Important Points:

Parkinson’s disease
Gut Bacteria
Gastrointestinal

What role does gut bacteria play in Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder marked by tremors and muscular rigidity that affects more than 10 million people worldwide. Almost 200 years has passed since Parkinson’s disease was first identified as an observable medical condition. Fast forward to today, and we still do not know what the exact cause of this debilitating condition is.

However, we did make some progress in identifying some risk factors associated with Parkinson’s. In a recent study published by the California Institute of Technology, researchers have identified a new possible cause of Parkinson’s disease. In their study, they found a link between gut bacteria and how the brain functions.

By taking stool samples from patients with Parkinson’s disease and then transplanting it into sterile mice, researchers were able to produce the symptoms of the disease on a previously healthy subject. Researchers hypothesize that this may be due to a protein called alpha-synuclein (αSyn). This protein is present in both the brain and the gut of patients with Parkinson’s disease and may play a key role in the development of the disease.

This study seems to confirm what other researchers have noticed long ago. Gut problems have always been associated with Parkinson’s. Constipation, ulcers, and bloating are significantly more frequent in those suffering from the disease, and this points to a bigger role of gut problems in the disease pathophysiology. In fact, a previous study has shown that those who had their vagus nerve severed for the treatment of gastric ulcer experienced a decrease in the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s. This is not that surprising since 70 percent of the peripheral nervous system innervates the gut. With this in mind, the relationship between the nervous system and the gastrointestinal system may not be as far from each other than we initially thought, and with the mounting evidence of their strong link to each other, the importance of understanding this relationship has now sparked a lot of interest.

The research is promising but there is still a lot of work to be done. Mice experiments may not translate to human test subjects, but the researchers are optimistic. Hopefully, once this hypothesis is proven and further understood, this will usher the way for more effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease that are aimed at modifying gut bacteria instead of being directed to the brain.

Statistics on Parkinson’s

http://www.pdf.org/en/parkinson_statistics

Gut Microbiota Regulate Motor Deficits and Neuroinflammation in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease

http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(16)31590-2

Parkinson’s disease may start in the Stomach

http://sciencenordic.com/parkinsons-disease-may-start-stomach

Important Points:

Gut bacteria
Microbiota
Type 2 Diabetes

Is Diabetes linked to bacteria invading your colon?

The gut has been called by many scientists as the second brain. Our brain regulates the intricate functions of our body autonomously while we go about our business. The same goes for our gastrointestinal system. Our GI is not just an organ system dedicated to digestion and excretion; it is a highly specialized network of neurons lining our guts and a complicated collection of microscopic organisms that play a vital role in our mental state, emotions, and metabolism.

In a recent study conducted by the Georgia State University, the role of the gut was shown to have major significance in predisposing a person to type 2 diabetes. In the study, researchers from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences have discovered that when gut microbiota stays within the outer regions of the mucus lining, it has no significant negative effect on the person but when the gut microbiota encroaches upon the cells well beyond its designated area, it has been found to cause inflammation which can interfere with the normal functioning of the hormone insulin and thus leading to type 2 diabetes.

As of the moment, researchers are still conducting follow-up studies to isolate the specific bacteria that invade the lining and cause the inflammation that triggers the metabolic cascade into diabetes. Researchers are optimistic that when the bacteria are identified, it would pave the way in developing new treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/

Diabetes Linked To Bacteria Invading The Colon, Institute For Biomedical Sciences Study Finds

http://news.gsu.edu/2017/05/30/diabetes-bacteria-invading-colon/

Important Points:

Gastro Intestinal tract (GI)
Inflammation
Gut flora
Gut bacteria
Microbiome
Balance

What can you eat to improve your gut flora and reduce inflammation?

Your gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms — both friendly and unfriendly. Maintaining the right balance of bacteria in your gut is believed to improve digestion, reduce inflammation, decrease anxiety, and even improve brain function and mood. A healthy balance of gut bacteria is also said to boost metabolism, eliminate cravings, and help you shed unwanted weight. We will look at ways in which you can achieve this by the food you eat.

What functions happen in the gut?

Digestion: Carbohydrates the body is otherwise unable to process are fermented in the large intestine,where our friendly bacteria reside. Through this process they reduce gut inflammation, stimulate and improve metabolic function, and produce essential nutrients such as vitamin K.

Brain Health: Our gut prompts the production of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin; remarkably, 95% of serotonin is actually produced in our gut! Serotonin affects every part of your body and is viewed as a natural mood stabilizer regulating anxiety, happiness and mood. It is said that the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach. Is this why?

