Contrary to popular belief, did you know that 95 percent of the body’s serotonin is actually in the gut?
The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication network that links the enteric and central nervous system, or CNS, also including the endocrine, metabolic, and immune systems. The autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (or HPA axis), and the nerves within the digestive tract all link the gut and brain. This allows the brain to influence intestinal activities, as well as the gut to influence mood, cognition, and mental health.
Nutrition has also been shown to influence the gut of course, and the overall impact of the microbiome on cognitive function. In addition, there have been numerous studies done on how the gut-brain connection affects general mood as well as other psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, autism, and bipolar disorder.
One way to a healthier gut, and brain, is to start by introducing prebiotics and probiotics into your diet. This can be done with food, supplementation, or both. However, you do need both – it’s the prebiotics that feed the probiotics, which in turn feed your gut. If you simply take a probiotic supplement without the prebiotic cultures added to them, you will most likely not be benefiting from taking it. So, it is important to look at the labels.
If you don’t like taking supplements, another great way (and my new favorite way) to get in the healthy pre and probiotics that your gut needs, is by eating certain kinds of yogurt. There are definitely some that are better than others, but I would like to take a minute and tell you about a recently discovered homemade probiotic yogurt by Dr. William Davis, cardiologist and author of the book entitled “Super Gut.” (You can find his book on Amazon and at select bookstores.)
The “Super Gut” yogurt is fairly simple to make, and only requires a few ingredients (pre and probiotic cultures, prebiotic inulin fiber, and organic half and half). What is unique about it is that you use a specially made yogurt-making machine, and then after all of the ingredients are put together, you let it sit and ferment in the machine for 36 hours. At this point, the CFUs (colony-forming units) have multiplied to well over 10 billion, thus amplifying what any other probiotic supplement claims to do.
Many Americans have what is known as “SIBO,” or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. And, unfortunately most people don’t even know they have it, because it is very common not to have any noticeable symptoms. By making and eating the Super Gut yogurt, and therefore supplementing your microbiome literally with billions of healthy bacteria, you can and will heal SIBO once and for all.
Gut-Brain Connection – Reference: Nih.gov
See the video below by Dr. Davis on SIBO and Super Gut homemade yogurt.
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