Much has been written about the healthy environment of our gut. Recently I’ve seen multiple articles dealing with the mental outcome of disturbances there.
One of the sites I get notifications from reported on the connection between dementia and gut flora disturbances. Since our body consists of multiple entities which all work together to maintain health, it’s no surprise to see that when messed up in this area of function, throws a monkey wrench into the proper balance and function of the entire system.
The gut microbiome refers to microorganisms which live in the digestive tract. There are about a thousand different species of bacteria, comprising trillions of cells. It’s been estimated that the microbiome outnumbers our cells ten fold. Recent research has correlated certain changes in gut bacteria with inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, and studies have shown that changes in diet can alter gut bacteria. Because of it’s influence on inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, correction of this environment can have a profound impact in many areas.
Because of the known relationship between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular disease, researchers have begun to investigate connections between this vital environment and the functioning of the brain.
Last night I visited a dear friend of 35 years who’d been taken to the hospital from the care facility he’d been living in. He was put there due to an infection, and during this time he’s lost a lot of weight from around his abdomen. He’s getting better nutrition and what I noticed was an improvement in the degree of dementia which he presented the last time I saw him. Upon challenging his memory, his recall had improved greatly over what I remember.
Although hospital food doesn’t usually top the chart for nutrition, his care presently has had a positive impact on his functioning. With the infection, he’s being treated with antibiotics. Although antibiotics destroy good bacteria in the gut, they’re also wiping out those which may be contributing to the dementia. How he’s treated after discharge will ultimately affect his prognosis.
In studies shown in a medical journal, levels of Bacteroides (enterotype I), organisms that normally live in the intestines and can be beneficial, were decreased in the demented compared with non-demented patients, while other, unnatural bacteria (enterotype III) were increased in the group with dementia. How these changes come about is important to maintaining and restoring health.
On examination of feces of those with dementia, the toxic byproducts of protein putrefaction: ammonia, indole, skatole, and phenol were higher in those with dementia than those without dementia. These toxins along with many others can arise when digestion of protein gets shut down by disabling proper stomach acid. What can do this? How about stress!
When we think of supporting proper bacterial balance, we have to understand that the soil within which bacteria should thrive must support their growth. We’re aware of the need to use probiotics for replenishing these bacteria, but there’s another component known as prebiotics. This is like soil is to the seed. Inadequate fiber in the diet is a huge contributor to dysbiosis.
Can diet alone boost beneficial gut bacteria enough to affect cognition? Some studies have suggested an advantage to the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on eating foods like fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, while staying away from unhealthy fats and sugars.
A traditional Japanese diet, which features harmonious presentations of rice and other dishes made with seasonal and colorful ingredients, rich in flavones, may play a role too. A report was recently published suggesting that a "super" Washoku diet can positively change the gut microbiome compared with a more modern diet. The most harmful diet seen is the fast food American diet.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, scientists have reported that some species in the microbiome can promote protein build-up in the brain. This may be significant as accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent reports from experiments in AD mouse models suggest that changing the bacterial profile in the digestive tract, by changing their diet, may reduce amyloid plaques, lower inflammation, and improve memory.
The prospect of correcting mental decline or increasing it by our daily nutritional intake is foreign to many who believe we can just eat any old thing that tastes good. Your taste buds can be your greatest enemy. As I’ve written many times in the past, your food should be your best medicine.
To improve the garden of your gut, proper fiber, fermented foods, and digestion are the triad of good health. Constipation is one of your biggest enemies. Your worst enemy is stress.
One of the sites I get notifications from reported on the connection between dementia and gut flora disturbances. Since our body consists of multiple entities which all work together to maintain health, it’s no surprise to see that when messed up in this area of function, throws a monkey wrench into the proper balance and function of the entire system.
The gut microbiome refers to microorganisms which live in the digestive tract. There are about a thousand different species of bacteria, comprising trillions of cells. It’s been estimated that the microbiome outnumbers our cells ten fold. Recent research has correlated certain changes in gut bacteria with inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, and studies have shown that changes in diet can alter gut bacteria. Because of it’s influence on inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, correction of this environment can have a profound impact in many areas.
Because of the known relationship between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular disease, researchers have begun to investigate connections between this vital environment and the functioning of the brain.
Last night I visited a dear friend of 35 years who’d been taken to the hospital from the care facility he’d been living in. He was put there due to an infection, and during this time he’s lost a lot of weight from around his abdomen. He’s getting better nutrition and what I noticed was an improvement in the degree of dementia which he presented the last time I saw him. Upon challenging his memory, his recall had improved greatly over what I remember.
Although hospital food doesn’t usually top the chart for nutrition, his care presently has had a positive impact on his functioning. With the infection, he’s being treated with antibiotics. Although antibiotics destroy good bacteria in the gut, they’re also wiping out those which may be contributing to the dementia. How he’s treated after discharge will ultimately affect his prognosis.
In studies shown in a medical journal, levels of Bacteroides (enterotype I), organisms that normally live in the intestines and can be beneficial, were decreased in the demented compared with non-demented patients, while other, unnatural bacteria (enterotype III) were increased in the group with dementia. How these changes come about is important to maintaining and restoring health.
On examination of feces of those with dementia, the toxic byproducts of protein putrefaction: ammonia, indole, skatole, and phenol were higher in those with dementia than those without dementia. These toxins along with many others can arise when digestion of protein gets shut down by disabling proper stomach acid. What can do this? How about stress!
When we think of supporting proper bacterial balance, we have to understand that the soil within which bacteria should thrive must support their growth. We’re aware of the need to use probiotics for replenishing these bacteria, but there’s another component known as prebiotics. This is like soil is to the seed. Inadequate fiber in the diet is a huge contributor to dysbiosis.
Can diet alone boost beneficial gut bacteria enough to affect cognition? Some studies have suggested an advantage to the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on eating foods like fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, while staying away from unhealthy fats and sugars.
A traditional Japanese diet, which features harmonious presentations of rice and other dishes made with seasonal and colorful ingredients, rich in flavones, may play a role too. A report was recently published suggesting that a "super" Washoku diet can positively change the gut microbiome compared with a more modern diet. The most harmful diet seen is the fast food American diet.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, scientists have reported that some species in the microbiome can promote protein build-up in the brain. This may be significant as accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent reports from experiments in AD mouse models suggest that changing the bacterial profile in the digestive tract, by changing their diet, may reduce amyloid plaques, lower inflammation, and improve memory.
The prospect of correcting mental decline or increasing it by our daily nutritional intake is foreign to many who believe we can just eat any old thing that tastes good. Your taste buds can be your greatest enemy. As I’ve written many times in the past, your food should be your best medicine.
To improve the garden of your gut, proper fiber, fermented foods, and digestion are the triad of good health. Constipation is one of your biggest enemies. Your worst enemy is stress.
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