Immunity: Approximately 70% of our immune system is situated in the gut. The beneficial flora our immune system is able to differentiate between friend and adversary and rebalance the immune system when it gets off-kilter.

How can we improve our gut health?

Proactive ways to improve our gut health:

Proper digestion: When we eat, we need to make sure that proper digestion takes place. The key to proper digestion is making sure we absorb all our food. How can we optimize our absorption? We can start by turning off the T.V., putting aside all our work, and sitting down at the table, so that all our energy can be focused on eating and digestion. Food is meant to be enjoyed, so chew and taste it!
Re-establish gut bacteria: Probiotics and fermented food, such as sauerkraut, kimchi and miso are the key to reestablishing the good bacteria in your gut. Eating plenty of whole plant foods, packed with fiber is another critical part of nourishing a healthy microbiota. Warning! Gluten-free foods and even a lot of salads can actually be low in fiber. To support the growth of good bacteria, probiotics aim to consume certain prebiotics, such as: almonds, bananas, garlic and onion, which will help to feed those friendly bacteria in your gut.
Take an anti-Inflammatory diet: Aim for fresh food or one-ingredient foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean meat or dairy and minimize processed foods. Omega 3 is a beneficial anti-inflammatory nutrient, so try incorporating salmon, walnuts, chia seeds or flax seeds into your diet. To spice up soups, stews, or stir fries, add turmeric as it is another amazing anti-inflammatory food.

What should you eat to boost your Gut Health?

Foods that boost your microbiome:

Eat more prebiotics

Scientists have identified a few species among the many trillions of microbes that live in your intestines playing a crucial role in gut health and maintaining a balanced immune system. Your dietary intake is vital to allowing these species to flourish and to preventing imbalances that can lead to disease. Prebiotics provide a good food source for certain populations of healthy gut bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, which, in turn, prevent intestinal inflammation. Studies have shown that prebiotics can be particularly beneficial for obese people, as they reduce insulin and cholesterol levels, while lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Prebiotics can be bought as supplements or taken in naturally by eating asparagus, leeks, bananas, garlic and Jerusalem artichoke.

Focus on fiber and wholegrains

Western diets tend to be rich in fat and sugar with most of our food coming from only Twelve plant and five animal species. However, following a diet rich in high-fiber foods such as apples, artichokes, blueberries, chickpeas, lentils, peas and beans can limit the growth of harmful bacteria and stimulate Bifidobacterium, lactobacilli and another healthy species called Bacteroidetes.

Take fermented products

Fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir, kombucha, natural yoghurts and fermented soya bean milk have been shown to promote the abundance of healthy gut bacteria and reduce the levels of enterobacteriaceae, a family of bacteria linked to a number of chronic diseases. Natural yoghurt enriched with bifidobacteria has also been found to alleviate lactose intolerance in children and adults, while yoghurts enhanced with lactobacilli have had some beneficial results in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Avoid flavored yoghurts, which tend to contain high levels of sugar.

Ensure you take some polyphenols

Polyphenols are plant compounds that are mainly digested by gut bacteria and are associated with a variety of benefits including a reduction in blood pressure, cholesterol and oxidative stress. They are found in almonds, blueberries and broccoli as well as in green tea, cocoa and red wine. The types of polyphenols found in cocoa are linked to changes in the microbiome that reduce inflammation and triglyceride levels.

Avoid artificial sweeteners at all costs

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are commonly used in food as replacements for sugar. Aspartame specifically has been found to alter gut bacteria in human and animal studies, and these changes appear to result in elevated blood sugar levels and increased susceptibility to metabolic disease.

Breastfeed your baby

Our microbiome is continually developing during our first two years of life. A number of studies have shown that babies who are breastfed for six months develop a much healthier gut compared with those who are fed with formula. Children who have been breastfed are also less prone to allergies, obesity, leukemia and diabetes; this is thought to be linked to the microbiome.

Go vegetarian

Several studies have suggested that vegetarian diets may be good for the microbiome, with findings indicating that a largely plant-based diet decreases the levels of disease-causing bacteria such as E coli and Enterobacteriaceae. This may be particularly beneficial for obese people with type 2 diabetes or hypertension. One small study found that obese people who switched to a vegetarian diet had reduced levels of potentially harmful bacteria as well as lower levels of cholesterol and inflammation after one month.

How to ensure your gut flora flourishes

The gastrointestinal tract is important to human health. In recent years, scientists have discovered that the GI system has an even bigger, more complex job than previously appreciated. It has been linked to numerous aspects of health that do not necessarily involve digestion, from immunity to emotional stress to chronic illnesses, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes.

There are trillions of bacteria found in the GI tract, which not only help us process food but also help our bodies maintain homeostasis and overall well-being. Experts say the key may lie in the microbiome—the makeup of bacteria and other microorganisms in the stomach and intestines or informally, the gut.

Research on the microbiome is still in its infancy. But studies have already found that certain environments, foods, and behaviors can influence gut health for better or worse. Fermented food sources—like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi—that have other nutritional benefits as well, should be considered in the front lines of influencing gut flora.

Finally, there are the cutting-edge ways in which doctors are beginning to manipulate the gut microbiome directly through Fecal transplants which introduce donor stool material containing healthy bacteria into the intestinal tract of a recipient, have been used to treat IBD as well as C. difficile, a dangerous infection that causes recurrent diarrhea. Researchers are also studying how bacteria-killing viruses can target strains of E. coli associated with Crohn’s disease. It is most beneficial to stick to natural food sources as much possible because a lot is still unknown about the microbiome and the effects of altering it.

References

Healthline (2019): The Microbiome Diet: Can It Restore Your Gut Health? Retrieved from

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/microbiome-diet

Time (2019): Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Gut Health. Retrieved from

https://time.com/5556071/gut-health-diet/

Food Yourself (2018): Gut Flora and How to Improve your Gut Health. Retrieved from

https://www.foodyourself.com/blog/2018/12/4/gut-flora-and-how-to-improve-your-gut-health

NCBI (2013): Strict vegetarian diet improves the risk factors associated with metabolic diseases by modulating gut microbiota and reducing intestinal inflammation. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24115628

The Guardian (2018): Seven ways to boost your gut health. Retrieved fromhttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/sep/10/seven-ways-to-boost-your-gut-health

Important Points:

Gut bacteria
Serotonin
Depression

Can gut microbial activity be used as serotonin drug treatment?

Serotonin is known to be the crucial neurotransmitter needed for emotion and behavior regulation. It has been long established that imbalances in serotonin levels are related to depression and bouts of anxiety. Despite being a major neurotransmitter exerting its effect on brain function, up to 90% of our serotonin is produced in the enterochromaffin cells found in the gastrointestinal tract.

The surprising location of its origin may imply a bigger role for serotonin than what researchers have initially thought. This could further support findings that point out that serotonin may not be just a substance that has an exclusive brain significance but also possibly linked to other diseases like osteoporosis and heart disease.

In line with these results regarding the other possible functions of serotonin, researchers from the California Institute of Technology have reported in their study that serotonin could be directly related to microbial activity in the gut. They have discovered that mice without gut microbes produced 60 percent less serotonin compared to those with normal gut bacteria. Upon restoring the presence of normal gut flora, the serotonin levels shot back within normal parameters. This reversible causal relationship seems to prove the hypothesis that serotonin production is heavily reliant on certain types of gut bacteria.

Researchers are now excited to find out which bacteria can be used to modulate the body’s level of serotonin. Once identified, this could be the first step in the path of creating new medications that could possibly support or replace the mode of actions seen in the medication SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors used to treat depression.

Yin and yang of serotonin neurons in mood regulation: More nuanced view of brainstem neurons could lead to better drugs for depression, anxiety

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151119134012.htm

Inhibiting serotonin in gut could cure osteoporosis

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/cumc-isi020110.php

Serotonin may play role in hardening of the arteries

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-03/uopm-smp022706.php

Microbes Help Produce Serotonin in Gut

https://www.caltech.edu/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495

Tags: gut bacteria, Serotonin

What functions happen in the gut?

Digestion: Carbohydrates the body is otherwise unable to process is fermented in the large intestine, where our friendly bacteria reside. In doing so, they reduce gut inflammation, stimulate and improve metabolic function and produce essential nutrients such as vitamin K.
Brain Health: Our gut prompts the production of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin – 95% of serotonin is actually produced in our gut! Serotonin affects every part of your body and is viewed as a natural mood stabilizer regulating anxiety, happiness and mood. It is said that the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach. Is this why?
Immunity: Approximately 70% of our immune system is situated in the gut. The beneficial flora our immune system is able to differentiate between friend and adversary and re-balance the immune system when it gets off-kilter.

How can we improve our gut health?
We will discuss ways in which we can proactively improve our gut health.

