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The Gut-Brain Connection
Did you know that 70% of your immune system is in your gut? Did you know your digestive system is literally your second brain? Did you know that it has the power to influence your mood, mind, behavior, weight, immunity and so much more? So nourishing your gut flora through nutrition becomes significant, because both brains—the one inside your head and the one in your belly each has its own essential needs.
Your brain and your gut work together in a synchronistic dance; your central nervous system (brain) is connected to your enteric nervous system (gut) via the vagus nerve. And as it turns out, the greatest concentration of serotonin, you know – the all important feel good neurotransmitter that influences our mood, is actually produced in our second brain, not the “first”! This may account for the fact that researchers keep finding a link between an imbalance of gut bacteria and depression.
Here’s another shocker: 100 trillion bacteria take up residence in your body. That’s more than 10 times the number of cells in your entire body! Ideally, the ratio between the bacteria in your gut is 85% “good” and 15% “bad.” Nourishing your gut flora gives you the best opportunity to optimize serotonin production and protect your mental health. Evidence also shows that probiotics have another extremely positive benefit: they can aid gene expression so they act out in a positive, disease-fighting manner
Good vs. Bad
Your gut flora is especially vulnerable to your lifestyle; for instance, if you eat a lot of processed foods and sugar your gut bacteria will suffer because in general processed foods destroy good microflora and feed bad bacteria and yeast. A lack of beneficial bacteria can present in your body as gas, bloating, constipation, IBS, allergies, intestinal toxicity, poor absorption of nutrients, yeast infections, eczema, psoriasis, and low immunity.
Your gut bacteria is also very sensitive to the following:
- Antibiotics
- Antibacterial soap
- Agricultural chemicals
- Birth control pills
- Chlorinated water
- Flouride
- Pollution
- Stress
- Alcohol
Unless you’re living in a bubble, at some point you’ve been exposed to many of these, so taking a high-quality probiotic (ideally enteric coated so the bacteria makes it past the harsh stomach acid, which can kill them), or eating traditional non-pasteurized fermented foods (the high heat of pasteurization kills ALL good bacteria so don’t waste your money buying fermented foods) will help to boost good bacteria production in your gut so your body can thrive. If you suffer from chronic stress, probiotics can also help you rebuild important B vitamins.
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