Nutrition Is Key! The Gut and Brain Connection

"Some people often underestimate the importance of a healthy diet. Eating the right food can make a major impact on your happiness, energy and your entire life!"Did you know that our bodies have 10 x more bacterial cells than they do human cells?  Technically, we are 10% human and 90% bacteria, right?  What is even more interesting is that our human DNA would fit in our big toe compared to our bacterial DNA taking up the rest of our bodies in comparison.  Therefore, what could possibly be more important than nurturing our good gut bacteria?  Our gut is lined with billions of bacteria and these bacteria ultimately determine our overall health.  Our bacteria even have the power to activate and deactivate certain genes therefore controlling our bodies.  Throughout our gut, these bacteria can interact with our brains through the gut-brain connection. 

95% of the Serotonin (a neurotransmitter that controls our sleep, appetite and mood) is produced in our gut.  The inner workings of our digestive system can therefore guide our emotions.  Neurotransmitters are highly influenced by our gut bacteria.  This highlights that the food we eat plays a critical role in our mental health.   Several studies have shown a correlation between lower incidence of mood-related conditions such as depression and anxiety in those who consume a less processed, Mediterranean-Style Diet when compared to those who consume a more processed, Western diet which is high in refined sugars.  Research shows that implementing a Mediterranean diet with a focus on plant-based nutrition may also reduce the risk of cognitive decline, such as conditions such as dementia. There is also a diet called The MIND diet (a combination of the Mediterranean and the DASH diet) which emphasizes natural, plant-based foods, specifically promoting an increase in the consumption of berries and green leafy vegetables, with limited intakes of animal-based and high saturated fat foods. The MIND diet has also been popularized due to its potential to be used as a prevention strategy for cognitive decline. 

The foods which are rich in the Mediterranean diet include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, unprocessed grains plus small amounts of lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy products.  Plant-based foods are often also high in dietary fibre which is the main source of food for the microbiome (gut bacteria).  There are several different types of dietary fibre including soluble fibre, insoluble fibre and resistant starch.  Choosing a variety of plant-based foods is important to ensure that we develop diversity within our microbiome as this balance is linked to improved well-being.   

Omega-3s are important for protecting our cognitive function by helping us to maintain neuronal function and cell- membrane integrity within the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids include; alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).  Foods rich in these include oily fish such as salmon, trout, sardines and tuna.

Antioxidants are also essential to good brain health.  Foods which are rich in Antioxidants include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes.  The antioxidant levels in plant foods are over 64 times higher than the average animal-based foods.  Antioxidants are important for preventing cell and DNA damage, boosting the immune system and preventing inflammation throughout the body too.

It is also important to limit saturated fats and refined sugars as they can have a negative impact on brain proteins. These proteins are called neurotrophins, which protect the brain against oxidative stress and promote the growth of new brain cells.   Food which should be avoided or limited include deep-fried foods or highly processed and preserved foods, packaged foods like biscuits, and chips, cheese, animal fat and fat used for cooking such as butter, lard, ghee and cream.

Finally, the food that we eat can either be the most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.

Full article: https://befitfood.com.au/blogs/health-articles/nutrition-and-brain-health

Save, K. (2020, June 5). The gut and brain connection. Retrieved from https://befitfood.com.au/blogs/health-articles/nutrition-and-brain-health