Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Correlation between Gut Health and Mental Health

Are you familiar with the long-standing idea of “gut feelings?” More than the ideas of feelings through your gut, recent studies show that the overall health of your gut may influence your mind. Those studies indicate that the presence of healthy bacteria in your gut may play a crucial part in the chemistry of the brain and total mental health.  


Often, it is hard to associate your gut to your brain health. However, the gut may actually hold the key toward improving your mental health, refining your mood, and preventing brain-related problems such as Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and schizophrenia.

Correlation of Brain Health and Gut Health
We have two nervous systems. The first one is the most familiar, which is the Central Nervous System, made up of the brain and spinal cord. The second is the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract, called Enteric Nervous System. Both systems are actually made out of the same type of tissues.

During the stage of fetal development, one part develops into the central nervous system while the other, turns into the enteric nervous system. These two systems are connected through the tenth cranial nerve called the vagus nerve. This nerve runs straight from the brain, down to the abdomen.

Microbiological studies using the most advanced microbiology instruments indicate that the vagus nerve becomes the primary passage of the gut bacteria to pass on information to the brain. While most of us may think that the brain organ is in charge, the gut actually sends more information to the brain.

When you are nervous, you probably experience that visceral sensation in your stomach. Perhaps you experience an upset stomach when you are stressed or angry. In the same way, the problems in your gut can make a big impact in the state of your mental health, which could lead to issues such as depression and anxiety.

Improving Your Gut’s Health
The correlation between the state of mental health and gut health is undeniable. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy gut in order to improve your mental health. Gut bacteria communicates to the brain through the nervous system, as well as through the immune system.

On the average, a healthy adult carries up to 5 pounds of bacteria. Low levels of good gut bacteria may lead to mental issues. This can be augmented by consuming healthy bacteria, known as probiotics, which are commonly found in yogurt and dietary supplements. In some instances, probiotics are given as a fecal transplant, in which stool from a healthy donor is administered to an infected patient.

Medical research also indicates that healthy bacteria in the gut help regulate the levels of dopamine in the body. High concentrations of dopamine may lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, OCD is linked to high levels of strep bacteria in the body. Hence, it is important to identify the current level of good bacteria in the gut. 

Furthermore, early yeast and mold detection in the gut may pave the way for appropriate intervention, such as probiotics transplant. This can only be done through advanced microbiology detection systems and instrumentation integrated within an appropriate microbiology quality assurance. 

Contact Biolumix to learn more about simplified, rapid, automated microbiology testing.

Biolumix
3928 Varsity Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 984-3100
Fax: 734-222-1830
Email: info@mybiolumix.com
http://www.mybiolumix.com/
https://plus.google.com/103841943418192727689/

No comments:

Post a Comment