So, what causes FODMAP intolerance? There's three potentially overlapping, causes Gluten and/or Dairy sensitivity Fructose malabsorption Gut dysbiosis Gluten Sensitivity The biggest source of FODMAPs in the Standard American Diet is wheat. This is because wheat is consumed in large quantities, not because it is a concentrated source of FODMAPs. Additionally, up to 55% of the population (in North America) has gluten sensitivity genes! Symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity include IBS bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, and belching. PLUS extra-intestinal symptoms, such as brain fog, fatigue, lethargy, skin rash (including eczema), headaches, fibromyalgia-like symptoms (joint and/or muscle pain), carpal tunnel and peripheral neuropathy-like symptoms, depression, anxiety, and anemia 2012 double-blind elimination and challenge study showed 30% of IBS was wheat sensitivity. Stacy and Sarah discussed these genes in detail in TPV Podcast, Episode 293: Do I Have to Be Gluten-Free Forever? Dairy Sensitivity And lactose is a FODMAP! Lactose intolerance is caused a deficiency in the enzyme lactase. Rates of intolerance vary widely based on ethnicity, ranging from 5% among Northern Europeans to over 90% of the population in some Asian and African countries. In fact, in the US alone, somewhere between 30 and 50 million people are lactose intolerant! Also, epidemiological reports of cow's milk allergy (IgE antibody reactions to cow's milk proteins) range from between 1 and 17.5% in preschoolers, 1 and 13.5% in children ages 5 to 16 years, and 1 to 4% in adults. The prevalence of cow's milk sensitivities (IgA and IgG antibody reactions to cow's milk proteins) in the general population is unknown. But one study in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome showed that a whopping 84% of participants tested positive for IgG antibodies against milk proteins. Other Food Sensitivities Soy is also a high-FODMAP food. The rate of soy IgG intolerance in IBS is about 23%. IBS is strongly linked to food sensitivity. And up to 65% of people have symptoms resolved if they do IgG testing and eliminate all the positives. Some people eliminate FODMAPs, and their symptoms go away. So they think it's FODMAP intolerance, but it's really gluten, Dairy, soy, or other sensitivity. So, they're eliminating a ton of healthy fruits and veggies needlessly! Sarah and Stacy will get into why that's important. Fructose Malabsorption After digestion, monosaccharides are absorbed into the bloodstream by being transported through the cells that line the small intestine, the enterocytes. (20:54) Enterocytes have specialized transporters, or carriers, embedded into the membrane that faces the inside of the gut. FODMAP intolerance may be due to insufficient carbohydrate carriers, specifically GLUT5, which is the specific carbohydrate carrier for fructose. This can happen, for example, in celiac disease, where you have intestinal villous atrophy. Fructose uptake rate by GLUT5 is also significantly affected by diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and inflammation. This uptake rate is also influenced by diet! The simultaneous presence of glucose can inhibit uptake, which is why whole fruit might be tolerated where something like agave might not. Additionally, the simultaneous presence of sorbitol can inhibit this. It's important to note that while fructose malabsorption causes symptoms extremely similar to IBS, it's considered a separate diagnosis. However, due to the similarity in symptoms, patients with fructose malabsorption often fit the profile of those with irritable bowel syndrome. Stacy adds that she and Sarah are not medical professionals. If you are struggling with symptoms like those listed, it's best to arm yourself with this knowledge and seek trained professionals to help narrow down your diagnosis. Gut Dysbiosis The most likely cause of symptoms is actually Gut Dysbiosis. If there's an imbalanced gut microbiome, such as the right species for cross-feeding (or a high consumption of FODMAPs all at once), this causes a variety of digestive symptoms, For example, it has been shown that consuming fructans increases the production of butyrate. But the two main types of bacteria that ferment fructans (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli) are lactic acid-producing bacteria. Many other bacteria (including Eubacterium, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium) account for this bump in butyrate production. Acetate serves as an essential co-factor and metabolite for key bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which requires acetate to grow. The Most Likely Culprit Studies confirmed that gut dysbiosis is the most likely culprit in IBS. This study compared participants with IBS to healthy controls. Another study detected dysbiosis in 73% of IBS patients vs. 16% of healthy individuals. This basically captures all the people with IBS symptoms that don't have food sensitivities (with some overlap) And studies confirm more gas production from FODMAP consumption in people with IBS. This study aimed to compare the patterns of breath hydrogen and methane and symptoms produced in response to diets that differed only in FODMAP content. They concluded dietary FODMAPs induce prolonged hydrogen production in the intestine that is greater in IBS. Sarah has taken part in several different breath tests in her lifetime and always finds them interesting. The problem with a low-FODMAP Diet A huge number of studies show that when people with IBS follow a low-FODMAP diet see about 75% of symptom alleviation. (32:15) But can it make the problem worse by increasing dysbiosis? Important gut health superfoods are high-FODMAP: Vegetables include: Asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, chicory leaves, globe and Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, onions, leeks, mushrooms, and snow peas Fruits include: Apples, apricots, cherries, figs, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, and watermelon Legumes and pulses include: Baked beans, black-eyed peas, broad beans, butter beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, and split peas All these foods are great for the gut microbiome! See Sarah's Gut Health Guidebook and Gut Health Cookbook for a deep dive on all of these. Because many FODMAPs have prebiotic actions, there is concern that their dietary restriction leads to dysbiosis with health consequences!. Studies do show that low-FODMAP diets both in healthy individuals and in IBS cause dysbiosis! This study randomly allocated twenty-seven IBS and six healthy subjects into one of two 21-day provided diets, differing only in FODMAP content. And then crossed them over to the other diet with ≥21-day washout period. Fecal indices were similar in IBS and healthy subjects during habitual diets. It concluded that diets differing in FODMAP content have marked effects on gut microbiota composition. And the low FODMAP diet should not be recommended for asymptomatic populations. This study associated a low-FODMAP diet with changes in the microbiota and reduction in breath hydrogen but not colonic volume in healthy subjects—the low FODMAP diet associated the reduction in Bifidobacterium and breath hydrogen in healthy volunteers. Another study in IBD shows a low FODMAP diet helped symptoms but had a significantly lower abundance of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. High FODMAP & Prebiotic Supplementation Diets Interestingly, there have been studies looking at high-FODMAPs and prebiotic supplementation diets for IBS. (35:50) Studies consistently demonstrate the clinical effectiveness of the low FODMAP diet in patients with IBS. However, the impact on the microbiotaone is an unintentional consequence of this dietary intervention. This leads to an interesting paradox! Increasing luminal Bifidobacteria through probiotic supplementation is associated with a reduction in IBS symptoms. However, the low FODMAP diet has clinical efficacy but markedly reduces luminal Bifidobacteria concentration. Similarly, another study found no differences in severity of abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence, and QoL scores between prebiotics and placebo. Conclusions Food intolerance can cause IBS. In this case, identifying exact triggers through elimination and challenge is important. That way, you aren't cutting out important foods. Dysbiosis causes the vast majority of the rest. Low-FODMAP may help alleviate symptoms, but it also perpetuates gut dysbiosis. This means every time you eat a FODMAP, you'll get symptoms. They may even worsen over time. Stacy adds that we tend to focus more on what we can take away than add. We need to focus on both sides to ensure our solution to symptom relief isn't furthering the problem causing those symptoms. What to Do: The Problem of a Low-FODMAP Diet Support gut health and go slow! (42:30) Be sure to keep FODMAP consumption low enough that symptoms are tolerable while supporting gut health. Consume lots of veggies, fruits and mushrooms (Episodes 281, 286, 304, 307, 335, 346, 373, 392, 424, & 435). Eat nuts and seeds in moderation (Episodes 413 & 452). Use EVOO as your go-to fat (Episodes 326 and 414). Be sure you're consuming lots of fish, shellfish, or a fish oil supplement (Episodes 366, 415, & 451) Avoid prebiotic-enhanced foods, inulin, and overdoing one type of fiber. It's best to get fiber from whole-food sources. Be sure you're getting enough sleep, activity and are effectively managing stress. A good Bacillus-based probiotic like Just Thrive can help immensely! Plus fermented foods (not the same probiotic species, so both are important). Bacillus species (like what are in Just Thrive) are keystone species known to create a gut environment conducive to the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. It's also important to gradually increase high-FODMAP foods but go slow. Final Thoughts Stacy really appreciates their ability to revisit these topics and the science as it changes. (50:45) This show is all about facts, not opinions, and sometimes those facts can change. Stacy loves the idea of dieting in terms of what we can add to it to better ourselves, rather than focus solely on what we could take away. Sarah highly recommends her books, The Gut Health Guidebook and The Gut Health Cookbook, for even more information about the gut microbiome and combating the problem with a low-FODMAP diet. This show was sponsored by Just Thrive, which Stacy and Sarah both use and love! Remember, use code THEWHOLEVIEW at checkout for 15% off. Be sure to head over to Patreon for even more from Stacy and Sarah! It's a great way to connect with them and get first in line for answers to whatever questions you might have!
High-fiber diet may play a role in controlling the inflammation associated with COVID-19 In vitro treatment of cells with these molecules reduced the expression of a gene that plays a key role in viral cell entry and a cytokine receptor. University of Campinas (Brazil), March 30, 2021 A study conducted at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, shows that compounds produced by gut microbiota (bacteria and other microorganisms) during fermentation of insoluble fiber from dietary plant matter do not affect the ability of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to enter and replicate in cells lining the intestines. However, while in vitro treatment of cells with these molecules did not significantly influence local tissue infection, it reduced the expression of a gene that plays a key role in viral cell entry and a cytokine receptor that favors inflammation. An article reporting the findings is published in the journal Gut Microbes. Up to 50% of COVID-19 patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Such symptoms are detected in 17.6% of severe cases. They are partly associated with viral entry into intestinal cells resulting in alterations to their normal functions. In addition, recent studies point to major changes in patients’ gut microbiota, including a decrease in levels of bacteria that secrete short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by fermenting dietary fiber. SCFAs are important to colon health and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. The researchers decided to confirm whether SFCAs directly affected the infection of intestinal cells by SARS-CoV-2. Previous studies had suggested alterations in gut microbiota and its products could modify an infected subject’s immune response. “In earlier research, we found in animals that compounds produced by gut microbiota help protect the organism against respiratory infection. The model used there was respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], which causes bronchiolitis [inflammation of the small airways in the lung] and frequently infects children. Similar results have been obtained by other research groups in studies of different respiratory diseases,” said Patrícia Brito Rodrigues, who has a doctoral scholarship from FAPESP and is joint first author of the article with postdoctoral fellow Livia Bitencourt Pascoal. Rodrigues conducted the research as part of her doctorate at UNICAMP’s Institute of Biology (IB) with a scholarship from FAPESP. In the latest study, healthy colon tissue and epithelial cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the laboratory and subjected to a battery of tests. “Viral load wasn’t reduced and was the same in cells and tissue treated with SCFAs and in untreated samples. However, treated intestinal biopsy samples displayed a significant decrease in expression of the gene DDX58 [an innate immune system receptor that detects viral nucleic acids and activates a signaling cascade that results in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines] and the interferon-lambda receptor, which mediates anti-viral activity. There was also a decrease in expression of the protein TMPRSS2, which is important to viral cell entry,” said Raquel Franco Leal, a professor at UNICAMP’s School of Medical Sciences (FCM), supported by FAPESP and co-principal investigator for the study with Marco Aurélio Ramirez Vinolo, a professor at IB-UNICAMP, also supported by FAPESP. Protection against inflammation The researchers took colon tissue samples from 11 patients without COVID-19. They also tested epithelial cells that line the intestines and are in close contact with gut microbiota. Tissue and cell samples were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in IB-UNICAMP’s Laboratory of Emerging Virus Studies (LEVE), a Biosafety Level III (BSL-3) facility led by José Luiz Proença Módena, a professor at IB-UNICAMP and a co-author of the article. The tissues and cells were treated with a mixture of acetate, propionate and butyrate, compounds produced by gut microbiota metabolization of SCFAs present in dietary fiber. The treatment did not alter viral load in colon biopsies or cells, nor were there any changes in cell wall permeability and integrity. “That doesn’t exclude the possibility of significant action by SCFAs on infection by SARS-CoV-2. The anti-viral effects could depend on interaction with other cells in the organism,” Rodrigues said. “We’ll continue our investigation in animal models since the action of these compounds on the infection could depend on a more complete system than the samples we used in vitro [isolated cells and tissues].” Other tests involving non-treated infected biopsy samples showed an increase in expression of the gene DDX58, which encodes an important viral receptor, and of interferon-beta (IFN-beta), a pro-inflammatory molecule that participates in the cytokine storm associated with severe cases of COVID-19. “Alterations in genes associated with virus recognition and response during intestinal infection may be relevant to the onset of the inflammatory chain,” Leal said. “In this context, it will be important to deepen the analysis of the effects of SCFAs with these parameters, as this could be significant in severe stages of the disease.” Glycine-NAC combo improves multiple defects in aging to boost strength and cognition in older humans Baylor School of Medicine, March 29, 2021 A pilot human clinical trial conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reveals that supplementation with GlyNAC—a combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine as precursors of the natural antioxidant glutathione—could improve many age-associated defects in older humans to improve muscle strength and cognition, and promote healthy aging. Published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine, the results of this study show that older humans taking GlyNAC for 24 weeks saw improvements in many characteristic defects of aging, including glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, body fat, genomic toxicity, muscle strength, gait speed, exercise capacity and cognitive function. The benefits declined after stopping supplementation for 12 weeks. GlyNAC supplementation was well tolerated during the study period. "There is limited understanding as to why these defects occur in older humans, and effective interventions to reverse these defects are currently limited or lacking," said corresponding author endocrinologist Dr. Rajagopal Sekhar, associate professor of medicine in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Baylor. For the last 20 years, Sekhar and his team have been studying natural aging in older humans and aged mice. Their work brings mitochondria, known as the batteries of the cell, as well as free radicals and glutathione to the table in discussions about why we age. Mitochondrial dysfunction and aging Mitochondria generate energy needed for supporting cellular functions by burning fat and sugar from foods, therefore mitochondrial health is critically important for life. Sekhar believes that improving the health of malfunctioning mitochondria in aging is the key. As mitochondria generate energy, they produce waste products such as free radicals. These highly reactive molecules can damage cells, membranes, lipids, proteins and DNA. Cells depend on antioxidants, such as glutathione, the most abundant antioxidant in our cells, to neutralize these toxic free radicals. Failing to neutralize free radicals leads to harmful and damaging oxidative stress that can affect mitochondrial function. Interestingly, glutathione levels in older people are much lower than those in younger people, and the levels of oxidative stress are much higher. Animal studies conducted in the Sekhar lab have shown that restoring glutathione levels by providing GlyNAC reverses glutathione deficiency, reduces oxidative stress and fully restores mitochondrial function in aged mice. "In previous work we showed that supplementing HIV patients with GlyNAC improved multiple deficits associated with premature aging observed in those patients," Sekhar said. "In this study, we wanted to understand the effects of GlyNAC supplementation on many age-associated defects in older adults." GlyNAC improves several hallmark defects in aging The world population of older humans is rapidly increasing and with it comes an increase in many age-related illnesses. To understand what causes unhealthy aging, scientific research has identified nine hallmark defects which are believed to contribute to the aging process. "It is believed that correcting these aging hallmarks could improve or reverse many age-related disorders and help people age in a healthier way," Sekhar said. "However, we do not fully understand why these hallmark defects happen, and there are currently no solutions to fix even a single hallmark defect in aging." This is where Sekhar's trial results become encouraging, because GlyNAC supplementation for 24 weeks appears to improve four of the nine aging hallmark defects. To further understand whether GlyNAC holds the keys to mitochondrial recovery and more, Sekhar and his team conducted this pilot clinical trial. "We worked with eight older adults 70 to 80 years of age, comparing them with gender-matched younger adults between 21 and 30 years old," Sekhar said. "We measured glutathione in red-blood cells, mitochondrial fuel-oxidation, plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress and oxidant damage, inflammation, endothelial function, glucose and insulin, gait-speed, muscle strength, exercise capacity, cognitive tests, gene-damage, glucose-production and muscle-protein breakdown rates and body composition. Before taking GlyNAC, all these measurements were abnormal in older adults when compared with those in younger people." The older participants took GlyNAC for 24 weeks, and then stopped it for 12 weeks. Sekhar and his colleagues repeated the above measurements at the halfway point at 12 weeks, after 24 weeks of taking GlyNAC, and again after stopping GlyNAC for 12 weeks. "We are very excited by the results," Sekhar said. "After taking GlyNAC for 24 weeks, all these defects in older adults improved and some reversed to the levels found in young adults." The researchers also determined that older adults tolerated GlyNAC well for 24 weeks. The benefits, however, declined after stopping GlyNAC supplementation for 12 weeks. "I am particularly encouraged by the improvements in cognition and muscle strength," Sekhar said. "Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are serious medical conditions affecting memory in older people and leading to dementia, and there are no effective solutions for these disorders. We are exploring the possibility that GlyNAC could help with these conditions by conducting two pilot randomized clinical trials to test whether GlyNAC supplementation could improve defects linked to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and in MCI, and possibly improve cognitive function." "The overall findings of the current study are highly encouraging," Sekhar said. "They suggest that GlyNAC supplementation could be a simple and viable method to promote and improve healthy aging in older adults. We call this the 'Power of 3' because we believe that it takes the combined benefits of glycine, NAC and glutathione to reach this far reaching and widespread improvement. We also have completed a randomized clinical trial on supplementing GlyNAC vs. placebo in older adults and those results will be forthcoming soon." Association found between consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks and colorectal cancer risk Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Spain), March 23, 2021 Consumption of ultra-processed foods and drink could increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. This was the conclusion of a large study undertaken by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, based on questionnaires about food behaviours completed by around 8,000 people in Spain. The study, the first of its kind in the country, also analysed the relationship between ultra-processed food and drink products and two other cancers; while no association was observed with prostate cancer, in the case of breast cancer a higher risk was observed in the sub-group of former and current smokers who reported a diet high in ultra-processed products. Social, economic and industrial changes have driven a rise in ultra-processed food and drink consumption, which currently accounts for between 25% and 50% of the total energy intake in diets in Europe and in high- and middle-income countries. The Nova classification system groups all foods and drinks into four categories according to how much processing they undergo. Ultra-processed foods--those that undergo the most processing--are industrial formulations with more than five ingredients which usually contain additional substances, such as sugar, fats, salt and additives. Examples of products in this category include sugary soft drinks, ready meals and mass-produced industrial baked goods. Several studies have linked the consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks to health risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of premature death. There are only a few studies on the relationship of these food products with cancer and the results are not entirely conclusive. A French study found an association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased cancer risk. A Canadian study found an increased risk of developing prostate cancer with a higher intake of processed foods, but not with ultra-processed foods. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks is associated with an increased risk of colorectal, breast or prostate cancer. To this end, the researchers undertook a case-control study of 7,843 adults living in different Spanish provinces: half of the participants had a diagnosis of colorectal (1,852), breast (1,486) or prostate cancer (953); and the other half were people with the same characteristics who did not have cancer. Data were obtained from the multicase-control study MCC-Spain. Dietary data was collected using a validated questionnaire designed to evaluate the frequency of consumption of usual food and drink items over a one-year period. The results were then classified according to the level of processing using the Nova classification. The study, published in Clinical Nutrition, concluded that the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer: a 10% increment in the consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks was found to be associated with an 11% increase in the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Dora Romaguera, first author of the study and researcher at ISGlobal, the Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBA) and the CIBEROBN, says that this relationship can be explained, in part, "by the low intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables, which are known to offer protection against colorectal cancer, among people who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, but also by the additives and other substances with carcinogenic potential typically used in processed food products." In the case of breast cancer, no strong relationship was found, but an association was observed in the group of current and former smokers. Romaguera explains that "smoking is a risk factor for breast cancer, and smoking and certain dietary factors, such as the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, are known to have synergetic effects on cancer development." No association was found between prostate cancer and a diet high in ultra-processed products. "This finding is not surprising and is consistent with the results of previous studies of dietary factors and prostate cancer risk, in which no link was found," adds Romaguera. Colorectal and Breast Cancer Cases: Less Healthy Diets The results of the study showed that people with breast and colorectal cancer, but not those with prostate cancer, reported less healthy diets than people without cancer in the control group. "We found differences in terms of their intake of energy, fibre, energy density and saturated fatty acids. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages was higher among colorectal and breast cancer cases than in the controls", says ISGlobal researcher Sílvia Fernández, joint first author of the study. The food groups that accounted for the largest proportion of ultra-processed food consumption were sugary beverages (35%), sugary products (19%), ready-to-eat foods (16%) and processed meats (12%). Processed meats have already been classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). However, according to Pilar Amiano, researcher at the Guipúzcoa Public Health Service, which coordinated the study: "ultra-processed foods and drinks in general are not yet classified as carcinogenic because the aim of the IARC was not to assess the overall risk of an individual's diet, but rather to focus on specific components that might be dangerous, such as processed meats". She goes on to say that, in light of the results of the present study and the current scientific evidence on the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods and drinks, in particular with respect to cancer, the authors believe "that food and public health policies and the IARC should already be taking food processing into account and discouraging the consumption of ultra-processed products". Hyperbaric oxygen therapy impact on telomere length and immunosenescence Tel Aviv University (Israel), March 23, 2021 In a scientifically verified approach, signalling an important breakthrough in the study of aging, Tel Aviv University and The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Centerannounced today that, for the first time in humans, two key biological hallmarks of aging, telomere length shortening, and accumulation of senescent cells, can be reversed. The prospective clinical trial, published in peer-reviewed Journal Aging, utilizes Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy protocols to demonstrate cellular level improvement in healthy aging adults. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy targets aging as a reversible disease The prospective clinical trial is part of a comprehensive aging research program taking place in Israel. It was conducted by Prof. Shai Efrati, MD, from the Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University, and Amir Hadanny, MD, Chief Medical Research Officer of The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research and co-author of the study. Using a specific protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), telomere length was significantly increased and senescent cells were reduced in a population of healthy aging subjects. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Aging. Titled: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Increases Telomere Length and Decreases Immunosenescence in Isolated Blood Cells: A Prospective Trial. A significant breakthrough in the study of aging The biological deterioration of aging is cited as a major risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. At the cellular level, two key hallmarks of the aging process are: The shortening of telomere length of approximately 20-40 bases per year, which is associated with a variety of serious life-threatening illnesses; and The accumulation of senescent cells, the so-called “old malfunctioning cells,” inhibit cell proliferation. The accumulation of senescence contributes to many age-associated conditions and illnesses, while the elimination of those cells can reverse them, as shown in previous animal studies. The first study to evaluate telomere length and senescence This is the first study to evaluate whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy can affect telomere length and senescence using a specific HBOT protocol. The trial included 35 healthy independent adults aged 64 and older. They did not undergo any lifestyle, diet, or medication adjustments. How was the study conducted? Each patient received 60 daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions over the course of 90 days. Whole blood samples were collected prior to treatment, at the 30th and 60th session, and one to two weeks following the last HBOT session, to assess peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) telomere length and senescence. The holy grail of the biology of aging “After dedicating our HBOT research to exploring its impact on the areas of brain functionality and age-related cognitive decline, we have now uncovered for the first time in humans hyperbaric oxygen therapy’s biological effects at the cellular level in healthy aging adults,” said Prof. Shai Efrati. “Since telomere shortening is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of the biology of aging, many pharmacological and environmental interventions are being extensively explored in the hopes of enabling telomere elongation.” Significant improvement of telomere length “The significant improvement of telomere length shown during and after these unique hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocols provides the scientific community with a new foundation of understanding that aging can, indeed, be targeted and reversed at the basic cellular-biological level.” Improvement in just three months Results found that the telomere length of T helper, T cytotoxic, natural killer, and B cells increased significantly. They rose by over 20 percent, following HBOT. The most significant change was in B cells, which increased during the 30th session, 60th session, and post HBOT by: 25.68%±40.42 (p=0.007) 29.39%±23.39 (p=0.0001) 37.63%±52.73 (p=0.007) In addition, there was a significant decrease in the number of senescent T helpers by -37.30%±33.04 post-HBOT (P
Lion’s mane mushroom helps reduce depression and anxiety Tohoku University (Japan), March 21, 2021 Several studies have shown the potential of lion’s mane mushroom to help address several health problems including those that are related to brain function. Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), also known as hedgehog mushroom, is a mushroom native to North America, Asia and Europe. Its fruiting bodies are said to contain polysaccharides that are beneficial to the human body. This mushroom has a long history of medical uses, especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) where it was used to help support brain health. In recent years, its value in supporting cognitive health has been supported by a number of studies. The mushroom helps Reduce depression and anxiety In a study published in the journal Biomedical Research, the mushroom was tested on female participants in order to tests its effects on mental health. After taking lion’s mane mushroom cookies for four weeks, the participants reported reduced depression and anxiety. According to the researchers, this was due to two chemical constituents isolated from lion’s mane’s fruiting body called hericenones and erinacines. These two chemicals stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis. NGF takes part in a number of activities in the body that are essential in maintaining and organizing neurons. By stimulating NGF biosynthesis, lion’s mane is able to help improve mental health. Meanwhile, in a study on mice, researchers from Tohoku University in Japan discovered that lion’s mane mushroom may be used to prevent cognitive dysfunction. The Japanese researchers administered 10 micrograms of amyloid-beta peptide to the mice on days seven and 14 in their 23-day experimental period. Also, the mice subjects were fed with food containing lion’s mane mushroom over the course of the experimental period. To measure the results of their study, the team used Y-maze and the novel object recognition tests on the subjects. They discovered that the mushroom prevented the negative effects of amyloid-beta peptide on the spatial short-term and visual recognition memory of the mice. The study suggests that the mushroom might reverse even the effects of amyloid-beta peptide – a protein believed to cause Alzheimer’s disease. Lion’s mane for cognitive impairment Moreover, in another study conducted by Japanese scientists, lion’s mane mushroom showed potential in improving symptoms of mild cognitive impairment. This is the stage between aging-related cognitive decline and the development of dementia. Its symptoms include problems with memory, language, thinking or judgment. The team took 30 patients with mild cognitive impairment and gave them 250mg tablets with 96 percent lion’s mane extract to be taken in four pieces for three times a day for 16 weeks. During weeks eight, 12 and 16, the patients underwent observation wherein they showed improvement in their cognitive function as displayed by the increase of their scores on the cognitive function scale. Moreover, the researchers conducted laboratory tests on the patients and saw that the intake of lion’s mane did not result in any side effect. In addition, the patients’ scores in the cognitive function scale decreased by the time their intake of lion’s mane mushroom tablets stopped. Quercetin-3-o-glucuronide alleviates cognitive deficit in mouse model of Alzheimer disease Hua-zhong University of Science & Technology (China), March 22, 2021 According to news reporting from Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Scope Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-beta (A beta) related imbalance, Tau-hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, in which A beta and neuroinflammation can induce brain insulin resistance (IR). Gut microbiome disorder is correlated with inflammation in AD.” The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, “As of yet, there are no effective treatments clinically. Thus, it is focused on the potential benefit of quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (Q3G), a pharmacologically active flavonol glucuronide, on AD treatment by regulating brain IR and the gut microbiome. AD mice model built through intracerebroventricular injection of A beta(1-42) and AD cell model developed through the SH-SY5Y cell line and A beta(1-42) are used to explore the protective effects of Q3G on AD. Neurobehavioral test, brain insulin signaling pathway, and high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA are assessed. Data show that Q3G attenuates neuroinflammation and brain IR in A beta(1-42)-injected mice and relieves apoptosis in A beta(1-42)-treated SH-SY5Y cells by interrupting the downstream insulin signaling. Q3G ameliorates A beta accumulation and Tau phosphorylation, restores CREB and BDNF levels in the hippocampus , and reverses A beta(1-42)-induced cognitive impairment. Besides, Q3G restores A beta(1-42)-induced reduction of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gut microbiota dysbiosis.” According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Q3G can alleviate brain IR through directly acting on the brain or modulating the gut-brain axis, ultimately to relieve A beta(1-42)-induced cognitive dysfunction.” This research has been peer-reviewed. Research shows possible link between number of fast-food outlets and heart attacks Hunter Medical Research Institute & University of Newcastle (UK), March 17, 2021 Researchers from the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Health (HNE Health) have found that for each new fast-food outlet the number of heart attacks per 100,000 people went up by four. Published in the latest edition of the Internal Medicine Journal the study aimed to determine whether the number of fast-foodoutlets in an area could be considered an environmental risk factor for Myocardial Infarction (heart attack). The team led by Dr. Tarunpreet Saluja from the University of Newcastle, compared all cases of Myocardial Infarction within the Hunter-New England Health District with the Fast-Food Outlet Density (FFD) of each Local Government Area within the district. "Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death worldwide" said Dr. Saluja, "However, recent data suggests that an increasing number of heart attacks cannot be explained by known risk factors." "There is a well-established link between fast food consumption and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack. This highlights the need to explore the role of food availability in the probability of having a heart attack." The team found that FFD was positively correlated with an increase of myocardial infarction, even after accounting for other factors such as age, obesity, hyperlipidaemia (high cholesterol), hypertension (high blood pressure), smoking status, diabetes, and socioeconomic status. Study co-author and cardiologist at John Hunter Hospital, Professor Andrew Boyle said that while it has been known for some time that consuming fast food was bad for the heart no one had determined whether the number of stores was itself a predicting factor. "Until now there has been very little data on the link between fast-food outlet density and heart attacks, so these results should provide an important consideration for future public‐health policy and community development," said Professor Boyle. Study co-author and Associate Director of HMRI's Data Science Group, Dr. Christopher Oldmeadow, said that developing a new metric to calculate fast-food outlet density was key to the study and there was scope to expand the data to look at more outlets in the future. "For this study, we focused on the 10 most popular fast-food outlets in Australia and used census data to determine the density per 100,000 people in each local government area," Dr. Oldmeadow said. "This worked for the majority of the LGAs, but there is scope to investigate the relationship between smaller, locally operated fast‐food outlets and heart attacks." Vitamin B6 may help calm cytokine storms in COVID-19 University of Hiroshima (Japan), March 14, 2021 Vitamin B6 may help calm cytokine storms and unclog blood clots linked to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) lethality, according to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. In the paper, researchers from Hiroshima University pointed out growing evidence showing that vitamin B6 exerts a protective effect against chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes by suppressing inflammation, inflammasomes, oxidative stress, and carbonyl stress. Coronaviruses and influenza are among the viruses that can cause lethal lung injuries and death from acute respiratory distress syndrome worldwide. Viral infections evoke a “cytokine storm,” leading to lung capillary endothelial cell inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, and increased oxidative stress, the researchers said. The researchers said thrombosis or blood clotting and cytokine storm or hyper-inflammation might be closely linked to the graveness of COVID-19. Cytokine storms happen when the immune system dangerously goes into overdrive and starts attacking even the healthy cells. Meanwhile, blood clots linked to COVID-19 can block capillaries, damaging vital organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, according to the study. Vitamin B6 is a known anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammation nutrient. Deficiency in this vitamin is also associated with lower immune function and higher susceptibility to viral infections. Studies have so far explored the benefits of vitamins D and C and minerals like zinc and magnesium in fortifying immune response against COVID-19. Research on vitamin B6 has been limited, the researchers said. The researchers said they hope the paper will show vitamin B6's potential in lowering the odds of patients becoming seriously ill with the coronavirus, and prompt further research. "It is of great interest to examine if vitamin B6 exerts protection against novel types of virus infection and pneumonia which will be encountered in the future,” said Thanutchaporn Kumrungsee, PhD, lead author of the paper, in a statement. “At present, there is few information regarding the protective role of nutrients against pneumonia and lung diseases.” Vitamin B6 has a close relationship with the immune system, she said. Its levels always drop in people under chronic inflammation such as obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases. “We can see from the news that obese and diabetic people are at high risk for COVID-19, said Kumrungsee. “Thus, our attempt in this paper is to shed light on the possible involvement of vitamin B6 in decreasing the severity of COVID-19. Green space or light at night: How we can improve health University of Adelaide (Australia), March 18, 2021 There is a growing body of evidence that exposure to green space is good for our health but a new study from the University of Adelaide has found that this may equally be due to how much light we are exposed to at night. Spending time in green space can improve depressive symptoms, obesity, and sleep problems, and reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer. Conversely, exposure to light at night, particularly urban light pollution, increases the risk of breast and prostate cancer, and can worsen depression, obesity and sleep problems. Researchers identified a negative correlation between green space diversity and outdoor artificial light at night for Australian major cities—in other words, the greener your environment, the less the light pollution, and vice versa. This makes intuitive sense, because the more developed an area is, the fewer trees there will be and the more lights there will be. Published in Environmental Research, the study questions whether the health benefits of green space exposure may in part be a result of avoiding light at night. "There seems to be a pattern here—yet, amazingly, no one has put these two things together—until now,"' said lead author Dr. Jessica Stanhope from the University of Adelaide's School of Allied Health Science and Practice. "It is possible that these factors have been confounding each other in epidemiological studies of the associations between residential green spaces and improved health, and urban outdoor artificial light at night exposure and poor health. "We have shown that green space is inversely associated with outdoor artificial light at night, making it unclear whether health outcomes result from the green space, the light at night, or possibly in an interaction of the two." Researchers recommend that epidemiological studies focus on resolving this problem as a priority, so that recommendations can be made for interventions that would improve the public health. For example, to improve population health, is it more important to plant green space in urban areas to give people in cities better green space exposure, or is it better to invest that effort in reducing urban light pollution, or both? "Some great studies have been done on the association between green space and health, which is a rapidly growing research area; and there are also very neat epidemiological studies of the adverse health effects of exposure to light at night," said Dr. Stanhope. "It is now really important that future studies include both factors so that we can better understand their association—only then can we make better public health recommendations about planning health-giving sustainable urban landscapes." Supplements may protect those with low vitamin D levels from severe COVID-19 Albert Einstein College of Medicine, March 20, 2021 Patients with low vitamin D levels who are hospitalized for COVID-19 may have a lower risk of dying or requiring mechanical ventilation if they receive vitamin D supplementation of at least 1,000 units weekly, according to a study presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting. "Given how common vitamin D deficiency is in the world and the United States, we believe that this research is highly relevant right now," said co-author Sweta Chekuri, M.D., of Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. Research has shown that vitamin D supplementation can prevent inflammation in other respiratory diseases, but there have been limited studies examining the role of vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19. The purpose of the study was to determine whether being supplemented with vitamin D before being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 resulted in less severe COVID-19 disease in patients with a low vitamin D level. The researchers studied 124 adult patients with low vitamin D that was measured up to 90 days before their admission for COVID-19. They compared the patients who were supplemented with at least 1,000 units of vitamin D weekly to those who had not received vitamin D supplements in terms of whether they were mechanically ventilated or died during admission. They found that patients who were supplemented were less likely to be mechanically ventilated or to die following admission, though the finding wasn't statistically significant (37.5 percent of patients who were not supplemented vs. 33.3 percent of those who were) They also found that more than half of those who should have been supplemented were not. "Though we weren't able to show a definitive link to severe COVID-19, it is clear that patients with low vitamin D should receive supplementation not only for bone health, but also for stronger protection against severe COVID-19," said co-author Corinne Levitus, D.O., of Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "We hope this research will encourage clinicians to discuss adding this supplement with their patients who have low vitamin D, as this may reduce the odds of people developing severe COVID-19." A study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism last fall found over 80 percent of 200 COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Spain had vitamin D deficiency. Study finds changes in gut microbiome connected to Alzheimer-like behavior Oregon Health & Science University, March 19, 2021 New research in mice published in the journal Scientific Reports strengthens the growing scientific consensus regarding the role of the gut microbiome in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. The study, led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, found a correlation between the composition of the gut microbiome and the behavioral and cognitive performance of mice carrying genes associated with Alzheimer’s. The mice carried the human amyloid precursor protein gene with dominant Alzheimer’s mutations generated by scientists in Japan. The study further suggests a relationship between microbes in the digestive tract and the expression of genes that trigger Alzheimer-like symptoms in mice. “You know the expression, ‘You are what you eat?’” said senior author Jacob Raber, Ph.D., professor of behavioral neuroscience in the OHSU School of Medicine. “This may be part of that. While all mice were fed the same diet, the gut microbiome is affected in a genotype-dependent fashion and this in turn might affect your brain.” The findings are the first to demonstrate a direct connection between the gut microbiome and cognitive and behavioral changes in an Alzheimer’s disease animal model, and they are consistent with a recently published observational study in people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In fact, a U.S. clinical trial for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease is currently underway involving a compound that targets microbes in the gut. The research published breaks new ground. In addition to the cognitive and behavioral changes that were measured, the study is the first to demonstrate a relationship between changes in the gut microbiome and epigenetic changes in neural tissue in the hippocampus, an area of the brain affected in Alzheimer’s. This type of research is not possible in people. The microbiome is a complex assemblage of microorganisms such as bacteria that play a critical role in a wide range of functions in the body. In this case, researchers wanted to see if the gut microbiome affected cognitive and behavioral measures in specially bred mice at 6 months of age. So they compared wild-type mice with those genetically engineered to carry the human amyloid precursor protein gene with dominant Alzheimer’s mutations. They found changes in the gut microbiome - measured in fecal pellets - corresponded with epigenetic regulation of the apolipoprotein E and Tomm40 genes, both associated with Alzheimer’s. They found a clear correlation, but they still can’t say whether one causes the other. “Microbes may elicit an impact on behavioral and cognitive measures relevant to Alzheimer’s disease via epigenetic changes in the hippocampus,” Raber said. “Or, alternatively, it might be that the epigenetic changes in the hippocampus affect changes in the gut microbiome.” The next phase of research will determine whether it’s possible to reduce Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in genetically predisposed mice by altering their diet. “The exciting part of this is that you can manipulate the gut microbiome,” Raber said. “We can use probiotics and see what the effect is.”