Proper digestion: When we eat, we need to make sure that proper digestion takes place. The key to proper digestion is making sure we absorb all our food. How can we optimize our absorption? We can start by turning off the T.V, putting aside all our work and sitting down at the table. All our energy should be focused on eating and digestion. Food is meant to be enjoyed, so chew and taste it!
Re-establish gut bacteria: Probiotics and fermented food, such as: sauerkraut, kimchi and miso are the key to reestablishing the good bacteria in your gut. Also, eating plenty of whole plant foods, packed with fibre, is another critical part of nourishing a healthy microbiota. Warning! Gluten free foods and even a lot of salads can actually be low in fibre. To support the growth of probiotics aim to consume certain prebiotics, such as: almonds, bananas, garlic and onion, which will help to feed those friendly bacteria in your gut.
Take an anti-Inflammatory diet: Aim for fresh food or one-ingredient foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean meat or dairy and minimize processed foods. Omega 3 is also an anti-inflammatory nutrient, so try incorporating salmon, walnuts, chia seeds or flax seeds into your diet. Another amazing anti-inflammatory food is turmeric, so try adding this fabulous spice to soups, stews or stir fries.3. What should you eat to boost your Gut Health?
What you eat has an effect on your microbiome. Here arev a few tips of what is good for your microbiome.

Eat more prebiotics

Scientists have identified a few species among the many trillions of microbes that live in your intestines that play a crucial role in gut health and maintaining a balanced immune system. Your dietary intake is vital to allowing these species to flourish and to preventing imbalances that can lead to disease. Prebiotics provide a good food source for certain populations of healthy gut bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, which, in turn, prevent intestinal inflammation. Studies have shown that prebiotics can be particularly beneficial for obese people, as they reduce insulin and cholesterol levels, while lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Prebiotics can be bought as supplements, but they are also contained within foods including asparagus, leeks, bananas, garlic and Jerusalem artichoke.

Focus on fibre and wholegrains

Western diets tend to be rich in fat and sugar, with most of our food coming from only 12 plant and five animal species. However, following a diet rich in high-fibre foods such as apples, artichokes, blueberries, chickpeas, lentils, pease and beans can limit the growth of harmful bacteria and stimulate Bifidobacterium, lactobacilli and another healthy species called Bacteroidetes.

Take fermented products

Fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir, kombucha, natural yoghurts and fermented soya bean milk have been shown to promote the abundance of healthy gut bacteria and reduce the levels of enterobacteriaceae, a family of bacteria linked to a number of chronic diseases. Natural yoghurt enriched with bifidobacteria has also been found to alleviate lactose intolerance in children and adults, while yoghurts enhanced with lactobacilli have had some beneficial results in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Avoid flavoured yoghurts, which tend to contain high levels of sugar.

Ensure you take some polyphenols

Polyphenols are plant compounds that are mainly digested by gut bacteria and are associated with a variety of benefits including reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and oxidative stress. They are found in foods including almonds, blueberries and broccoli as well as in green tea, cocoa and red wine. The types of polyphenols found in cocoa are linked to changes in the microbiome that reduce inflammation and triglyceride levels.

Avoid artificial sweeteners at all costs

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are commonly found in food as replacements for sugar. However, aspartame has been found to alter gut bacteria in human and animal studies. These changes appear to result in elevated blood sugar levels and increased susceptibility to metabolic disease.

Breastfeed your baby

Go vegetarian

How to ensure your gut flora flourishes

Research on the microbiome is still in its infancy. But studies have already found that certain environments, foods and behaviors can influence gut health for better or worse. Fermented food sources—like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi—that have other nutritional benefits as well, should be considered in the front lines of influencing gut flora.

Finally, there are the cutting-edge ways in which doctors are beginning to manipulate the gut microbiome directly. Fecal transplants, which introduce donor stool material containing healthy bacteria into the intestinal tract of a recipient, have been used to treat IBD as well as C. difficile, a dangerous infection that causes recurrent diarrhea. Researchers are also studying how bacteria-killing viruses can target strains of E. coli associated with Crohn’s disease. It is most beneficial to stick to natural food sources as much possible because a lot is still unknown about the microbiome and the effects of altering it.

References

Healthline (2019): The Microbiome Diet: Can It Restore Your Gut Health? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/microbiome-diet

Time (2019): Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Gut Health. Retrieved from https://time.com/5556071/gut-health-diet/

Food Yourself (2018): Gut Flora and How to Improve your Gut Health. Retrieved from https://www.foodyourself.com/blog/2018/12/4/gut-flora-and-how-to-improve-your-gut-health

NCBI (2013): Strict vegetarian diet improves the risk factors associated with metabolic diseases by modulating gut microbiota and reducing intestinal inflammation. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24115628
The Guardian (2018): Seven ways to boost your gut health. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/sep/10/seven-ways-to-boost-your-gut-health