background preloader

The Neuroscience of the Gut

The Neuroscience of the Gut
People may advise you to listen to your gut instincts: now research suggests that your gut may have more impact on your thoughts than you ever realized. Scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Genome Institute of Singapore led by Sven Pettersson recently reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that normal gut flora, the bacteria that inhabit our intestines, have a significant impact on brain development and subsequent adult behavior. We human beings may think of ourselves as a highly evolved species of conscious individuals, but we are all far less human than most of us appreciate. Moreover, these bacteria have been implicated in the development of neurological and behavioral disorders. But this new study is the first to extensively evaluate the influence of gut bacteria on the biochemistry and development of the brain. Are you a scientist? Related:  Health

The Surprising Link Between Gut Germs And Toddlers' Tantrums Could germs be to blame for your toddler’s temper tantrums? The complex ecosystem of microbes living in the gastrointestinal tract is known to change considerably in the first two years of life, especially as solid foods are introduced into a child’s diet. And according to a new study, this unstable “gut microbiome” and a toddler’s temperament are linked. “Although we predicted we would observe an association between temperament variables and measures of the gut microbial community, we didn’t know how strong those associations would be,” Dr. Probing the poop. What did the researchers find? Not so fast. “We really are just beginning to realize that gut microbes can impact the brain and impact behavior,” Bailey said in the email. The researchers plan to continue their research on the complex relationship between gut bacteria and behavior, as well as obesity. “This study provides an initial glimpse of how the microbiota may be different between children that behave differently,” Dr.

Probiotics | GreenMedInfo | Substance As we reported on back in June of last year in an exposé titled, Consumer Alert: BPA-Free Goods Still Contain Toxin Bisphenol, the petrochemical bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous ingredient in thousands of consumer products and which has been linked to a wide range of serious adverse health effects, has been removed by many ostensibly scrupulous manufacturers in favor of another equally toxic analog in the same chemical class, known as bisphenol S (BPS). Given what we are now exposed to through our food, air, and water, detoxification has become a modern-day necessity. Without the daily activation of ancient, effective physiological pathways designed to remove environmental toxins, we are bound to get sick. So, what are some simple, effective ways we rid our body of its daily toxic burden? Infantile colic can be very stressful for parents whose baby is inconsolable during crying episodes.

The Surprising Link Between Gut Bacteria And Anxiety In recent years, neuroscientists have become increasingly interested in the idea that there may be a powerful link between the human brain and gut bacteria. And while a growing body of research has provided evidence of the brain-gut connection, most of these studies so far have been conducted on animals. Now, promising new research from neurobiologists at Oxford University offers some preliminary evidence of a connection between gut bacteria and mental health in humans. The researchers found that supplements designed to boost healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (“prebiotics”) may have an anti-anxiety effect insofar as they alter the way that people process emotional information. While probiotics consist of strains of good bacteria, prebiotics are carbohydrates that act as nourishment for those bacteria. “Prebiotics are dietary fibers (short chains of sugar molecules) that good bacteria break down, and use to multiply,” the study’s lead author, Oxford neurobiologist Dr.

Lactobacillus probiotic supplementation may provide an ideal Intestinal microflora can be considered as a ''dynamic system'' that actively interacts with the intestinal epithelium and the local immune system. It synthesizes antimicrobial substances (bacteriocins), vitamins (PP, B1, B6, B12), it produces a major intestinal nutrient (butyric acid) and interacts in a competitive fashion with the pathogens. Lactobacilli concentration (Gram+, Gram variable, facultative anaerobes) is generally decreased in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. This syndrome has, until recently been considered to be ''functional'', whereas, in fact, it may result from previous enteritis (in up to 31% of patients), featuring a persistent low-grade intestinal inflammation and a reduction in interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration. Some Lactobacilli strains (e.g. L. paracasei subsp. paracasei) in vitro lead to normalisation of the hypercontractility of the smooth muscle cells.

Lactobacillus and Lactose Intolerance Lactobacillus acidophilus is a strain of bacteria that can digest lactose, the sugar in milk and other dairy products. If you're lactose intolerant and experience digestive complications upon consuming dairy, you may be wondering whether supplemental Lactobacillus can help alleviate your symptoms. In general, researchers are split on this issue. There are some sure ways that Lactobacillus bacteria can make your life easier, however. Lactose is the chemical name for milk sugar. Lactobacillus acidophilus is a lactose-digesting bacterial species that is non-pathogenic, meaning it doesn't pose any danger to humans. Regarding whether Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements can help those with lactose intolerance, researchers are split. One sure way in which Lactobacillus bacteria can help make your life more comfortable -- and your diet more complete -- if you're lactose intolerant is through their action on fermented dairy products such as yogurt. Lose Twice the Weight!

Lactobacillus bacteria demonstrate major antimicrobial activity Abstract Title: The effect of lactic acid bacteria isolates on the urinary tract pathogens to infants in vitro. Abstract Source: J Korean Med Sci. 2009 Jan;24 Suppl:S57-62. Abstract Author(s): In Seok Lim, Ho Seok Lee, Won Yong Kim Abstract: Urinary tract infections are common clinical problems in children, even though lots of treatment strategies have been tried. The vagus nerve, emotions and the difficulty with mindfulness practices | healing from the freeze “Now, many people who don’t know a lot about trauma think that trauma has something to do with something that happened to you a long time ago. In fact, the past is the past and the only thing that matters is what happens right now. And what is trauma is the residue that a past event leaves in your own sensory experiences in your body and it’s not that event out there that becomes intolerable but the physical sensations with which you live that become intolerable and you will do anything to make them go away.” (Bessel van der Kolk) Last week, during a two-day deep cleaning/paint prep binge (see the kitchen ceiling to the right!) As I remembered from anatomy, the vagus nerve (cranial nerve x) innervates the diaphragm [author’s correction – the phrenic nerve provides motor innervation of the diaphgram] but what failed to register in class is that the vagus nerve also innervates much of our viscera – in fact all of our internal organs with the notable exception of the adrenal glands.

Too much fat for the gut's microbiota -- Tilg and Marchesi 61 (4): 474 -- Gut + Author Affiliations Correspondence to Dr Julian R Marchesi, School of Biosciences, Museum Avenue, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK; marchesijr@cardiff.ac.uk The gastrointestinal tract contains a diverse microbial community which is predominantly bacterial and which we refer to as the gut microbiota. For example, the human gut microbiota is assumed to consist of at least 1014 bacteria, composed of more than 1000 species with more than 150 species per individual. Apart from contributing substantial beneficial functions to the host (eg, digestion of indigestible plant polysaccharides and production of short chain fatty acids), the potential of the microbiota to interact with the host and modulate its physiology seems to be tremendous.

8 Common Habits That May Damage Kidneys The kidneys are important body organs, they take care of the urination process in our bodies by filtering body waste and excess of water. Despite being such an important component of our body many of us do not properly care for them and millions of people die each year from kidney disease. There are habits many of us have that can harm our kidneys. Here is a list of some habits to avoid for healthy kidneys: 1. Not drinking enough water is the biggest contributor to damage that our kidneys bear everyday. 2. A habit many of us have is delaying the call of nature. Urinary incontinence due to overflow is also another serious complication of long term urinary retention [Natural Remedies for Incontinence]. 3.Consuming too much sodium Metabolizing the sodium we consume is another job for our kidneys. 4. When we feel thirsty we often choose beverages other than water like soft drinks and sodas. 5. Taking pain-killers for low-grade pain is a bad habit many people have. 6. 7. 8. Source: PositiveMed

Related: