The Gut Microbiome-Mind Connection

We as human beings have many cellular processes that work in a collaborated effort to keep ourselves healthy and functional. You may have heard at certain times that mental health issues like autism, bipolar disorder, and depression are a chemical imbalance in the brain which is completely unfounded. This issue boggles my mind because of the constant puzzling “evidence, in general ” and I use that term loosely. Someone who works night shifts and extremely long, in general, will have a decline in their health. This is because of irregular circadian sleep rhythms, along with mental and physical stress accumulation. In addition, cardiovascular, gut, and thyroid problems rather than a deficiency or chemical imbalance in the brain. We need to remember that every system has their own micro biome and microbial process. In this case, the gut microbiome will be discussed.

I’m a psychology student investigating topics like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and the professors only referred to methods of treatment like psychotherapy, and drug therapy. There has not been one lesson ever on the gut micro biome, or the chemistry of microbes. Microbes are one of the three foundations on which humans live on, including water and the periodic table. There was no medical or nutritional training in my entire schooling. Do professors not realize that the body is an interconnected system? The brain needs nutrition, a clean environment, and water, to perform its basic duties. To me, human chemistry and nutrition should be 95% of any psychology program.

In class, there was constant discussion of serotonin and its huge stand-alone role in mental disorders. Serotonin seeks to give the body the balance to restore homeostasis. My problem here is “How does one become deficient in serotonin or imbalanced in it?” I have yet to see a scan/chart of serotonin deficiency… I believe the body relies on the subsystems that interconnect our way to good health. Hence, psychosocial, nutritional, and behavioral factors all play a role in achieving optimal health. The medical profession for the most part has been bought out by corporations so the common advice is to prescribe anti-depressants, which not only disrupt serotonin neurotransmitters but cause withdrawal symptoms such as low libido, high insulin level spikes, and heart palpitations. Antidepressants like Thorazine and Prozac are symptom relievers at best which in turn create more symptoms.

The micro-biome consists of all our microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, parasites, etc. Most of our microbiome lives in the intestines. Such microorganisms work hard to digest food, create vitamins, manage hormone levels, detoxify the body from toxins and create chemicals to maintaining the lining of the gut. The gut promotes a secretion process for hormones, vitamins, enzymes supporting the movement of food through the GI tract. The digestive process taps into the different systems like the pancreas, gallbladder, nervous, and circulatory systems. Factors that disrupt gut function are nutrient malabsorption, Autoimmunity, Food intolerance, environmental toxins, Systematic inflammation, lack of vitamin D, gluten intolerance, etc. All of these factors will effect energy levels, mood, and cause conditions like autism, anxiety,etc. Harmful microbes and toxins enter Muscosal Membrane (gut) cells and causing tight junctions to widen and leave room for said toxins and microbes to enter. This causes the immune B and T cells to cause a reaction for the immune system to attack the body’s cells . This collateral damage is known as Autoimmunity.

This goes back to the issue at hand, how the key neurotransmitter can be imbalanced without any link to other hormones like dopamine, epinephrine, adenosine, etc. Our body will be only as functional and healthy, depending on the foods we nourish it with. This does not mean processed food which were raised with pesticides and antibiotics. Diets that have processed foods contribute to inflammation and dysfunction of the immune system which lies within your gut. One must consume a diet with naturally raised foods without anything added or removed. There are many diets out there, however plant based diet is the most scientifically proven method of nutrition known to keep us in optimal health. Diets that include animal and dairy foods are pro-inflammatory and can cause chronic inflammation if consumed to an excess. Spirulina and soil microbes contain adequate levels of B12, but our industrialized world helped strip the soil of microbes, minerals, and trace elements.

I introduced all these following points about nutrition, and lifestyle factors because it is the only way to manage your body’s system. Drugs are not the best form of treatment because they hinder the body’s systems particularly the thyroid, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems. Women often complain of their hormonal shifts and synthetic drug abuse since millions of American’s, particularly women, are using drugs to deal with their symptoms. Such drugs are not limited to GlaxoSmithKline for psychiatric disorders and/or even birth control pills which deplete the body of iodine, and selenium. Iodine is responsible for metabolic activity, protein synthesis, and thyroid hormonal production which would in turn disrupt cognition, emotions, hormone production and regulation, etc. Adequate nutrition is needed to retrieve iodine, selenium, and many other trace minerals to stabilize body function and structure.

Selenium is vital for producing the peptide glutathione which is key to protect the system from oxidative stress which occurs when free radicals outnumber antioxidants and causes irregular shifts to the body’s functions. It protects cells from damage but enhance the immune system as well. In my opinion, prescription drugs are not a great way to treat conditions. Drugs destroy the beneficial and harmful microbes in our body which can result in more depression, anxiety, and feelings of sickness. Beneficial microbes alone can weed out bad bacteria that is looking to interrupt vital bodily processes. Having a dysfunctional microbiome leads to a disruption through neural, endocrine, and immune pathways which influence physiology, brain and behavior. Most doctors are not trained to see an individual’s biochemistry, micro biome and gut flora. Gut health is key to determining mental health, since many people with eating disorders and hormonal disorders associated with leptin and ghrelin, in fact contribute to a dysfunctional gut.

People with these disorders usually have a physiological issue with their micro biome and general well-being rather than a neurotransmitter issue. The body is an amazing healing machine, and it is your top priority to maintain it. Our mental health is greatly determined by the condition of our gut microbiome which include good and bad bacteria. Good bacteria tries to optimize the function of the immune and endocrine systems. They help keep cortisol and adrenaline at bay so they don’t cause further problems when continually flowing. Bad bacteria helps to destroy the immune system and disregulate hormonal processes.

The book “Brain Maker” by David Perlmutter states in his introduction that scientists have identified about 10,000 species of microbes and each of these microbes contain it’s own DNA. This would translate to more than eight million genes. When I noticed this fact, I was reminded of so many amazing topics in science, such as that of Epigenetics. Epigenetics is the genetic expression to our environment, what it contains, it’s food produce, the level of optimism and pessimism surrounding us, etc. All of this contributes to our gene expression and how we feel on a daily basis. Our gut organ is a part of our immune system, and it should be cared for properly for our lifetime. Positive emotions will play a huge role in strengthening our immune system.“Research at the leading edge of medicine acknowledges that the state of the microbiome is pivotal to human health.”

Our cruel system is set out to not only burden us with harmful phenomena with food and environmental pollutants, cleaning products, food ingredients which contain many hard to pronounce chemicals and toxins. They have us beat since our educational system is skewed, bought technology, and advantages towards particular groups of people have given numerous incentives for depression. This is in fact not subjective since, this has been proven to be the reality we are living in, due to blatant malfunction as a society, but a malfunction to our hearts and souls interfering with our personal aspirations. The Human system is very sensitive to toxins in our environment, especially our thyroid, therefore detoxification is absolutely necessary for good health.

Final Words

We live in a fast paced world, in which it is hard to make great health choices, having reduced stress, and live in a functional society. I firmly believe that psychological issues are a dysfunction of many interconnected physiological systems in the body. Another tip I would recommend is to order food sensitivity tests from a conventional lab with your doctor to detect issues plaguing your gut. It is crucial to see different doctors to get differing options and assessments to fit your specific condition. I would like to say that you, the reader can empower yourself, too many people live in hopes, doubts fears. All it takes, is simple dietary changes, incorporation of vitamin D and certain supplements, and a positive attitude to get you through the day. Persist in these changes and you will find that you will achieve great results.

Citations

Yarandi SS, Peterson DA, Treisman GJ, Moran TH, Pasricha &J, 2016, “Modulatory Effects of Gut Microbiota on the Central Nervous System: How Gut Could Play a Role in Neuropsychiatric Health and Diseases.” Journal of Neurogastroenterology Motility, 22:201-212.

Axe, J. (2016). Eat dirt: Why leaky gut may be the root cause of your health problems and 5 surprising steps to cure it. New York, NY: Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Brogan, Kelly, Loberg Kristin, 2016. “A Mind of your Own” New York, NY, Harper Collins Publishing. Print

Cryan JF, Dinan TG, 2012. “Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour.” National Library of Medicine, Oct;13(10):701-12. Print

Marchesi, Julian R et al. “The Gut Microbiota and Host Health: A New Clinical Frontier.” Gut 65.2 (2016): 330–339. PMC. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.

Ayd, Frank J. “EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN—The Uses of Drugs in Therapeutic Management.” California Medicine 87.2 (1957): 75–78. Print.\

McLachlan, Sandra M., and Basil Rapoport. “Breaking Tolerance to Thyroid Antigens: Changing Concepts in Thyroid Autoimmunity.” Endocrine Reviews 35.1 (2014): 59–105. PMC. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.

The Gut Microbiome-Mind Connection