It's time for Part 3 of my monster podcast series with author , in which Joel hops on for an epic solosode to answer all your burning questions, including: How does "The Carnivore Code" affect Crohn's disease? Should you cook beans, or eat them raw? How much gelatin should you eat before bed or in the afternoon? If apple peel is the first way forward, my question is how much apple peel should we aim for? And what's the best color apple? How should we take human milk oligosaccharides (HMO)? Any thoughts on taking pectin powder (like the kind used to make jellies) in order to feed Akkermansia? Can you take apple peels and predigest them like sauerkraut? Is there a clean baby formula or another supplement you can recommend? What are the dangers of MCT oil supplementation? What’s your opinion of Nuchido Time+ NAD supplements? Do I do the 2 weeks of apple skins, HMO, and phenol powder before I attempt any of the other modules? Do I do the Daisy Cutter protocol right away or wait until later? At what point do I add the other modules in? What is Joel’s one-day B vitamin protocol? What is your source of HMO? Which brand and product? If you missed part 1, in which we discuss rebooting your gut and sparking fat loss using some very unique biohacks and strategies, you can listen to it at "" You can hear part 2 at "" You can also, check out Joel's guest post on my blog entitled "" So, who is Joel Greene, exactly? To put it simply, he's a man who had his 10,000 hours in before I was even born. In the 1970s, he was interval training. In 1979, he was doing Olympic lifts for three hours every night. In the 80s, he began studying MCTs. In 1990, he began studying the keto diet. In the early 90s, he was doing what would be called intermittent fasting today. In the mid 90s, he experienced the rebound from chronic starvation. In the late 90s, he went through his clean eating phase, his macro phase, and his ancestral diet phase. By 2001, he had his first nutrition website publishing cutting edge research. By 2006, he came to the end of all the above and discovered none of it worked over time and under real-life pressure. In 2007, he authored the first article for the health and fitness community based on the new science linking gut bacteria and obesity. In 2008, his website hit #2 on Google for weight loss—with over 1,000 original groundbreaking articles that today represent many of the most widely copied ideas in nutrition. In 2009, he launched the world's first diet system based on targeting gut bacteria. In 2010, he was implementing signal activation of the AMPK pathway. The gurus only began speaking to AMPK in 2017. By 2013, he had the world's largest body of anecdotal outcomes for body composition targeting the gut bacteria. In 2013, he published the first article to the health and fitness community on the dangers of MCT oil supplementation. Today—at 53, on 1 workout a week, eating whatever, whenever, with no drugs, SARMS, prohormones, or ergogenic aids ever—he is the world leader in hacking the body. He is the real deal. He has done it longer and has always been far ahead. He looks it, he lives it. What the gurus say is impossible, he was living every day before they were gurus. He has hacked peak human… Working out once per week… Eating whatever, whenever… …and does it all on fast food! He is the future of real-world health and nutrition, today. Joel is the creator of the , the world's first commercially available program based on targeting gut communities to effect biomarkers. He is a featured author, speaker, and guest in top tier publications such as , , , , and beyond. His system has also been featured on the Dr. Phil Show, where it has delivered astounding life-changing results. He is the future of real-world health and nutrition—today, and his new book was one of the most nitty-gritty deep dives into “rebooting your body” that I've ever read. is simply a new paradigm and an entirely new way to think about caring for your body. The new goal is learning to control immunity, health, and aging using new science-based techniques (or hacks, if you will) to steer immunity for health and to slow, or even reverse, aging. This book will change everything you know about your body. Starting with simple easy to-dos that build one on top of the other, you will emerge with a powerful understanding of how your body really works and how to control it over time, in the real world. Simply put, you will jump 10 years ahead of anything else on the shelf today. In this episode, you'll discover: -Crohn's disease and the carnivore diet...7:05 Going purely plant-based may show short-term benefit, but long-term harm What will heal the gut? Oil and gas in the engine: the order in which it is added is essential Structure-function of the gut: Essential foods based on how the gut works Diet that's high in fish and fiber may be the most beneficial High meat and omega 6 fats may increase susceptibility to Crohn's disease Gut and colon exist in a state of extreme oxidative stress (normal for the colon) The colon is where most digestion takes place Butyrate is the primary fuel of colonocytes, the cells lining the colon When you use the saccharolytic pathway to fiber, you get antioxidants and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) When you use amino acids to make butyrate, you get short SCFAs and ammonia When the right bacteria in place is given fiber, you get: Optimal amounts of butyrate Moderate amounts of propionate and acetate Fatty liver a result of too much acetate Macrophages in the colon are adapted to ignore inflammatory signals like interleukin 1β (IL-1β) Antioxidants maintain this colonic homeostasis When the colon is deprived of antioxidants... Ascorbate levels in the colonic walls go down Inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is elevated, shutting off butyrate transport (gut can't make use of butyrate) Crohn's disease is characterized by... A loss of butyrate-producing species of bacteria A gain of methane-producing species of bacteria Butyrate is also made from amino acids and other proteins Butyrate from amino acids gives: SCFAs Ammonia Sustained production of ammonia gives cancer-promoting alkylated carbonyls Higher alkalinity in the colon will lead to cancer Fiber and plants are the optimal way to feed the colon Long term production of butyrate from sources other than fiber gives you... A lack of antioxidants Ammonia SCFA imbalances Lower gut is fed by plants Upper gut is fed by animal foods Animal proteins are the best source of amino acids with (also abundant in meat) are beneficial for the gut -Diet strategies for improving mental health...17:50 Studies done on mice are limited in their efficacy to treat humans' mental health Changes in gut biome give a bump in energy, but not big differences in mood Reductions in body fat and improvements in metabolism are correlated with improved mood, ameliorating depression Research project headed by , a type of "FitBit or for the brain" () Maps and measures the impact of various specific indices of cognitive performance such as mood, depression, recall, etc. Measures how changes in the gut biome can affect mood, depression, energy, etc. -Raw beans and toxic lectins...24:00 Cook then cool down beans Not all lectins are toxic; many have large health benefits Chick pea lectins inhibit breast cancer Banana lectins can slow the growth of liver cancer Concanavalin, a legume lectin, kills certain types of cancer in mice and ameliorates diabetes and HIV in humans Human lectins are essential for immunity -How much gelatin to eat after lunch and before bed...25:00 ~100 grams via 5 cal. jello Bedtime intake results in body fat reduction in the jello tends to sensitize adiponectin and helps improve insulin sensitivity During the day, it helps with hunger pangs while dieting strictly -How much, and what color apple peels are the best?...25:45 Red apples due to color pigments Not an exact science on the amounts due to individual tolerances Start small, titrate your dose up due to your own tolerance Strains of bacteria in the gut will affect the best intake -Should we take human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) powder dry, or in a smoothie...26:45 A smoothie with the , apple peel, and mixed with is the easy way... BEN, WOULD ORGANIFI RED BE A GOOD OPTION FOR RED PHENOL POWDER? THE AMAZON RESULTS CURRENTLY LINKED GIVE SOME PRETTY VARIED OPTIONS. -Citrus pectin and feeding Akkermansia bacteria...27:20 Citrus pectin is similar to apple peel in terms of polysaccharides; don't absorb very well in the gut unless heated Does not really feed Akkermansia What citrus pectins do is prevent cancer -Can you take apple peels and pre-digest them like sauerkraut?..28:10 Fermentation is what makes bacteria; the idea is to make bacteria in the gut -A clean baby formula Joel recommends...28:35 There are a lot of HMO products in the market right now and more coming out soon -What are the dangers of MCT oil supplementation? Should we be "gluten scared"?...29:25 -NAD supplements and inflammation...30:20 NAD supplement -How to introduce Joel's apple peel protocol into your diet...31:20 Not done all the time but have to do periodically (done whenever needed) Immune-related and immune-centric issues in the gut are targeted -Should you start the two-day core eating right away?...32:30 Two-day core eating is meant to solve declining bifidobacteria with age, ageing in general, sleep disruption, etc. -Should one begin the daisy-cutter protocol right away, and how often should you do it?...33:30 It's not for the faint of heart; only do it if you're prepared physically and mentally Once a year max -When to do Joel's B vitamin protocol...35:00 It is kind of a test that you do when you feel you need energy -Does NAD increase inflammation?...35:55 Immune cell metabolism is the underlying issue -Joel's preferred source of HMO...37:30 Baby formula does the job -Questions from Raja at about research Joel cited in previous podcasts...38:10 What is the primary fuel source of colonocytes? Google search: The primary fuel source of colonocytes is butyrate, but can use glucose and glutamine In the intestines, glutamine is the main fuel source of the enterocytes Butyrate levels in the colon are more important than glutamine Akkermansia levels in lean vs. obese people; men vs. women Japanese herb Kampo Insufficient human evidence for polyphenols stimulating Akkermansia How cold exposure affects Akkermansia Google search: Prebiotics blunt the effects of TNFα Resources from this episode: - Joel Greene: Podcasts and articles: - Other resources: developed by Dr. Ryan D'Arcy Episode sponsors: -: Ben and his team of trained coaches offer a variety of coaching packages and plans for individuals all over the world to optimize their health, longevity, and performance. This is the ultimate way to get the guidance necessary to apply Ben’s extensive knowledge and experience directly to achieve your personal goals. -: A new take on an ancient secret: Pain-soothing herbs, incredible antioxidants, and phytonutrients all in one delicious, soothing “Golden Milk” nighttime tea! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code BENG20. -: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners, save 20% off your first order with code BGF20. For New Year's sale, use code NEWYEAR at checkout to save 15% sitewide, 25% off bundles, and 25% off supplement subscriptions. New Year's sale runs 'til January 2, 2021. -: Organic brands you love, for less. Your favorite organic food and products. Fast and free shipping to your doorstep. Receive a gift card worth up to $20 when you begin a new membership. -: I’ve been using Four Sigmatic products for awhile now and I’m impressed by the efficacies of their mushroom products. I use them. I like them. I support the mission! Receive 10% off your Four Sigmatic purchase when you use discount code BENGREENFIELD.
Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.11.05.370528v1?rss=1 Authors: Lin, j., Liu, G., Han, Z., Gao, Q., Wang, Z., Chang, Z., Gao, Y., Ma, D. Abstract: Backgroundl Xingnaojing injection (XNJ) is extracted from the Chinese ancient prescription "An-Gong-Niu-Huang Pill", is widely used for stroke in China. We mainly observe the effect of XNJ (Xingnaojing) injection on the gut microbiota in stroke model mice. Methods: Forty-two 7- to 8-week-old male C57 mice weighing 22-24 g were chosen for the experiment. There were 6 mice in each group; the 7 groups were the normal group (NG), the MCAO group (CG), the MCAO+XNJ group (EG), the sham surgery group (SG), the sham germ-free normal group (SGFNG), the sham germ-free+MCAO group (SGFCG), and the sham germ-free+MCAO+XNJ group (SGFEG). Two days before modeling, we abdominally administered Xingnaojing (6 mg/kg) the SGFEG and EG groups. The processing time of sustained XNJ was 5 days. Three days after modeling, 1 ~ 2 mouse feces were collected, and after a MiSeq PE library was constructed, an Illumina MiSeq PE 300 platform was used for high-throughput sequencing. After cleaning the sequencing data, the microbiome and microbiomeseq packages were used for analysis using R software (version 3.6.2). Results: Alpha diversity analysis revealed that the diversity was not different between the CG and EG. The Simpson index was different between the SGFCG and SGFEG. XNJ increased the levels of Sutterellaceae and decreased the level of Deferribacteres and Morganella. LEfSe analysis showed that SGFCG mice were also enriched with Morganella. XNJ increased the concentrations of the SCFAs PA (propionate), VA (valerate), IBA (isobutyrate), and IVA (isovalerate) in the feces of the SGFEG group. BA (butyrate) had greater positive correlation with gut bacteria than other acids in the SGFCG, and XNJ changed this trend. KEGG analysis showed that peptidoglycan biosynthesis was most different between the CG and EG. Conclusion: Ischemic stroke (IS) causes dysbiosis of some specific bacteria in the gut microbiota in MCAO mice. Xingnaojing ameliorated this condition by increasing the levels of Sutterellaceae and decreasing the level of Deferribacteres and Morganella. These results are in accordance with other research on Chinese medicines for IS that affect the gut microbiota. Enrichment analysis of SCFAs revealed that XNJ improved the levels of SCFAs through an energy metabolism-related pathway. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info
Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.09.18.304071v1?rss=1 Authors: Narasimhan, R. L., Throm, A. A., Koshy, J. J., Saldanha, K. M. R., Chandranpillai, H., Lal, R. D., Kumravat, M., Kumar K M, A., Batra, A., Zhong, F., Liu, J. Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex, chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract with subtypes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). While evidence indicates IBD is characterized by alterations in the composition and abundance of the intestinal microbiome, the challenge remains to specify bacterial species and their metabolites associated with IBD pathogenesis. By the integration of microbiome multi-omics data and computational methods, we provide analyses and methods for the first time to identify microbiome species and their metabolites that are associated with the human intestine mucosal immune response in patients with CD and UC at a systems level. First, we identified seven gut bacterial species and seventeen metabolites that are significantly associated with Th17 cellular differentiation and immunity in patients with active CD by comparing with those obtained in inactive CD and non-IBD controls. The seven species are Ruminococcus gnavus, Escherichia coli, Lachnospiraceae bacterium, Clostridium hathewayi, Bacteroides faecis, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Akkermansia muciniphila, and a few associated metabolites include the secondary bile acid lithocholate and three short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): propionate, butyrate, and caproate. We next systematically characterized potential mechanistic relationships between the Th17-involved metabolites and bacterial species and further performed differential abundance analysis for both microbiome species and their metabolites in CD and UC relative to non-IBD controls with their metagenomic and metabolomic data. Based on the deconvolution of immune cell compositions from host intestinal bulk RNA-seq, we investigated changes in immune cell composition and abundance in CD and UC in comparison to non-IBD controls. Finally, we further extended our species and metabolite associations with immune cells from Th17 and Th2 cells to B cells, plasma B cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells. While a set of associations of immune cells with bacterial species and metabolites was supported by published evidence, the new findings in this work will help to furthering our understanding of immune responses and pathogenesis in IBD. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info
7 Natural foods that promote gut health & better digestion - Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor You don’t have to rely on processed foods to nourish, sustain, and grow good gut bacteria to aid nutrition and boost your health. Some natural foods can help boost your gut microbiota. Most of these foods contain dietary fibers and other compounds like polyphenols, and the gut bacteria break them down into vitamins and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Check out all these foods that are easy to find to promote your gut health: Apples You might have heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This means that apple contains many health properties that keep your health in good shape. One of such properties is boosting your gut microbiota. This fruit comes in varieties of colors that can taste sweet, tart, and lip-puckeringly sour. Besides, they contain a prebiotic fiber called pectin, which is hard for the body to digest. But your gut bacteria digest and transform this fiber into SCFAs, like butyrate and propionate. These SCFAs serve as nutrients for the gut microbes to help boost your immunity and strengthen your gut health in general. Asparagus This green vegetable is rich in nutrients and it is enjoyed in many cuisines. It naturally contains a kind of prebiotic fiber called inulin, which is acted upon by Faecalibacterium and Eubacterium present in the gut. Some studies have also shown the inulin increases the number of Akkeermansia muciniphilia, another beneficial bacteria found in the gut of lean people. Oats Oats are a rich source of beta-glucan, which is a prebiotic dietary fiber fermented by the gut microbiome, thereby promoting their growth and activity. Their soluble fiber content dissolves in water to produce a thick gel that digests slowly, keeping you fuller for longer. The beta-glucan content of oats also helps to lower cholesterol. Green plantain Green plantains are not so sweet, but they are delicious when cooked. They are rich in prebiotic resistant starch that serves as food for the butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut. These organisms break down the starch into beneficial short-chain fatty acids that maintain your gut lining and combat inflammation. Rye Rye is richer in fiber than wheat, and it has less gluten, which makes it suitable for producing tighter bread, with rich flavors. The grain contains fructan and arabinoxylan, which increases the gut abundance of Bifidobacteria- a bacteria that produces substances like SCFAs and antimicrobial defenses to support your gut environment and other beneficial microbes. Flaxseed The flax seeds have a tough hull, and they are often soaked before consuming. However, you can buy the ground flaxseed to save yourself the stress of processing. These seeds support gut health by promoting the production of mucus. More so, some studies have shown that these seeds protect against colon cancer and reduce gut inflammation. Besides, they contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. The insoluble fiber content supports bowel movements and prevents constipation. Onions Onions are a good source of prebiotics that support your gut health. It also contains inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) that boosts immunity and prevent diseases. You may not like onions because they burn your eyeballs, but if you want to strengthen your gut microbiota, it is worth adding them to your meals. These natural foods and a host of others like mangoes, wild salmon, garlic, etc, work well to help you improve your gut health. You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic office at Elizabeth City, NC to get more recommendations on natural foods to improve the balance of your gut microbiota.
Upstairs is our brain, downstairs is our gut. Most of us think that these two organs live as two separate entities. But let’s consider this, brain health begins in the gut. The gut and the brain are in constant communication, as we speak, there are over 500 million nerves in our intestines, 5 times more than the spinal cord.A healthy gut microbiome is able to influence our brain, keep our mind sharp, our energy levels high and stabilize our emotions. On the other hand, damage to gut flora can cause migraines, headaches, chronic fatigue, and potentially lead to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological disorders.13000 research papers on the gut microbiome have been released in the last 5 years alone. That’s 80% of the total number of papers on this topic in the last 4 decades. You may have heard the importance of the microbiome, but believe me, we are all just scratching the surface.What most of us tend to think is that when we eat food, our body will break down what it can and absorb it, the rest will come out the other end. But this is only partly true. Our microbiome, and particularly our gut microbiome is an incredibly diverse colony of 39 trillion microbes; bacteria, fungi, archaea, protozoa. These single-celled organisms outnumber human cells, 10 fold. Most of us think of microbes as germs or harmful creatures that don’t serve us, but in fact, most bacteria are here to help us. And in the last 15 years of research, we’re beginning to unfold which ones are here to support us, and which ones are here to hurt us. The depth of the microbiota is hard to fathom. So, what exactly are they doing there?They’re doing a lot, actually. In fact, they’re modulating some of the most important aspects of human health; immunity, metabolism, hormonal balance, cognition, gene expression, to name a few. They’re not just chilling because it’s warm and moist, they’re working in synergy with our body to maintain its normal function. Every single one of us has a different set of microbes living in our colon. Every single time you put something into your mouth and swallow, it will interact with the trillions of microbes residing in your gut. You might’ve heard about fiber being that part of a plant that we don’t digest. You might even think all fiber is the same, and that it just passes straight through you.There are many species of bacteria that have the ability to transform fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have incredible abilities in modulating hormone balance, digestion, metabolism, our mood, mindset, gene expression, the list goes on. If we nourish ourselves with fiber, we empower these guys. But considering there are 39 trillion microbes, there ought to be some that aren’t serving us. There are some types of bacteria that cause vicious cycles of inflammation, releasing bacterial endotoxins and the likes. These guys thrive off refined sugars, saturated fats, and animal protein, and produce substances like TMAO, a known driver of chronic low-grade inflammation.@holliejamesdietitian www.holliejamesdietitian.comhttps://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/
Short-Chain Fatty Acids will help you and your body to become a force of wellness in this world. SCFAs are produced by bacteria in the gut during fermentation and they’re essential for your gut, body, and even brain health. They have so many health benefits I think you need to know about them. Check out how you can get them in food and make more in your gut. Episode link: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/podcast/episode-125-why-you-should-know-about-short-chain-fatty-acids-and-fermented-foods/ Check out these links: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/why-you-should-know-about-short-chain-fatty-acids-and-fermented-foods/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/the-trilogy/kombucha/how-to-make-kombucha/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/homemade-apple-cider-vinegar/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/probiotic-water/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/kombucha-coconut-smoothie/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/probiotic-potato-salad/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/thirty-second-chocolate-kefir-pudding/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/kefir-breakfast-pudding/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/pumpkin-maple-kefir-baked-oatmeal/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/store/product/prebio-plus/ https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/recipe/blueberry-spinach-kraut/
Welcome back to episode 405 of the Whole View. (0:27) Today Stacy and Sarah are talking about a super interesting topic submitted a listener. Which, if you didn't know this already, we love it when you email us. Sarah shared some behind the scenes information on where listener questions come from. There are Stacy's requests, listener questions, and the really challenging listener questions. The question in discussion in this episode is one of those really hard ones that has been in the queue for a long time. Sarah was able to pull together the information for this show because she actually did a lot of research on this topic for her gut microbiome book. And of course, Sarah did extra research to address the many facets of this challenging question. Stacy is excited about this science rich show. Listener Question Is the EWG's dirty dozen list based on strong science? (3:37) My husband listened to two episodes of the Skeptoid podcast on organic vs. conventional farming. Mr. Dunning said that we are being duped into paying extra for organic produce. It is sprayed with larger amounts of pesticides than those used in conventional farming and the organic pesticides have been shown to cause disease. My husband believes Mr. Dunning because he provides references and appears to be liberal and non-biased in other podcasts. I have been purchasing organic produce according to the Environmental Working Group's dirty dozen list. It says on the Activist Facts website that "There’s really only one thing you need to know about the Environmental Working Group when it comes to its studies of toxins: 79 percent of members of the Society of Toxicology (scientists who know a little something about toxins) who rated the group say that the Environmental Working Group overstates the health risk of chemicals. I am walking around with holes in my shirts, and I haven't gotten the air conditioning fixed in my car, so that I can afford organic food. Am I wasting my money? I feel like I cannot trust anyone but you. Preface Stacy wanted to refer listeners to listen back to previous episodes for information on how both Stacy and Sarah have evolved the way they purchase and prioritize their own foods within their budget. (5:06) Neither Stacy nor Sarah buys everything organically. Nothing that Stacy and Sarah are going to discuss in this episode is intended to be a judgment on you or your family or what you did in the past or what you are doing now. This is all education so that you can be empowered to make the choices that are best for your family at the correct time for you. Where Stacy's family is today, ten years later, is a lot different than where they were ten years ago. The goal of this episode is to help you so that you can walk away and ask questions. There is a larger philosophy that each family needs to adapt to what works best for them. No one is perfect. If you are starting in your journey, you don't need to forego the necessities to have organic food. There is a way to prioritize your budget in a way that is consistent with what your family believes in. Healthy living choices are so personal. Foundational Choices & Next Level Choices Sarah wanted to emphasize that there are foundational health principles. Nutrient density diet, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and living an active lifestyle. Then Sarah thinks of the next level steps like adding some biohacks, supplements, purchasing grass-fed beef, and organic fruits and vegetables. We need to first make sure that we are focusing on the foundational principles and adding in the next level choice if and when it makes sense. Eating organic is beyond the basic principles, but is overall a better choice. The EWG's overall approach is in many ways more rigorous than the American regulatory agencies. The EWG tends to align with the European Union, Health Canada, and these other regions of the world where the criterion for approving a chemical or pesticide is firmer. In America, the thought process is that chemicals are assumed fine unless proven bad. In Europe, a chemical is not ok until proven safe. Conventional Evaluation of Pesticide Safety The FDA's safety assessment for chemicals in foods have a variety of criteria. (13:11) They look at acute chronic and subchronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. Pesticides also go through additional impact evaluation on the environment and ecology. The vast majority of the studies evaluating the effects of pesticides show problems to human health only with occupational exposure, rather than the much lower exposure the majority of us would have simply by eating produce from crops treated with these chemicals. However, there are some challenges with this. We can see high exposure in rodents causing all kinds of problems. The assumption is that acute exposure is not the same as low dose chronic exposure. Where the Standards Differ One of the challenges that we have in evaluating pesticides is that our exposure is already so vast. There are no humans that don't already have multiple points of exposure to pesticides. There are studies that are linking the chronic low dose exposure to pesticide residues that have correlated pesticide exposure in the food supply with a number of health issues. In the United States, there are 72 pesticides that are routinely used that are completely banned or are in the process of being completely phased out in Europe. Of the pesticides used in USA agriculture in 2016, 322 million pounds were of pesticides banned in the EU. Twenty-six million pounds were of pesticides banned in Brazil and 40 million pounds were of pesticides banned in China. Pesticides banned in the EU account for more than a quarter of all agricultural pesticide use in the USA. It is important to understand that the European Union is looking at the same science as the EPA. And they are making a different judgment based on the strength of the data. We have a challenge that our metric is, 'is it toxic' and 'does it cause cancer'. WHO Guidelines for Safety of Chemicals in Food are much more thorough, and add to the above. They include general system toxicity, allergy and hypersensitivity, and GI Tract Considerations (includes microbiome). Pesticides and the Microbiome (Sarah’s Biggest Concern) Microbial diversity is generally considered to be the most important measurable criteria for a healthy microbiome. (24:31) The more different species you have, they tend to keep each other in balance. The bacteria basically control the growth of each other. We are also looking for the growth of these really important probiotic strains. In addition, we are looking for completely absent levels of pathogens. We are also looking at the balance between the two main phylum of bacteria in the gut. It is important to understand that rodent studies are actually really good studies for understanding the gut microbiome. We would want to eventually be able to do a similar study in humans. But what Sarah wants to emphasize is that these rodent studies are a really good model for understanding what is happening in humans. Let’s go through some of the most commonly-used pesticides in agriculture for food crops. Permethrin is a broad-spectrum chemical often used as an insecticide for cotton, corn, alfalfa, and wheat crops—unfortunately, it’s also lethal to bees. It’s also used to treat lice, ticks, and scabies. For more on this, visit this link here. PEM has higher antibacterial activity against some beneficial bacteria, (including Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium). Than against pathogens (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which only respond to higher concentrations of PEM). Carbendazim (CBZ) is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole fungicide, widely used in agriculture. In mice, 28 days of exposure to CBZ resulted in gut dysbiosis. It suppresses the growth of some of the most important probiotic families while increasing the growth of some problematic families of bacteria. And it decreases bacterial diversity. To learn more about this pesticide, see here. Epoxiconazole (EPO) is a broad-spectrum fungicide often used on grain crops, and that works by inhibiting the metabolism of fungal cells. It reduces the production of conidia—the asexual spores of a fungus that facilitate reproduction. In rats, EPO for 90 days decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, while also selectively enriching Lachnospiraceae and Enterobacteriaceae. To learn more about this pesticide, see here. More Commonly Used Pesticides Imazalil (IMZ) is a systemic fungicide used to combat fungi on vegetables and fruit (especially citrus), as well as tubers during storage. (30:39) In mice, IMZ exposure (at doses of 100 mg per kg of body weight daily for up to 14 days) reduced the cecal relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, while also reducing microbiota richness and diversity. The IMZ-treated mice also exhibited colonic inflammation. In another study of mice, low-dose, environmentally relevant exposure to IMZ (0.1, 0.5, or 2.5 mg per kg of body weight daily) for 15 weeks resulted in gut microbiota changes. These changes included reduced mucus secretion, decreased the expression of genes related to cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CTFR) in the ileum and colon, and generally disturbed intestinal barrier function. Stacy shared her perspective on how she looks at this information. Think through the way how these pesticides are more heavily used on grains. Chlorphyrifos (CPF) is an extremely common organophosphate pesticide used to kill insects and worms, by interfering with acetylcholine signaling and disrupting their nerve processes. It’s commonly used on fruit and vegetable crops, as well as vineyards. This is one that was going to be banned in the USA, but Scott Pruitt reversed the planned ban. You can learn more about this here. Sarah shared on this study, this study, this study, and this study. This information should stimulate a reevaluation of the use of these chemicals in the food supply. Diazinon is an organophosphate insecticide used on a variety of crops—including fruit trees, rice, sugarcane, nuts, potatoes, and corn. You can learn more about this pesticide here. It causes different changes in male rodents versus female rodents. The researchers speculated that these differences—with male mice experiencing the most severe changes—were due to sex-dependent gut microbiota profiles present before treatment. You can read more about this study here. Two More Commonly Used Pesticides Propamocarb (PMEP) is a systemic fungicide used to control root, leaf, and soil diseases caused by oomycetes (water molds) by interfering with fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthesis and therefore changing the membrane in fungi. (41:41) It can accumulate in fruit at high levels, thus reaching humans. You can find more information on this pesticide here. In mice, 28 days of exposure to PMEP (at levels of 300 mg/L in drinking water) induced gut dysbiosis and changes in 20 fecal metabolites, including SCFAs, succinate, bile acids, and TMA. You can read more about this study here. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that can kill both grasses and leafy weeds. It works by inhibiting an enzyme (5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate synthase, or EPSP synthase), which is used by bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, some protozoans and plants to synthesize folates (vitamin B9), ubiquinone, menaquinones (vitamin K2), phenolic compounds, and the aromatic amino acids tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. The pathway this affects doesn’t exist in animals, which is part of why glyphosate has historically been considered to have low toxicity in animals. Now that we understand that we have at least as many bacterial cells living within our body as we do human cells and that those bacteria are essential to our health, the relevance of glyphosate exposure comes into focus. Many bacterially-derived compounds that benefit human health are produced via the shikimate pathway. One rat study evaluated the impact on the microbiome of two weeks of glyphosate consumption, and showed a dose-dependent increase in fecal pH attributable to a reduction in acetic acid production, implying the metabolomic impact of glyphosate exposure. More on Glyphosate It's not that glyphosate is necessarily directly impacting our cells, but it is dramatically impacting the gut microbiome at levels that we are already being exposed to in the food supply. (48:50) In studies in poultry, cattle, and pigs, glyphosate exposure increases the ratio of pathogenic bacteria to probiotic microbes, reducing Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus while increasing Salmonella and Clostridium. In a long-term rat study, the impact on the gut microbiome was evaluated following nearly two years of glyphosate exposure via drinking water at three different doses. Glyphosate caused a large increase in the Bacteroidetes family S24-7 (associated with obesity and inflammation) and a decrease in Lactobacillus species in females (more modest changes in males). It also altered the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio to one more closely associated with chronic disease. The authors concluded “our data suggests that the exposure to an environmental concentration of [Roundup] residues could have a role in the current epidemic of gut dysbiosis”. This occurs even at levels well below the US ADI of 1.75 mg/kg body weight /day. There is no strong dose-response. Sarah wants to emphasize that our glyphosate exposure in food is quite high. It is definitely above the cusp for an impact on our gut microbiome composition. The FDA has a report where they have been mandated to measure glyphosate residue in the food supply. In their 2016 report they measured measurable levels of glyphosate residues in 63% of corn food crops and in 67% of soybean food crops. However, they did not say how much residue was there. The 2018 report goes to a dead link now. A Swiss study of foods purchased at a grocery store showed that legumes had the highest concentrations of glyphosate residues, up to 2.95 mg/kg. United Kingdom government testing of glyphosate residues in wholegrain bread showed levels up to 0.9 mg/kg. A study of foods purchased in Philadelphia, USA metropolitan area showed 59 percent of honey samples contained glyphosate residues, and 36 percent of soy sauce contained glyphosate residues. Third-party testing of popular breakfast cereals, crackers, and cookies by the Detox Project and Food Democracy Now! showed alarming levels of glyphosate residues in all products. Roundup Ready GMOs have the highest level of glyphosate residues. Studies prove that our current levels of exposure are sufficient for measurable amounts of glyphosate to get into our bodies. One study showed that 44% of city dwellers in 18 countries in Europe had detectable glyphosate residues in their urine, despite Europe’s more aggressive campaign against GMO foods. A pilot study in the United States of America evaluating 131 urine samples from across the country detected glyphosate residues in the urine of 86.7% of them. The highest observed detection frequency in the Midwest was at 93.3% and the lowest in the South at 69.2%. How to Look at this Science The EWG is looking at this much more broad group of criteria and they are taking a very similar standpoint to the European Union. (58:09) A small effect is still an effect and we need to be concerned about it. When Sarah does a deep dive look to look at the impact on the gut microbiome this is where Sarah sees the biggest area of concern. Sarah thinks it is especially important because it is not currently part of the criteria by the FDA and the EPA for whether or not these chemicals are going to be approved for use. This is the thing that Sarah really thinks needs to change. The good news is that a healthy gut microbiome and high fiber consumption can actually protect us from absorbing a lot of these pesticides. There have been studies that showed that lactobacilli can help reduce how much pesticide on our food gets into our bodies. There are also studies that show that higher fiber consumption can at least partially reverse the gut dysbiosis. As we get back to the heart of this question, there are studies that show that the answer is no. High vegetable consumption is still really important because it does support a healthy gut microbiome, to begin with. And a healthy gut microbiome is going to protect us in a lot of ways. For example, they can protect us against heavy metals. Even if we can't afford organic to not let that dissuade us from eating that high vegetable consumption because of this. Sarah sees this as an exciting two-way street. Even though pesticide residues are impacting the composition of our guts, the composition of our gut is influenced by more than just that. It is influenced by how many fruits and vegetables we eat, mushrooms, nuts and seeds, variety, how much fish, how quality the olive oil is that we are consuming, etc. All of these things help to determine the composition of our gut microbiome. Doing all of these foundational things becomes more important when we are not necessarily in a position to be able to seek out and afford the highest food quality. It is still really important to eat a vegetable-rich diet. That's why Sarah wants to classify all of this science as the next level. The foundational principle is still eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, even if our only access to that is conventional. Beyond that, yes the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists from the EWG are a wonderful tool. Not that Sarah agrees with everything the EWG has said, Sarah thinks that these are spot on in the sense of trying to minimize our exposure to pesticide residues. How to Limit Pesticide Exposure Stacy feels that the podcast referenced and the information they are sharing aren't so far apart. (1:02:10) Sarah and Stacy discussed a point shared in the documentary Food Inc. that really hit this information home. We do the best that we can with what we can, and become educated on what other things we can do to support healthy living. Nothing is ever perfect. Prioritize the foods you purchase and do the best you can. It is not good to stress about these things. The dirty dozen list includes strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes The clean fifteen list includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, sweet peas (frozen), eggplants, asparagus, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, honeydew melon, and kiwifruit. If you are going to get something off the dirty dozen conventional, look at ways that you can wash that food very well or ways you can peel the food to remove the majority of the pesticide residue. USDA certification is very expensive, so a lot of small family farms are growing organically, but don't have the certification. Talk to farmers and find out how they are growing their food. Stacy can't handle the sight of bugs in her fresh vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables is a good thing. Perfection is not the goal. Neither Stacy nor Stacy eats 100% organic, they both do the best that they can. Sarah has found that the prices at her local farmer's market are best. Develop relationships with your local farmers, and shop at the end of the market. Stacy subscribes to Hungry Harvest, which has a waiting list right now. Sarah prescribes to MisFit Market, there is also one called Imperfect Produce. One of the things that Sarah loves about her subscription is the surprise element of it, which forces her to get creative with her meal planning. At Stacy's house they meal plan when their box arrives, based on what they received. Stacy shared more information on their meal planning process as a family, and how focused they have become to make sure they are not wasting food. Building relationships with your local farmers is a point that Stacy echoed from Sarah. Buying things in season or frozen can also be a helpful way to save money. Stacy's organic box is at least 30% off had they purchased those items at a grocery store regularly. The thing that Stacy most loves about Hungry Harvest is that they give back to the community. Closing Thoughts Stacy thanked Sarah for all the research she did for this show! (1:23:13) If you have any follow up questions on all of this, you are welcome to email Stacy and Sarah using the contact forms on their blogs. You can comment on social media posts as well. Stacy and Sarah are always happy to hear from you! If you have been loving this show, please help spread the word to others by sharing a link to an episode you enjoyed with a family or friend, or leave a review. Stacy and Sarah so greatly appreciate your support! Thank you again for tuning in! Next week is another science-heavy show that builds off of this week's episode. We will be back again next week! (1:25:57)
Within our gut resides a vast ecosystem that guides countless facets of health and performance. Emerging research shows that your gut microbiota may impact many different and seemingly unrelated aspects of health and bodily function, including appetite and body weight regulation, lifespan, mood, cognition, and even athletic performance. We also know that the gut plays a role in the immune system. In fact, it is thought that over 70% of the body's immune cells reside in the gut. Throughout life, gut microbes shape and regulate the immune system, and the immune system in turn guides the composition of the flora in the gut. We think gut microbes work a lot of their magic by generating crucial metabolites, and these metabolites can help modulate the immune system response to invading viruses. For example, one remarkable study from a couple years ago found feeding mice a high-fiber diet increased their probability of survival when the rodents were infected with influenza, and it appeared to be due to increased production of SCFAs. So, does this mean that eating lots of fiber can help protect us from getting sick? What other components of the diet might modulate the immune system? And how does aging figure into this puzzle - could maintaining a healthy gut microbiome help protect older adults, who are generally at greater risk of infection? On this episode of humanOS Radio, Dan speaks with Lucy Mailing. Lucy has a Phd in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois. Her research focused on the effects of diet and exercise on the gut microbiome and gut barrier function in states of health and disease. She recently wrote a broad overview on what we know - and what we don't know - about the role of the gut in the immune system, as well as some ideas of what we can do to support the gut-immune axis. This is, obviously, a very important and painfully relevant topic, so we knew we had to have her on to discuss it. To learn more about how gut health affects resistance to infections, check out the interview!
All right. Welcome back. It's gut check project, Episode Number 33. I'm here with your host, Dr. Kenneth Brown. I'm Eric Rieger. Dr. Brown. What's happening In a day?Not much I tell you what, this is really cool Episode 33. It's you and I know guest because we got to cover some serious science. Yeah, we do. A lot of people want to know what happens whenever you take certain things that works as post biotics, not just probiotics, but what do I do to feed my bacteria? And is that even number one? Is that even a real thing? What's a post biotic? Do I care what happens with the foods that I eat and what my bacteria does with it? And if I do, what's happening? so I'm going to, we're going to deep into deep into, we're going to dive in deep into some awesome science about what happens when we take care of our bodies, bacteria. Well, the reason why I wanted to get into this is that we got tons of feedback on the fecal microbial transplant episode. And then of course, when we had Panez on here talking about Crohn's disease. Yeah. So one of our viewers, Don sent me a message that basically said, so I'm more confused than ever. What do we do now? I started looking into it, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, now I know why so many things happen to poor Heli I, we're going to talk about that we're going to look into this, and hopefully clear up a few things. But I love the fact that we have viewers that are calling in be like, great episode, but now I'm more confused now and you know, follow it up. So that's what we're going to do today we're going to follow it up and talk about how Heli and Panez that has groans and Ellie, with her horrible autoimmune disease and everything like that with her fecal microbial transplant. I'm now starting to put the pieces together. I'm moving this big bubble of Venn diagrams, and I'm like, Oh, my gosh, this is here. So that's what we're going to do today. Your job because I mean, when I mean, I got excited, like, I my hair started going up in my arms. I was like, it's there. We're missing this. What I'm going to do right now is talking about some stuff that probably should have been put together before or maybe it has been maybe, but I looked at a lot of research I spent I just went down rabbit holes, and I'm kind of excited to talk about it.Well, it's awesome. It's easy to do. I can tell you that I would imagine that we're probably going to talk about not only post biotics, but some really cool names like short chain fatty acids, right? We're going to head that direction?We're going to talk about that ..PolyphenolsWe're going to talk about SIBO, its IBS, all that stuff. PolyphenolsThis is gonna be a great episode. If you if you if you're truly interested in gut health, you cannot ever stop expanding your knowledge and understanding why people say, health begins and ends in the gut. If there's a reason why that people who change your diet feel better, and this is what we're going to talk about today, so.. Yeah, totally. But you know, but before we get into that, we're not just, we're not just podcast nerds. I have a life. Okay. I'm pretty excited. I went and I did Rachel Sheers podcast, Sheer Madness. With her little Frenchie thingy Bulldog, yeah, called Lily. And so we went and did that. That's gonna launch here pretty soon, but you can see pictures of that. So that's cool. Um, and I also feel like I've been working too hard and people ask me, they're like, you know, do you have a hobby I'm like, wow, I'm..No so I was watching 60 minutes and I don't know why I'm turning into my dad. We're now I watch 60 minutes on Sundays and rather enjoy it. But I'm gonna pick up falconry. In fact, I've picked up falconry.That's amazing. You've already done it in such a short amount of Yeah, specifically Golden Eagle falconry. OkayYeah. So basically I watched a 60 minute episode and Mongolia Nomads depend on animals to get other animals because they have no agriculture. So what they do is they make this bond with golden eagles and they use them to hunt other animals for them. And they've been doing this for thousands of years. Well, there's a woman named Lauren McGough. She's a PhD, she traveled to Mongolia. She's from Oklahoma. Oh, wow. Yeah, like, imagine having that conversation with your dad. You're like, I'm gonna go to Mongolia. But she's from Oklahoma. She found this old book on Eagle hunters. And she's like I'm gonna go do this. So she figured out that this is such a unique way of living where you live in unison with the animals. So she went there, she captured her own Golden Eagle bonded with it, and then became part of their tribe and hunted with this thing. Wow. And then has come back and it's been like, you know, a conservationist and she's a PhD and she lectures and all this other stuff. So these things, she owns her own eagle and what they do is they there's, they describe how you actually get it, but it's safe and everything in the ego bonds and then they let the ego go, like you're back out in the wild. I'm done with young either, you know, do you want to leave like when the ego wants to leave, it just leaves, but it hangs out so they can fly 50 miles an hour, and they can see seven times better than a human. And then they let it go. So anyways, I got into it. So I got my first Golden Eagle. And I've been trying to do this, but it just keeps bringing the neighbor's cat to me. Yeah It's not working the way it did on 60 minutes.While like he keeps bringing the neighbor's cat so it's unharmed, which is really really sweet.Totally unharmed. It's it's a completely loving eagle, the cat loves it. I just pet it for a little while. Yeah. Then it delivers it back to the neighbor. I don't know where the neighbor is.. Could be different city who knows? Travels 50 miles an hour. It's common knowledge of birds of prey just don't ever hurt anything. They just want to show it to somebody. So that's my hobby. Yeah, interesting. I can't even match that. So probably not going to the boys are about Star basketball playoffs. So that's what we're getting fired up to do. weekend was nice. Did some camping Saturday, Saturday evening. Woke up to beautiful sunrise Sunday. It was it was awesome. And that really kind of what we did this weekend is can take it easy. So..Good for you. Taking it easy is good. I want to bring up one in the news article that I saw because pretty cool. Yeah. All right. You're gonna love this. Just published this month, actually. It was published the February 14th. So in the news, the American Heart Association published a study out of Northwestern on peace. With peripheral artery disease PAD, also known as PVD, peripheral vascular disease. Now peripheral vascular disease or arterial disease is a narrowing of the arteries that reduces the blood flow from the heart. So the further away from the heart. Imagine you have coronary artery disease. Same thing happens all over the body... But the further away it gets, it can actually affect people where you can't walk very, very far and it affects over 8.5 million people 40 years of age or older nationwide. It's a big deal. Sure. So this is so cool. In a small study of 44 people at Northwestern University of patients over the age of 60. They gave them a beverage drink containing flavonoid rich cocoa.Interesting.They gave them cocoa and then they added some epigalic tannins to it. Hmm, sound familiar?Thats polyphenol people right there polyphenols, they gave people polyphenols the American Heart Association is now starting to catch up they're, I think watching the podcast. I'm sure they are. I think they are. So basically what they did is they showed that people that took this three times a day for six months, which shows that it is a supplement three times a day in a cardiac diseased laden population, ... no side effects... three times a day, six months, and they improved their six minute walking test compared to those who drank the same number and type of beverages without the supplement.It's funny you say that because people who have serious complications with diabetes that ends up with PVD or PAD, oftentimes, they end up doing that walking test, especially if they have numbness in their feet, or they notice that they have sores on their toes that they're unaware, but a family member sees, right?YeahSo just a side note, if you happen to have diabetes, it may, it may behoove you to keep up with your polyphenol intake daily.And it also may behoove you to listen to the rest of this podcast because I'm going to get some cool stuff but so look at this.. so you're like, Okay, well what does that mean? So if I drink cocoa notes cocoa enriched with epigalic, tannins, same tannins that we have in Atrantil the right part, those are the polyphenols. So those that drank this, they improve their muscle function over the placebo. But what's really cool is they showed that they did muscle biopsies and they showed increased mitochondrial activity. It improved the mitochondria increase the blood flow through through..The mitochondria what are you saying?No, no, it increase the blood flow because of the polyphenols through..?ArterialDilation, because of nitric oxide production. Okay Everything that we've been talking about.I know he's teeing me up folks, I really hate them. Because there was lots of through there and andYeah, I'm just just follow this basically.. We now have scientific reasons why polyphenols improved sports performance, okay. It affects mitochondria and it increases the blood flow. Now we're into a much better realm. And I understand the categories that we're in because we've multiple times referenced the studies that Joe Botel from from England was talked specifically about increasing nitric oxide, specifically in athletes to increase blood flow, increased performance, etc. So sorry, I didn't see the T up there.Well, this is what's so beautiful. We always talk about, you know, athletic performance. Now we're talking disease. Now we're saying that, okay, yes, if you're a triathlete, or if you're a marathon runner, but there's a whole lot more people, you want to see how many people actually have peripheral vascular disease. Go to the airport. I remember and this is a man, this was a I remember when I was flying. I think the flight was going to Florida. Oh, and so there was quite a few people over the age of 60. They were all in shorts. None of them had leg hair.Oh, well, and circumference right..Circumference. All the way ... So just so you don't get along because I'm one of these if you still have hair. On one side of your leg, but on the other, that's not what we're talking about. But if you have a, there's like a line of demarcation... And then suddenly the hair stops you, you probably need to at least be checked out because there's a lack of blood flow.Yeah. So what ends up happening is is that the blood flows to go from the heart all the way to the toes. And so the micro vasculature starts decreasing before the macro vasculature meaning you're going to sacrifice the skin, blood flow to protect the muscles and the joints and the cartilage and all that other stuff. So that's how many like I looked around one day and I was like, Oh my god, I truly believe that almost everybody here has coronary artery disease slash PAD. Now we're looking at this going they all need to be on a polyphenol..Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, that's really, really interesting. And that's crazy. So yeah, so these these polyphenols definitely will help naturally benefit and produce nitric oxide so that you can increase your blood flow. And if you're already compromised help your body out.Do it never even thought about the whole mitochondria thing.Now? Obviously I didn't either, because I just sat there and stared at you. I saidYeah. Now the question is they didn't get into why they're actually asking in the article at Northwestern. They're saying the etiology, or the the physiology of how this is accomplished has yet to be determined. But we know it increases nitric oxide. Yeah, we do. I'm going to get into some stuff here shortly where I'm going to tell you that it's all about the post biotics. All right It's nuts. So for the next so I'm going to that's, that's it. That's our that's our fun part of the podcast.Now, that is fun, though. Honestly, if you've got circulatory issues, at least, you know, there could be a natural solution that will at least help. Number one, give you some more time. Number two, give us an idea of what you can do to improve things for yourself.So I mean, if there's one reason to do this podcast, and I keep saying this every single time, but I'm getting I'm learning I'm getting better. We've got our little secret weapon that keeps sending me articles and I'm just like, Oh my gosh, this one ties to this this one ties to this. So this is going to be a review of short chain fatty acids and you're like, I don't own any of those. I'm gonna get off. No, you need to hear this. Basically if you're a mammal on the planet Earth, this is a really important podcast for you.If you can understand the words he's saying that is you... yeah. Unless you're a flat eartherYeah, well they probably still should take they still take polyphenols..Should I shouldn't take that back question discriminated against. Unfortunately, I just watched that Joe Rogan episode with the astronauts. I'm all about space right now.Oh, yeah. Well, it's funny just the other day I passed the flat earth mobile in Denton, Texas. Yeah, it's pretty fun. On the back it says the earth is flat and you pan down to is buffered it says and motionless, which I think is awesome. But whatever. Well, so let's get into short chain fatty acids post biotics. Let's, let's get into some some awesome science here and, and let people know why it's so important.Alright, so I mentioned the very beginning that this was sort of brought on because the viewer Don said, Well, what next and then I started going down this rabbit hole, then I started Heli. If you watch the episode where we do the fecal microbial transplant This is that mean that she's not an actress, she's desperate. Sure. And things are happening to her and they're happening fast and she is panicking. We had Pannez that is at risk for all these things that we're talking about, but it's super complex. Ultimately, it all comes down to the microbiome. Unfortunately, As Americans, we disrupt our own microbiome by our lifestyles, like eating crappy diets, taking antibiotics, lack of exercise, and probably poor sleep are the biggest deals. And this is going to result in a decrease in diversity. You're going to hear this term over and over and over again. People always talk about I'll just take probiotics and improve this. No, it's way more complex than this. We're going to get into it. But basically, you need a true diverse microbiome, to aid in your health. Researchers are now showing that neuro degenerative issues like dementia, Parkinson's, anything that affects your brain. And you know, Eric, we've talked about this a bunch that my goal as a physician right now is to figure out a way to stop dementia. Yep. Because we come on the show and we talk we talk about our kids or about our wives. We talked about stuff. Imagine if all of a sudden it's gone. What was your life, ultimately, your life becomes memories and those memories are what forms your personality and all these other things, and then they affect stuff. The thought of taking away my memory is, I mean, people people don't really think about how, how difficult dementia really is. I mean, it's it's a it's a hard one. I've had friends whose parents have faded that way? My wife's grandmother, I mean, we wonderful woman and went through just honestly her own living hell not being able to relate to the people that she felt like she knew around her. And just it's no good. No. And so if we can sit down, start piecing things together. Yeah. And not only the neurodegenerative things, but now researchers are starting to look at this. I mean, I just gave that article about the American Heart Association looking at a polyphenolic complex. That means that the traditional medical complex is starting to look at this stuff starting awesome Starting.Now there's evidence to show that heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, obesity, so if you're like, Oh, I don't know anybody with dementia. But do you know anybody with obesity, ever had a heart attack? You have a family history of anybody with diabetes? Any all that stuff is the real question is how and why? Yep. Why didn't Heli develop all these autoimmune issues after fecal microbial transplant? My theory I'm not I'm not a smart enough to be a flat earther that has cool bumper stickers like that. But so my theory is just looking at all this and looking at my patients. I'm not a I'm not a PhD bench researcher, but this is what the world needs is bench researchers coming up with stuff having animal models, clinicians out here, slugging it away, and weirdos getting on the air and talking about it yet try and figure it out. Yeah, bridge bridge the gap between traditional medicine and natural solutions. Alright, so my theory is that our microbes, our microbiome, the most important thing in your body that really helps regulate everything. Do we live for them? Do they live for us? We don't know. But it can be symbiotic. Meaning you can work together. They're fed by the food we eat specifically fibers and complex polysaccharides. polysaccharides are hard to digest starches, right? So through various mechanisms their, these bacteria break them down, they eat it. And then their waste products or basically what they leave over. We use .. So their compost is our fuel, right? It's a fantastic thing that we've never really thought of before..Their compost is our fuel. That's that's, yeah, it's nice.Yeah, so that's what we're now calling post bioticsRight? And it's not a bad thing at all because what they produce in general post biotics, you can describe post biotics by their composition, like is it a fat, short chain fatty acid? Is it a complex molecule that we don't really know very much about it? Or does it do like your religion is one of them, your religion that creates the Mito con the mytophogy, right affects old and sick mitochondria.And if you're keeping up that's also known as the anti aging post bioticProduced by bacteria that breaks down these things a post biotic or the physiologic function that it causes. So we know that there's certain things about to reproduce that we haven't been able to label yet. There's been 800 post biotics, and they create all kinds of different diseases Again, 800 post bioticsThat scientists have at least discovered Right. And it's just to be fair, it's much like the ocean, there's just because we have 800.. I don't even think we're near the end. I mean, there's lots to figure out and the combinations thereof anyway, I don't want to sidetrackNo, totally sidetracked the whole time. In fact, your sole job, because I'm like, when I mean that we discovered a topic here that I was like going, Oh, my gosh, we're, we're piecing things together. So when I start going down a rabbit hole too much, interrupt immediately and go, you don't you're not making any senseSure.Just stop and start me over here. So this all started because of the fecal microbial transplant thing with Heli. And then Don says I'm more confused so that I started looking into it. And now I started realizing that these post biotics there's 800 of them, but let's Focus on one that we've done some serious research on, which is short chain fatty acids..Okay? Now short chain fatty acids are fatty acids that are really small. They're like fewer than six carbon atoms, meaning that it's very tiny. And they're made by our bacteria in our colon from undigestible, or from indigestible foods like fibers. And I always thought of them as fuel for the colon. That's how I was taught during my fellowship and residency in medical school, that they're, they're local. But the reality is it goes way beyond that, way, way, way beyond that. So these short chain fatty acids do include in to the geeky part, names like butyrate, acetate, propionate, and lactate, don't get hung up on the names, but in particular, butyrate is one that everybody talks about..Right? It's super important for gut health, and it's also known to help with gut motility corrects leaky gut, it works locally to heal the lining of the colon. But we now know that the other short chain fatty acids can actually be absorbed systemically as well. And we have not been paying attention to them. And they can influence the body in all different kinds of ways, depending on the host genes..Right?So you and I may react differently to these short chain fatty acids, depending on your genes. That's the epi genetic phenomena, right? That's how come Heli he developed all these issues when her donor did not have the issues. So that's a separate rabbit hole. But what I want to talk about is butyrate is so important that most nutritionists and scientists study this molecule that is its own episode. Okay. I'm going to talk about the black sheep of short chain fatty acids..Which ones at that? Oh, everything else but butyrate it okay. So if butyrate just know it's good, and you want butyrate? Yep. Now we're going to go into everything else and I want to explain how my patients like Pannez may have developed her problem, and we're going to bring it all the way back to short chain fatty acids like acetate and lactate and talk about that. So, the rest of this is I'm going to show you the model that I've never been able to explain up until right now. Okay. For instance, every time somebody sees me with SIBO small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, or inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, Crohn's colitis, I like to ask them a question. I'm like, Do you ever feel like you're in a brain fog? Do you ever have anxiety? Has your mood changed? You have sleep disturbance? The first thing I do is go right from the gut to the brainRight? And I asked because I've seen this correlation. And I've always said, Well, it's because of the inflammatory process. haven't really gone that deep into it because all the articles I was reading about that all showed that a inflamed gut can lead to an inflamed brain. Now let's dive a little bit deeper and find different reasons how these post biotics actually lead to that. OkaySo if you're somebody that suffers from anxiety, it may have nothing to do with your brain. It may all start in your gut. And this is really wild. So step one, something happens.OkayYou get back bacterial overgrowth, SIBO you have an infection, eat a crappy diet. This leads to leaky gut, or intestinal permeability. Now, new research is showing that this will actually once you develop intestinal permeability, it actually allows acetate and lactate to get absorbed more into the bloodstream. That's not really what we want is it. It's not what we want. So once it gets absorbed into the bloodstream, these short chain fatty acids have this incredible mechanism to cross the blood brain barrier through its own transport molecule. So in the past, we've always talked about leaky gut leaky brain. This actually has its own transport, it doesn't even have to be a leaky brain, it's got a little bridge that these guys ride.So, in short, if I think this can be beneficial if you have a transport mechanism at the cellular level, basically, that just means that there's a little protein that's allowing passage or exchange of something to be taken from one side to the other. And I think that what you're explaining here is, we don't really want these molecules crossing over to the brain, but now that they are rapidly being absorbed through the gut, that they're more abundant in the brain, and that's not really what we're after.So these guys finally get out of the gut. They got a VIP card. Yeah, they're like, whoo, VIP card front of the line, let me know the brain. So that's what's really fascinating. So acetate and lactate, once it gets in the brain. They can actually directly influence neurons. causing a series of effects. said again, it's a direct neuro transmitter. Nobody's ever said this that I've learned this in neurology..Yea me either. So lactate and acetate can cause a direct influence on the neurons by stimulating sympathetic nervous activity. What that means is..Excitability.. They turn on the fight or flight.Yeah, interesting. Well, guess what? Yes.So this can cause a rise in blood pressure, heart rate and the opposite effect in the gut. When you have a sympathetic effect in the brain. You have a parasympathetic effect in the gut. What I mean by that is, I always tell my patients, the more because they're like, oh, man, I've been so stressed. I built constipation. Like it's a physiologic phenomenon when we were evolving. If you're being chased by a saber toothed tiger, you don't want to have sex or take a poop. Right as you're getting giddy. Yeah. So you have to think fast and run. Yeah, it's really funny. So like, I'm always thinking about that, like from sex. To actually have an erection. You have to have a para sympathetic response. wants to have an orgasm you need a sympathetic response and to actually have a bowel movement you need a parasympathetic. So parasympathetic is the opposite side of the fight or flight..Right. So now we've got this thing. I'm like, Oh my gosh, wait a minute. So, when you have SIBO, I'm just going to keep using the SIBO patient because, for the first time, I could say, oh, Heli on the interview, kept saying, I just am so anxious and just in and remember, I took a two hour interview to 15 minutes. I really kind of had to get her back focused the whole time. She was just like, I'm just wired and not wired like Robb Wolf. Alright, so then this becomes this really wild, this sympathetic effect causes a rise in the blood pressure, heart rate, and then the opposite effect, where then the motility gets messed up leading to more leaky gut. It becomes a vicious cycle. Yeah. So then while all this is going on, more inflammation happens. In the gut, the leaky gut then turns on the inflammatory cascade. So then that becomes our normal talk. That's I've given lectures on this part where I can show interleukin 12 and other 23. You know, cytokines blah, blah, blah, histamine..These are all inflammatory markers. Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh, what if the very, very, very, very beginning of it is too much lactate acetate getting into the brain that then tells the brain to turn on the gut, or to turn down the gut to create more inflammation. And now you've got this process going on. So we've talked about this for SIBO in years, but now I'm saying oh, my gosh, we gotta fix the post biotic situation before we can fix everything else. Yeah. So now you may be thinking, Okay, this is crazy. I don't have you know, it's, it's interesting. I don't have anxiety, I dont have depression, I don't have bloating, I don't have gut issues. I'm going to turn this off dope because Oh my goodness. Now we're going to look at some different things that these post biotics are actually linked to certain diseases..Okay. And now we're going to get outside of the gut. And I'm going to give you mechanisms about how these things affect or can create diabetes, blood pressure, dementia, all kinds of stuff. Before we jump too far ahead. Can you give us an idea on what type of foods are used by these bacteria to create the post biotics that we don't want?..To create the post box that we don't want? That's that is a great question. What we do know more is that the foods that produced the post biotics that we like are fibers, and digestible starches are resistant starches, things like that, right? overnight oats, you know, whatever type of fibers, polyphenols, the skins of vegetables and fruits. What we do know is that when you eat a diet high in processed foods.. you end up creating more bacteria that produce more lactate and acetate.They're the things that I was kind of hinting at. And I kind of cheated a little bit but the things I was kind of hinting at were unrefined, our refined sugars. Yeah. And things like oils that we're not really supposed to consume like high, high pressed vegetable oils and different things like that they, they believe that those may be the the foods that allow the bacteria to produce the postbox that we don't want preservatives, foods that shouldn't be sitting on a shelf for months at a time and suddenly they're just fresh because they're in a package. Those may they don't know this for certain, but they think that those may be the kinds of foods that would lead to a lot of this lactate and acetate.And nobody's talking about the post biotics doing this. And spoiler alert, I'm going to get into it a little bit. But basically, once you start producing more of it, you're it sends signals to those bacteria that are like we're winning..let's keep doing more. Yeah. So they end up propagating more or they end up colonizing more. whatever word you Want to use? Then you end up with more of that. And then they're sending brain signals to eat more of that. And that's that whole thing where now you're out there wondering why you're cracking open a bag of Oreos? Well think about it if if I post bodek is influencing the way that my brain thinks she would have to draw the assumption that if I'm suddenly addicted to sugar, and I'm always craving sugar, whereas maybe I didn't before but now everyone my friends would know me as someone who just really likes sugar all the time. That could just be the the lack of that post biotic influencing the brain who's now told me Oh, you need to quickly go get this fix to make you feel this way.Oh, I'm so glad you went with sugar on this one. Nice. Let's talk about diabetes. Okay. All right. So I found an article that basically looked at diabetes in a rat model. This research showed that diabetic mice fed a sad diet, a standard American diet, and this diet which is high sugar, high fat, high fats not bad, right? High. I think high sugar is always bad, right? You combine the two and it's a, it's horrible. Basically, they fed us they fed these diabetic mice a sad diet, and they showed immediately that the acetate level jumped right up. This rising acetate caused an acute rising glucose leading to the pancreas to secrete excess of insulin Yeah, then it should have and then this rise in insulin led to a huge rise in a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin..Hungry. Yeah. Can you go ahead and explain to everybody what ghrelin is. So,Ghrelin is the the mechanism by which your your gut, your GI tract tells you that you're hungry, and you're going to want to go out and eat. And you really want leptin