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Think of the last time you felt sick to your stomach because you were stressed, scared or even excited! We now know that there is a very strong relationship between our digestive system and our brain.  The enteric nervous system wraps around all of our digestive systems and it is so complex, big and important that scientists are now calling it the “second brain.”

Our brain’s health is dependent on what goes on in our guts.  Hard to believe, but true, what happens in the intestines affects the brain’s daily functions, and may even help determine future health conditions.

Did you know that the intestinal bacteria or microbiome, participate in a wide variety of support body functions such as immunity, detoxification, inflammation, nutrient absorption, how the body uses carbohydrates and fat, and in the production of neurotransmitters and vitamins? 

In other words, the gut microbiome is powerful in healing and protecting the brain.  Simply, nearly everything about our health – how we feel both physically and emotionally can depend on the state of the microbiome and our gut. 

The gut literally affects our mood, fatigue, whether we feel depressed or have a positive outlook, how our body takes and processes stress, even our perception of the world, the clarity of our thoughts and sleep patterns.

But how does this really work?  Because science studies the organs independently and doctors specialize in an organ or a specific system, it’s sometimes hard to believe that the gut and the brain are so interrelated, here it’s how it all works.

Many don’t realize that the gut is where most of the serotonin also known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter is produced. Separately, there are neurotransmitters that are produced by the probiotic bacteria in our gut like glutamate, which is involved in cognition, learning, and memory. So, in other words, how we feel, our mood and even our ability to process information are tied to how well our gut is supporting our nervous system.

There is a second part to it. Not only the gut produces neurotransmitters, you may have also heard of a condition called “leaky gut” where the intestinal lining becomes compromised and where the bacteria population in the gut is out of balance, also known as dysbiosis. 

So, why does the gut wall become leaky?   When we eat a diet high in processed carbohydrates, sugar and artificial sweeteners we are feeding the “bad bacteria” in our gut and literally starving the probiotic bacteria. If the bad bacteria grow faster than the probiotic bacteria in our gut, our gut becomes out of balance and it starts “leaking”.  When the gut is compromised, the probiotic bacteria becomes less effective in protecting and metabolizing the nutrients from our food and fewer nutrients pass into the bloodstream.  That’s how a lot of vitamin deficiencies originate including the very common deficiency in Omegas and other antioxidants that feed our brain combined with less production of serotonin and glutamate. Health challenges like arthritis, allergies and even memory and mood issues stem out of this situation.

Almost everyone experiences some degree of “leaky gut” at different points in life. Whether it’s solely based on a diet that without knowing is causing the bad bacteria population to grow out of balance or due to taking antibiotics or medications like contraceptives.   When the gut gets out of balance, our system stops digesting some or in some instances most of the nutrients that are ingested, and undigested food particles start leaking into the bloodstream, where they create an immune response which can lead to system-wide inflammation.

If you feel that you are feeling tired all the time, or your memory is not as clear as it used to be, or if you are starting to experience digestive issues such as gas, bloating or even constipation, always look for the root cause.  It is recommended to make changes to the diet and start taking a probiotic.  Studies have proven that probiotics will help bring the gut back into balance as well as helping strengthen the walls of the gut.  A probiotic combined with a change in diet that is more low carbohydrate-high quality fat, and high in vegetable fiber can provide dramatic results. 

Here are some tips on how to jumpstart your brain through your gut:

1.    Modify your diet to lower-carb embracing high-quality fats

A low carb diet is right in sources of fiber from whole vegetables and fruit, which feeds the good or probiotic bacteria in the gut.  High-quality fats such as Omegas will nurture the brain while keeping the intestinal lining in check. A diet that is high in sugar and low in fiber will feed the bad or unwanted bacteria increasing the chances of intestinal permeability or leaky gut causing system-wide inflammation and even potential nutrient deficiencies.

2.     Start consuming Probiotics

There are now probiotics on the market that are both natural and heat resistant.  These are called “spore forming” probiotics.  These occur naturally and the benefit is that spore-forming probiotics survive heat up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit and as well as stomach acid.  This is truly a revolution in the probiotic market because up to today probiotics have been very delicate organisms and despite the recent boom in this market, most probiotics in the market degrade through heat exposure, transportation, time and changes in the environment by the time they make it into our homes.

Spore-forming probiotics are different.  They have a natural protective spore layer that keeps them alive despite changes in temperature and gets them through the harsh stomach acid keeping them alive to open-up when the conditions for growth and reproduction are optimal.  Because our gut is warm and contains the right food to help them thrive and colonize, these probiotic bacteria are very effective in completing their journey to the gut, where they colonize and reproduce quickly making the biggest difference in our health. Bacillus Coagulans is one strain of spore-forming probiotics that is also very versatile because it helps to balance the gut flora, strengthen the walls of the intestine and produce the lactic acid that aids in breaking down nutrients and preventing leaky gut.

Here is a Recommended Choice

ActiveChange Probiotics contain 15 Billion CFUs (Colony Forming Units) of Bacillus Coagulans plus a prebiotic to help it reproduce and colonize the gut even faster.  Because ActiveChange Probiotics is a spore-forming probiotic, a dose of 15 Billion CFUs per tablet is a very potent and concentrated dose.

Some more information on ActiveChange Probiotics:

ActiveChange is science and results-based.  The product is made here in the US under strict GMP guidelines in a facility that is FDA approved.

•    They offer a 100% Satisfaction or Your Money Back Guarantee.

•    In addition, Activechange™ Probiotics is free of gluten, lactose, nuts, soy, GMOs or added Animal Ingredients. 

•    It is convenient for travel because it does not require refrigeration. 

ActiveChange is a social enterprise seeking to improve the health of its consumers through nutritional products while providing worldwide hunger relief. Through a strategic alliance with Rise Against Hunger, every time a purchase is made it helps to feed 4 in need….! If you would like to find out more about their probiotics and about this social enterprise please go to www.activechangenutrition.com, AMAZON or eBay. Get your supper deal here! 

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