Journey to Thrive

The Gut-Brain Connection

The Gut-Brain Connection

Children with gut dysbiosis (imbalance in gut bacteria) and brain chemistry imbalances of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine can suffer profound consequences relating to mood, behavior, and learning. These are often the result of abnormal intestinal permeability allowing specific substances to pass through the gut lining (acts as a barrier) and leak into the bloodstream causing an immune response. These toxins cause inflammation in the gut (leaky gut) and the brain which is a biological link to mood disorders. Inflammation is a precursor to disease so keeping the gut healthy will also optimize brain function. Emotional dysregulation is often a hallmark of children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, specific learning disabilities etc. These disorders involve much more than the brain. They are a multi-systems disorder involving the digestive, immune, biochemical, hormone, and detox systems that directly affect the brain (Kurt Woeller, D.O)

This is where the gut -brain axis and the vagus nerve are key. The gut and the brain are always in contact with one another via the vagus nerve. It is the bridge that allows a channel of information. What happens in the gut affects what happens in the brain such as thinking and information processing as well as how we deal with stress. Our gut houses billions of bacteria that produce about 90% of our serotonin which explains how dysbiosis of the gut can cause anxiety, sadness, stress, and emotional dysregulation. The gut is referred to as the second brain because of its ability to influence our mental and physical well-being.

The vagus nerve is the primary component of the parasympathetic nervous system. It connects the mind and the body. It transports the gut bacteria to the brain from the gut. As conveyed, a compromised microbiome can negatively affect the brain. This could result from various mycotoxins, biotoxins, candida, parasites etc. Mood is dependent on a healthy microbiome. Prebiotics and probiotics are an antidote to some of this. These foods such as onions, garlic, cabbage, apples, bananas, fiber from fruits and vegetables, as well as fermented foods like kefir and kombucha nourish the gut bacteria. Eating these foods as well as having an optimally functioning vegas nerve improve communication between the two and create a healthy gut-brain axis. We will discuss the relevance of diet and supplements in maintaining a healthy microbiome in future blog posts.

Fortunately, lifestyle choices such as clean nutrition and mitigatingenvironmental toxins and stressors will definitely impact the health of the microbiome. Before we dive into all the aspects of nutrition, we will discuss mitochondrial health which is as equally important as the microbiome when it comes to attaining optimal health. We will discuss its impact on the immune system and how to remedy the common variable of mitochondrial dysfunction in children with chronic health challenges.