to kick in and whenever you've not, or when you whenever you don't need to go out and get hungry, basically. I mean, so whenever you see the commercials for what was The name of that lipitor or whatever it was, it was making people feel like they were. They were full. They were they were basically trying to mimic leptin. Really?Yeah, to make you feel full. Never saw. Not only works, butBe around. But regardless, grillin is the opposite. Ghrelin is the one that drives you to go and seek food to go get nourishment. But it's funny because they started to think and you could be, you could correct me on this, but ghrelin it certain instances, like for the sugar lack, that if you get low on sugar, then suddenly your brain is now programmed. Well, we'll raise ghrelin whenever our sugar load gets low, right? Yeah. So what was so cool is that these guys looked at, usually somebody will look at one thing, but they're like, okay, our theory is this, we're going to look at the post biotic acetate and see what its effect does. And those that have higher acetate levels are showing higher insulin, higher ghrelin levels. And so then those mice became voracious. They want to eat more than what did they do? They produced more and their desire to eat the crappy sugary type stuff because the ghrelin is saying get the cheapest, easiest calories. Yeah led to higher acid..acetate. Yeah, wait. Just Just a side note. This is also the argument that a lot of dietitians have on why it's important to have what they call high density foods. So a refined sugar is not a high density food at all. It's short lived in terms of the satisfaction, and you're going to always want to keep consuming whereas if you eat the foods that you should eat, you the fibers and the polyphenols, etc, you you fill up and it leaves lots of work for the bacteria to produce the types of post biotics that you want. 100% so I have all these diabetic patients that struggle to lose weight, but really, it could come down to the bacteria and the bacteria that are producing acetate. I mean, maybe the future treatment. I mean, American Heart Association just got done doing this studying peripheral vascular disease. Maybe the encrinologist will start looking at changing the bacteria to help with diabetes instead of just throwing drugs at people. because quite honestly, once you get put on insulin that it's it's erases your ghrelin everybody I talked to they're just like, man, I take an insulin shot. Bodybuilders take insulin so they can eat more and their growth hormone goes up.Yeah, kids don't do that. That's not the reason.So diabetes, I don't care about diabetes. Nobody. My family has diabetes. It is what it is. That's what somebody out there saying, Man, this guy keeps talking about anxiety. SIBO IBS had an effect me or anybody in my family. All right, I'm telling you that. Now let's talk about blood pressure. The silent killer.Definitely How many? Honestly, side note how many times do we have patients come through every day? We have a full load. I would say probably 20% of those on a full load day. We probably have to inform them about a blood pressure issue right or wrong?Oh, we've seen more than 100 million people in our clinic. Yeah. Wrong. That's that's wrong. That's 100 million people have high blood pressure in the United States. Okay. Yeah, we seen 100 million feels like 100 million.Yeah, I didn't know what that number was going. That sounded like an awful lot. But, but we do, but we do have people who for the first time ever, it they say feel fine, no meds. And then suddenly we look at their blood pressure, and it's 170 over 98. So not normal. And I've been pre hypertensive for a long time. I've changed my diet. And you know, I'm knocking right on 49 right now. So I'm pushing 50 here, and my blood pressure is better. It continues to get better as I focus on my dietRight? And I've always like, Man, that just doesn't make any sense. Why would because, you know, I, you know, I'll sit there and I'll fly off the rails and cheat and pizza and stuff. Now we're going to get into some of this stuff. So the American Heart Association says it over 103 million US adults have high blood pressure.That's a lot.I still think that there's more people that they don't even realize.100% because there's only what 300 I'm guessing here. 340 million people in the US something like that.Yeah. And so high blood pressure leads to stroke, blah, blah, blah, blah, everything else, you know, it's that whole syndrome x thing. Yeah. So Oh, by the way, you know who does a really good job of explaining the whole syndrome x, the ne ne coined the phrase, it is Rob Wolf. Diabesity.DiabesityDiabesity. In his book, The Paleo solution, yeah, he actually describes this whole process of what I learned a syndrome x he's calling diabesity. And how once you get into this pathway, what I'm going to say is maybe this pathway, this shift is now we have a mechanism that these post biotics are actually creating this whole diabesity issue..Wow.. they could be and this would be obviously a step in the right direction. So do remember the whole thing that I told you about the sympathetic neuron activity so acetate and lactate get in there, their little free pass VIP card. Yeah, and then actually poke on the nerves chair and they turn on the sympathetic system. Well, researchers showed that young pre hypertensive rats exhibited leaky gut protein expression. They were pre hypertensive, and they were looking specifically at leaky gut. I don't know if it was zonulin or whatever they were looking for. But they found it before they were hypertensive. Starts in the gut..Definitely Crazy. Now, the more signs of leaky gut, the more sympathetic output these rats showed, increasing the permeability led to increased brain permeability. And they showed that acetate and lactate stimulated an area of the brain called the hypothalamus,Very important master glandMaster gland super, super crucial thing. Now, this actually increased the sympathetic signals leading from the hypothalamus down and blood pressure started to rise accordingly, as asked lactate levels went upThat's a no one's really built that, that that pathway. I've never seen anybody do that.It's, I mean, I read this and I was like, What? How are we not describing a treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and thinking more about the our microbiome than just throwing? I mean, how many of my patients have six, seven? I mean, you take a beta blocker, what are the side effects of that fatigue, depression, erectile dysfunction, then you take calcium channel blocker, and you've got cough, and you've got ankle edema, and we're throwing this stuff, and all of a sudden, we've got rats where we can show if we decrease this. More importantly, they show that the sympathetic shift, altered the microbiome, which led to a less diverse microbiome and increase in lactate and acetate producing bacteria. One more time it got into the brain, the brain sends signals to the body. That is you're in fight or flight. Yeah. And because and have, you can logically try and work your way around this. But basically those same signals, tell more of those bacteria just like you talked about with the sugar..RightNow more of the bacteria are being signaled to grow. And now you've got a cascade of high blood pressure type stuff. Unfortunately, it sounds like what what we're doing is building a friendly utopia for the bacteria that we don't want, right? And then they're basically telling your brain to go and get some more the food that will allow them to build more of the byproducts or the post biotics that you don't need that are going to make your problem worse. And just a side note, so overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. It's really funny how we're talking about diabetes, we're talking about high blood pressure, we're talking about insomnia, we're talking about anxiety, all of those things are just simply going to compound and make the same situation worse, the diabetes gets a little bit more out of control and the insulin goes up and the ghrelin goes up. I'm gonna keep eating. And by the time I keep eating and I post biotics make my anxiety level go up and I can't sleep, that's only going to perpetuate more of the same and you can only I would assume, correct that by getting the right bacteria to eat the right. the right food, so that you have the right post biotics, right? That's exactly it. Just that easy Eric. That's all you got to do. All right, well I guess thats it..Mic drop spoiler.But it just it's it's scary, though, that that quickly, you can escalate while you actually have no idea that it's happening to you. You just don't know. You're not in control. No you're not.So I mean, here we have this deal with a rise in lactic acid acts like a positive feedback loop to create its own little lactic acid factory.It's self serving. It's not in here for youNo, those bacteria, everybody We talk about an ego centric society and everything. Well, as it turns out, I'm learning more and more that bacteria are truly egocentric. AlsoYou gotta keep them in check. You know, C. diff would love to just run rampant and do this. See that being a bacteria that when you wipe out other bacteria due to antibiotics, you end up with horrible diarrhea. That's something we deal with all the time. They just be they have this they throw this big party and make you really sick.. so the bacteria themselves, they have a self serving need to keep growing. They're not looking around going. I need more diversity here. Everybody wants to win. And when you have lactate producing bacteria they want to win. That goes back to the whole Satish Rao article where he gave SIBO patients probiotics, and they produce more lactate. He checked the lactic acid levels and those people that had higher lactic acid levels had higher depression and anxiety.Damn, that's not good. That's not what you're after. So what we're looking at here is microbial dysbiosis micro dysbiosis is the term that the natural path to use everywhere. And really what that means is a lack of diversity is not dysbiosis. It just means that there's an imbalance in your microbiome, you have too much of something and not enough of another. They showed with rats that those rats with a lack of diversity tended to have higher levels of the lactate and acetate. And, again, not the post biotics the short chain fatty acids that we want. So understanding that knowledge, these researchers started to look at stroke and dementia. And getting back to the brain. Yeah, so using that model, they were able to show that acid and lactate can cross the blood brain barrier, which we've already discussed. Then these guys focused on one unique thing I already discussed how they tap on the neurons and do this. Well. Something else that that these post biotics short chain fatty acids do is that they actually lope they actually dropped the local Ph. So this local drop in pH caused inflammation At the neuron level, this inflammation led to increase in certain markers of inflammation like human necrosis factor, and it causes cell death.So just in layman's terms, why that matters is if you drop the pH and basically you are creating a more acidic environment. And just a side play, which we haven't even mentioned yet that actually creates more work for your respiratory system to basically correct that. And by you know, I'm saying because you have to blow off the acid your blood, but your blood buffering system is going to have to produce more bicarbonate just to basically take care of the neurons that are now in a more acidic environment. This is exactly why whenever you're an athlete running around, you breathe heavier, right? Because the acid formed by the activity throughout all your muscles is dumping into the bloodstream so that you can breathe out co2, well, if you're not running around, you don't really want to be dropping your pH systemically. So that's That's a big No, no, that's not what we're after.So once you have a cell die, that leads to oxidative stress... which ultimately leads to inflammation. Those rats develop dementia. So chronic inflammation..Chronic inflammation. So we've always talked about chronic inflammation. This is first domino effect. Yeah. The first domino effect is this we're getting into a cellular level. They even took normal tensive rats, so rats with normal blood pressure, and they gave a microbial transplant fecal microbial transplants on mice that were genetically prone to have high blood pressure and strokes, okay. And the rats who received the transplant developed high blood pressure and had strokes. So watch the episode where we talk about Heli. Like once I'm getting into this, I'm like, why would we do fecal transplants without knowing all of this? So let's break that down real quick. Basically, what you're saying if I understand correctly They took the bacteria that was somewhere else and put it in another rats colon. And they were able to replicate that these bacteria when fed with the wrong stuff being the wrong count of bacteria wrong diversity count, right? They gave off post biotics that lead to more damage to the rat itself.So the so the rats that they euthanize when they saw that they had strokes or that they had dementia, they show that they had much higher levels of acetate and lactate, the rats that lived surprising, not surprisingly, at all, actually, now after looking at this, right, the ones that did not develop high blood pressure or have a stroke had higher levels of all short chain fatty acids, but they had higher levels of butyrate overlapped. So they had but they had they had the right concentration. Right?They had the right concentration. It's not that lactate and acetate should never be produced. It's that they're they're being overproduced at the expense of what's healthy for your body.And so one other thing one other brain disease that I want to get at and then we're actually done with these diseases. But I hope you're seeing that we have diseases that are specifically related to this. Yeah. So can you smell me and tell me if I Parkinson's? Hang on a second?That is not something I can detect.But somebody can because you sent me that article.I did. Yeah. Tell me about that.Well, there is apparently a woman who has a, I can't remember what the study is you kind of put me on spot here. But basically, she was able to show all but less than 3% of the people she was able to identify disease states in them and one of them was parkins by a smell or an odor they put off which I found fascinating. She was able to accurately diagnose people by the the odor or the the pheromones or whatever it was that she detected. And then of course, you did a little bit deeper. They talk a little bit about why so..Yeah, so as it turns out, so this woman, her husband, died of Parkinson's, and when she was in support groups, she remembers her husband smell started to change like a decade before. Then he started developing symptoms.Oh, you know what, I'm sorry, quick shout out my youngest son Mac. He's the one who showed me an article did it Really? .... Cool. So it's, I looked at the they believe they've discovered what molecule she's actually smelling through mass spec. But that's kind of irrelevant, because what's happening is is now I'm linking that to this. Because evidence is now showing that dementia and Parkinson's begins 10 to 20 years before the brain is actually affected.And if I remember correctly, further down the article didn't they say they were experimenting with her to try to find alzheimers? Correct, correct. Yeah. So everybody's like, Oh, this woman's got this magic skill. What is she's smelling? Yeah. Acetone when I go into ketosis.. I have acetone coming out of my breath. Right Haven't you you've actually smell different what you're breaking down. It's ketoacidosis Severe diabetic Or severe diabeticsfruity acetone, head on.They have the fruity acetone..So we definitely put off different smells and different, you know, chemicals builder. So this is interesting Parkinson's, these diseases have build up. So Parkinson's specifically has a buildup of proteins that are actually seen in the gut first. So when they look at the proteins that create the Parkinson's disease, right now, researchers are looking in the gut, and they're finding that protein buildup in the gut before it builds up in the brain.And just so you all know that this is not made up pseudoscience, just a completely separate example, GI bleeds, going through a hospital, you can almost always tell a patient that's dealing with a GI bleed simply because I mean that that smell is unmistakable right?Oh, yeah. I mean, I think that I think other third world doctors rely on their senses visual smell.. to really try and diagnose a patient.. And they get a little bit more deep in it kind of thing.. So that you know, there's the when I did gynecology, you did what was called With test, which is the pap smear when you try and smell a fishy odor and things like that, so we don't do that much anymore because you said it to a lab, but..Yeah, hard to do.So these, these diseases Parkinson's could actually develop early on. Now what's really interesting is that Parkinson's could be related to the Vegas nerve.Parasympathetic.Causing the inflammatory buildup of these proteins. Interesting. So rats given a fecal microbial transplant from a Parkinson's rat immediately showed an increase in acetate levels. Then when they followed these rats, they slowly developed motor function problems. In humans, we now realize that those people with Parkinson's have a dysbiosis I'll say it one more time. Now we're starting to look at all these chronic diseases and researchers are going let's look at their microbiome. Almost all Parkinson's people have a dysbiosis Wow. So people would say, Oh, well, if you have Parkinson's, you're sick. You have a dysbiosis. I'm saying no, the dysbiosis caused the Parkinson's.. we have to prevent that. Start there. So to answer in a very long winded, complex way to answer Don's question, shoot, it's so complicated. But I think we are now seeing a starting point. I think that if you keep your microbiome diverse, plenty of bacteria that can produce butyrate and other short chain fatty acids, and in my opinion, now thinking about it, that fecal transplant, getting a fecal transplant may carry more risk than we ever thought looking at these animal models. So Don's question was, Well, what do we do? Is fecal transplant good or bad and only in that we know for certain as if you have a complex microbiome, a diverse microbiome, and you feed it, what it needs, then you're going to produce the appropriate amount of post biotics, which will keep you healthy.Yeah, well, that makes that certainly makes the most sense. And to your point where you kept resetting for people who may not have known someone who has high blood pressure, dementia, diabetes, Parkinson's, anxiety, insomnia, if you exist, where you don't know anyone else like that, thank you for making this podcast, the only thing that you do to connect with other humans, because that's impossible.They're living in this utopia.It's just impossible not to know someone who's at least affected by something like that. And so I mean, it's kind of crazy to think that it all comes down or it could possibly all come down to the bacteria that we have naturally inside just simply need to be fed the right things at the right times and in the right amounts. You can make The case of I don't want to look obese I said together so not don't eat fast food. Well, the truth is, you look, you have those kind of manifestations where people aren't happy and stuff like that, because that's not the food you should be eating all the time. You've got to take care of yourself. Polyphenols is an easy way to get started.100% So, the now I'm gonna have to do a whole episode on butyrate because I went down Well, we should though.I started go down butor and then I found all these great articles. There's articles looking at different polyphenol supplements in the butyrate elevation that they are. Watch the plant based episode with Dr. Juan. Yeah, because he gave me his Neo greens as a sample and we showed it there. I looked at it. If he thought about this, then he's I mean, he's a super wicked smart guy in there. It's he's got probiotics, fermented, fermented vegetables, probiotics, with polyphenols in there, which means that possibly, spoiler alert, again, is just it's too much. But there's, there's there's people out there that are combining polyphenols and probiotics to produce these short chain fatty acids, right and ratios that they want. And maybe not fully understanding why.Not understanding why not understand if it gets absorbed, not understanding if it's a natural way to do it, I don't know. But it's at least a step in the right direction.I'll even reverse that. The answer oftentimes, when people only add, let's just say they're only adding butyrate that's probably not the answer either. You still need the healthy ratios of butyrate along with acetate and propriate. And, and lactate, it would be odd to only produce butyrate because that will probably yield something else that nature has a great way of having Governor's on certain systems, right. So I would imagine that there's probably going to be a healthy balance a healthy ratio, which is why you want the bio diversity in your gut.I'm sure 40 years ago, Dr. Ian Quigley, the godfather of probiotic sat there with a petri dish and went his hair stood up. And he went, Oh my gosh, this, this live bacteria is doing amazing things in the gut. And then 40 years later, we're still trying to figure out how to get probiotics to people. Because in a petri dish, it does amazing things in the human body, giving one strain and now we're up to whatever who knows. 50 strains of 50 billion units. Is it really doing anything? We don't know? Is it even getting there?Is it getting there? We don't know. And this could be the exact same thing. So the knee jerk reaction would be, oh, I'll just take more beer right and then I started looking at different there's a ton of different butyrate supplements much like sulfurophane where a lot of people are trying to you know, jump on the marketing bandwagon of broccoli sprouts... And so there's very few of those that are actually viable. Yeah, now now we're which broccoli is one. That's what I like to recommend Brock elite. But I am so excited because I feel like because of this podcast, because Atrantil to because of what we're learning and the scientists that I'm meeting, it's all starting to come together and truly I feel like we are changing the health landscape of anybody who purchases Atrantil to and our whole separate episode of kicked him out neuroinflammation acetate touching this and that don't even get me started on how the fatty acids in a full spectrum hemp CBD productSureCross the blood brain barrier and start mitigating some of thatYeahI mean if I if I had Elon Musk money and I could just sit there and look at different things. I mean, like, I want to know what what this CBD product does on acetate levels in the brain. YeahAnd just start asking questions like that. Each one of these studies was somebody who had a question, and it just happened to be that they were looking at short chain fatty acids, the effect and the effect it had systemically and props to these people to start doing that because that's hard work. So in short what should someone do? Who hears, okay, I need to have great bio diversity. I want to change the way that I'm approaching stuff. I want to be able to feed my new bio diverse microbiome correctly. Dr. Brown? Where would I start? Well, just I'll tell you and I don't ever tell people to do things I don't do Sure. So and I don't ever tell people to stop things that I still do. So be careful what you ask. Number one, we need to increase the diversity of the microbiome. The best way to do that is to increase your fiber. So the fiber that means soluble and insoluble fiber, two different kinds of fiber one soluble mixes in water that's like Metamucil insoluble, it's like the skin of vegetables. What we are now realizing is that skin of vegetables has this other beautiful molecule called polyphenols at what makes vegetables colorful. So I try to take in a certain amount of fiber I try and I've now because I read this. I went to Carla and I went to Whole Foods and I got some steel cut organic oats. And now I'm just soaking them in the fridge. So now I have cold oats. And the reason why is oats are a resistant starch. If you cook them and make oatmeal, the way we do it, you make it more easy to digest by making a resistant starch. I'm going to increase the type of bacteria that produce more butyrate. WowYeah. So now since I've done the research on this, I wake up and I just take a couple spoons of these oats that are just soaking overnight. And now when I tell people that watch Dr. oz and stuff, they're like, yeah, overnight oats. Where were you in 88 when Oz talking about whatever he started. Like really, people were talking about that they didn't know why they were talking about now. That's the kicker. So one of the problems that I have is that if you tell me to do something, I need a mechanism of action. SureIf I can explain the mechanism Then it works for me. Now I'd say that I would say that I'm open to ideas also, but I don't want to change this because you say it's great. Exactly.Just tell me why. Yeah, tell me why. So, increase your fiber, increase your resistant starches. You can do the resistant starches a lot of different ways. green bananas or plantations. Lloyd is Puerto Rican. So we do a lot of plantation nice. So that's a that's a paleo friendly, definite starch.Shout out to Bubbas sells. green bananas. That's what makes Oh, yeah, they are well designed by a guy who had Crohn's disease. Right. You talked to him? Yeah, it's so Bubbas Fine Foods, you can check them out. So if you're looking for a safe snack, there you go.And then now I've got all these articles words, people are actually starting to look at that the American Heart Association at the beginning of the show, I talked about how they're using polyphenols to help with peripheral peripheral vascular disease. I know that one of the best ways to create post biotics and I wasn't even thinking short chain fatty acids. I was thinking more along urolithin and these complex molecules that these other scientists talk about, there was an article that actually showed a molecule similar to Atrantil had an increase in butyrate, a whole separate show, because that's going to be a, that'll have to be a two hour show about how to increase your butyrate levelsDefinitely. But the beauty is, it isn't like you're just increasing butyrate levels you're going to eat, you're going to increase the diversity of the microbiome and allow it to happen. And then ultimately, polyphenols, fibers, resistant starches, and I'm going to now go down the pathway of why so many of my patients feel better on CBD. I think there's something to do with these short chain fatty acids. I just did. I have not gone there yet, but we've got our secret weapon and she'll find something out there.So ladies and gentlemen, if you want to start to work on making your gut a little bit more diverse and healthy, go ahead and get your soluble insoluble fibers supplement with good trustworthy polyphenols. There's nothing wrong with controlling inflammation systemically with a good CBD a good diverse whole foods diet that's really coming down to and I'm about to try your idea for overnight soaking oats I've never done that beforeI just started doing it. And if you don't have, like if you're lacking diabetes, you don't have enough high blood pressure. You're not obese enough, then ignore this whole podcast. Yeah, do whatever you want. That's awesome. That sounds great. What lots of knowledge day on the show. Thank you all so much for watching and listening, Be certain to like and share if you want to go back and check out the episodes with Heli, with Pannez, or Dr. Doug won. Just go back to gut check project.com You can find all of our episodes cataloged on there on the page this we're improving it all the time, be sure and sign up for the newsletter. Starting tomorrow, everybody who is in the KBMD health universe will be reminded of the latest published show. So if you ever get to catch up with the shows, just sign up, you'll be notified each week, every new episodes, we release it Go to KBMDhealth.com. Right. And one of the things that I get that I see the most common is rectal bleeding. And we went through the trouble putting together a little rectal bleeding free book that So download that you get a free book. And then we can keep you updated to these shows. One of the things if you can like and share this, the more this grows, the more that we get access to scientists, the more that I can take deep dives into stuff like this. If you're still listening, thank you. This is like that person that actually reads the whole I saw some some Reddit deal with some woman got $10,000 because there was like a 10 page like one of those weird contracts for like a nothing that you're supposed to sign like, like an iTunes agreement or something. Yeah. And there was a little tiny fine print in the bottom. If you're the type of person that's reading this fine print and you send us an email and you're the first person to do it will send you $10,000 they send it $10,000 so if you're actually still listening after all that nerdy stuff that I just talked about, we can't send any money..Be the first one in the subject line to write the word butyrate spelled correctly and you will get a free altran to bottle and CBD of your choice.Butyrate so the first person to send in an email to.. no they have to download the book.Yeah download download the book. Yeah, they have to download the book title the book and then reply with a type butyrate Yeah, type butyrate just spell it correctly. Look it up and send it to us. It'd be awesome. You be the first one you get a free Dr. Brown's signature package. Let us know if you want sentiment or naturalDoes that mean I sign the box of Atrantil that the signature package So much extra stuff you want to do its not going to work out? Thank you so much like and share like and share. Remember, this show isn't intended to treat or diagnose. If you have a health issue, be sure you go and check it out with your physician. We will see you at Episode 34 coming soon. Thank you.Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Zach and Brandon discuss the evidence for and against using probiotics as treatment for medical diseases and the mechanisms that may confer health benefits to individuals without disease. Subjective: 0:45 - Brandon’s experience at the Metabolic Health Summit 10:19 - Introduction to probiotics 21:38 - Zach and Brandon’s probiotic protocol for themselves 24:25 - Introduction to the microbiome Objective: 32:25 - Probiotics as treatment and prevention for type II diabetes and obesity 45:08 - Treating digestive diseases with probiotics 55:20 - Using probiotics to treat and prevent allergic rhinitis and eczema 57:08 - Probiotics and depression 1:01:06 - Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) effects on inflammation and innate immunity 1:18:00 - SCFAs and the gut-brain axis 1:24:34 - Insulin and satiety regulation through SCFAs 1:30:45 - Mitigating antibiotic side effects 1:32:30 - What to look for: strains, dosage, viability, timing 1:40:10 - Safety concerns and side effects Assessment/Plan: 1:43:50 - Conclusion, using probiotics for treatment and healthy individuals
SCFAs affect both immune response and epithelial integrity. As Dr. Michael Ash espouses, when we increase our understanding of interactions between diet, immunity and the microbiota we gain the opportunity to develop food-based approaches to prevent or treat many diseases. Of course, it all starts in the gut and those SCFA play a key role! November 30, 2018 > Click here to download the completed Matrix from this week’s episode > Click here for Dr. Ash’s Stewed Apples recipe and to learn more about his work Get 15-Minute Matrix podcast notifications delivered to your inbox!
Research conducted on probiotics’ benefits is growing so rapidly that it’s difficult for anyone to follow completely, according to product developer Jeremy Appleton. N.D., vice president of science and education, Klaire Labs. However, Dr. Appleton enlightens listeners on emerging research on probiotics effects on mood. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Dr. Appleton covers: • The new class of probiotics called psychobiotics, which have research focused on the reduction of depression and anxiety • The importance of strain when creating probiotic products that benefit mood • Other ingredients, such as phosphatidylserine (PS), acetyl-L-carnitine, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and citicoline, that offer complementary effects to psychobiotics.
The Staying Young Show 2.0 - Entertaining | Educational | Health & Wellness
Show Topic: Dealing with Mental Illness in the Family with Dr. Fran Walfish Co-Hosts: Judy Gaman, Walter Gaman, Mark Anderson Guest: Fran Walfish Segment 1 Today we're talking about dealing with mental illness in the family. Whether it's depression, bi-polar disorder, or any other type of mental illness – when it strikes one, it affects the entire family. Later in the show we have America's Favorite Psychologist Dr. Fran Walfish joining us. Share some experiences when patients or patients families come in and you suspect mental illness Can some depression be more of a side effect of other issues? What types of symptoms should be discussed with their doctor? Why do most patients stay quiet? MUSIC FOR DOC SHOCK (JIM) THAT MUSIC MEANS ITS TIME FOR DOC SHOC. A TIME WHEN WE FIND SOMETHING SHOCKING IN THE NEWS OR WE'RE SHOCKED IT MADE THE NEWS. exercise— even without a change in diet — alters the composition of gut microbiota. Increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are beneficial for health. Exercise increases the levels of gut microbes that produce SCFA called butyrate, which is known to reduce inflammation and promote gut health. Read the study! Follow us on Facebook! Tweet us on Twitter! Download the show iTunes! Visit our website! Segment 2 About tease – 1 min. –Download the podcasts of the show and Daily Medical Minutes to stayyoungamerica.com or just searching StayingYoungShow 2.0. Coming up, America's Favorite Psychologist Dr. Fran Walfish is joining us to discuss mental illness within the home. ANDERSON - Immortal minute – 2 min. Open discussion with Fran about when families face mental illness Common ages when you start to see signs What should family members do if they suspect mental illness What if someone suspects it in themselves? Tease 20 sec. – TAKE THE SURVEY!!!! www.stayyoungamerica.com SHOUT OUT TO MILITARY, Facebook (stay young media group) , download podcasts – follow us on twitter @StayYoungMedia coming up - Coming up –we'll continue our discussion with our special guest Dr. Fran Walfish and discuss the difference between depression and bi-polar disorder Segment 3 Judy – Tease the upcoming Dementia Defender 844-WELL100 Today we are coving the Top 10 tips for a Healthier and Happier Home. If you are just tuning in, you can catch the show in its entirety as a podcast – Staying Young Show 2.0 is in all your favorite podcast directories. We're visiting with Dr. Fran Walfish today and discussing mental illness – what it looks like when it affects the family. Depression vs Bi-Polar disorder The importance of lifestyle choices when faced with mental illness Judy tease DD – grab a pen! 844-well100. Podcasts itunes, stayyoungamerica.com – 45 sec. Intro – sec 15 Tease DD 844-Well100 – If you're just tuning in, catch this and every episode on iTunes under Staying Young Show 2.0 or follow us on TWITTTER @StayYoungMedia Medical Mania Trivia – Guest Laura 1.) When someone is Jaundice, what do they look like? orange/yellow skin, eyes 2.) T or F We have sweat glands in the ear? A T – specialized sweat glands produce waxy substance 3.) Eating vegetables high in this vitamin will reduce cellulite. Which vitamin? Vitamin A 4.) The most fragile bones in the body can be found where? Toes 5.) Parkinson's Disease is named after which of the following: the town of Parkinson, a doctor Parkinson, or a Chinese root known for affecting nerves? Dr James Parkinson (1755-1824) Open discussion DEMENTIA DEFENDER THIS DEMENTIA DEFENDER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SMART NEW YOU AND DR. CHARLES POWELL. IF YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA AND YOU'RE READY TO DITCH YOUR C-PAP MACHINE CALL 214-524-6333. I do not have any special powers, but I can predict the score of any football game before it begins. How can I do this? Thank you for listening to the Stay Young Radio Show! With all the mixed messages on health, you need information that you can use and that you can trust. Listen in as the experts discuss all topics health related. It's time to STAY YOUNG and stay healthy! Each week we tackle a topic and often with leading scientists, best-selling authors, and even your favorite celebrities! As a listener of our show, your input is important to us. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey so we can serve you better - Survey For more information on The Staying Young Show, please visit our website , and subscribe to the show in iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. You can also reach out to our host, Judy Gaman, here for book purchasing, and speaking opportunities in your area!
The Staying Young Show 2.0 - Entertaining | Educational | Health & Wellness
The Staying Young Show Show Topic: Dealing with Mental Illness in the Family with Dr. Fran Walfish Co-Hosts: Judy Gaman, Walter Gaman, Guest: Fran Walfish Segment 1 Today we're talking about dealing with mental illness in the family. Whether it's depression, bi-polar disorder, or any other type of mental illness – when it strikes one, it affects the entire family. Later in the show we have America's Favorite Psychologist Dr. Fran Walfish joining us. Share some experiences when patients or patients families come in and you suspect mental illness Can some depression be more of a side effect of other issues? What types of symptoms should be discussed with their doctor? Why do most patients stay quiet? MUSIC FOR DOC SHOCK (JIM) THAT MUSIC MEANS ITS TIME FOR DOC SHOC. A TIME WHEN WE FIND SOMETHING SHOCKING IN THE NEWS OR WE'RE SHOCKED IT MADE THE NEWS. exercise— even without a change in diet — alters the composition of gut microbiota. Increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are beneficial for health. Exercise increases the levels of gut microbes that produce SCFA called butyrate, which is known to reduce inflammation and promote gut health. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320264.php TAKE THE SURVEY!!!! Stay Young America .com Facebook (Stay Young Media Group), website (Stayyoungamerica.com, and iTunes, call us 844-well 100 Follow us on Twitter @StayYoungMedia. When we come back, Fran Walfish Segment 2 About tease – 1 min. –Download the podcasts of the show and Daily Medical Minutes to stayyoungamerica.com or just searching StayingYoungShow 2.0. Coming up, America's Favorite Psychologist Dr. Fran Walfish is joining us to discuss mental illness within the home. ANDERSON - Immortal minute – 2 min. Open discussion with Fran about when families face mental illness Common ages when you start to see signs What should family members do if they suspect mental illness What if someone suspects it in themselves? Tease 20 sec. – TAKE THE SURVEY!!!! www.stayyoungamerica.com SHOUT OUT TO MILITARY, Facebook (stay young media group) , download podcasts – follow us on twitter @StayYoungMedia coming up - Coming up –we'll continue our discussion with our special guest Dr. Fran Walfish and discuss the difference between depression and bi-polar disorder Segment 3 Judy – Tease the upcoming Dementia Defender 844-WELL100 Today we are coving the Top 10 tips for a Healthier and Happier Home. If you are just tuning in, you can catch the show in its entirety as a podcast – Staying Young Show 2.0 is in all your favorite podcast directories. We're visiting with Dr. Fran Walfish today and discussing mental illness – what it looks like when it affects the family. Depression vs Bi-Polar disorder The importance of lifestyle choices when faced with mental illness Judy tease DD – grab a pen! 844-well100. Podcasts itunes, stayyoungamerica.com – 45 sec. Intro – sec 15 Tease DD 844-Well100 – If you're just tuning in, catch this and every episode on iTunes under Staying Young Show 2.0 or follow us on TWITTTER @StayYoungMedia Medical Mania Trivia – Guest Laura Stewart 1.) When someone is Jaundice, what do they look like? A. orange/yellow skin, eyes 2.) T or F We have sweat glands in the ear? A T – specialized sweat glands produce waxy substance 3.) Eating vegetables high in this vitamin will reduce cellulite. Which vitamin? A. Vitamin A 4.) The most fragile bones in the body can be found where? A. Toes 5.) Parkinson's Disease is named after which of the following: the town of Parkinson, a doctor Parkinson, or a Chinese root known for affecting nerves? A. Dr James Parkinson (1755-1824) Open discussion DEMENTIA DEFENDER THIS DEMENTIA DEFENDER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SMART NEW YOU AND DR. CHARLES POWELL. IF YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA AND YOU'RE READY TO DITCH YOUR C-PAP MACHINE CALL 214-524-6333. I do not have any special powers, but I can predict the score of any football game before it begins. How can I do this? Thank you for listening to the Stay Young Radio Show! With all the mixed messages on health, you need information that you can use and that you can trust. Listen in as the experts discuss all topics health related. It's time to STAY YOUNG and stay healthy! Each week we tackle a topic and often with leading scientists, best-selling authors, and even your favorite celebrities! As a listener of our show, your input is important to us. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey so we can serve you better - https://survey.libsyn.com/stayingyoung2 For more information on The Staying Young Show, please visit our website at www.StayYoungAmerica.com, and subscribe to the show in iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. You can also reach out to our host, Judy Gaman on www.judygaman.com for book purchasing, and speaking opportunities in your area!
Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.04.11.021915v1?rss=1 Authors: Zhu, F., Wang, W., Ma, Q., Yang, Z., Ju, Y., Fan, Y., Guo, R., Wang, Q., Mu, X., Zhao, B., Gao, Y., He, X., Gao, F., Qian, L., Chen, C., Chen, Y., Gao, C., Ma, X.-c. Abstract: Objective: Gut microbiota dysbiosis and aberrant gut-brain functional modules including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and long-lasting immune activation (IA) are presented in schizophrenia. Given the key roles of gut microbiota and SCFA in shaping immunity, we propose that dysbiosis-induced SCFA upregulation could contribute to IA and behavioral symptoms in schizophrenia. Design: Gut microbiota, SCFA, and IA biomarkers were compared between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls. The roles of SCFA in schizophrenia-related IA were analyzed in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and a mouse model of schizophrenia. The effects of SCFAs on schizophrenia-related phenotypes were analyzed in both human and mouse. Results: Both microbial-derived SCFA and SCFA-producing bacteria were elevated in the guts of schizophrenic patients, and this increased SCFA production in gut was associated with IA in schizophrenia. The microbiome signature underpinning schizophrenia-related IA includes increased diversity and increased SCFA-producing bacteria and inflammation-associated bacteria. The impact of SCFAs on immune responses of cultured PBMC depend on the diagnosis and IA status of donors. Small-molecule serum filtrates from immune-activated schizophrenic patients increased the inflammatory response of PBMCs from healthy volunteers, which can be enhanced and attenuated by SCFAs supplementation and inhibition of SCFA signaling, respectively. Chronically elevated SCFAs in adolescence induced neuroinflammation and schizophrenia-like behaviors in adult mice. Moreover, chronically elevated SCFAs in adult mice prenatally exposed to IA potentiated their expression of schizophrenia-like behaviors. Conclusion: microbiota-derived SCFAs are important mediators of dysregulated gut-brain axis and participant in pathogenesis via enhance IA in schizophrenia. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
