Did you ever realize that there’s a connection between your gut and your brain’s health? It turns out that the microbiomes that we all carry within our gastrointestinal tract can have a big impact on your brain, including memory loss.
Your gut contains microorganisms, trillions of them actually. They play several important roles in your G.I. tract, including:
- Lining your gut and providing protection.
- Creating vitamins.
- Forming neurotransmitters.
- Absorbing nutrients from food.
- Control blood sugar.
- Support your immune system.
Most of these microorganisms are helpful, but some can cause harm if left unchecked.
This can happen when the microbiome in your G.I. tract is off. The negative microorganisms flourish, causing a condition called leaky gut. This, in turn, can cause inflammation and aggravate other health issues that you may have.
So, how does this have anything to do with the brain? Inflammation has a negative impact on your body’s organs, including the brain. If the problem is not resolved, inflammation can affect your memory and how your brain functions.
There are several things that you can do to keep your microbiome happy. For example:
- Brush and floss your teeth daily after eating.
- Eat foods containing probiotics, such as sauerkraut, pickles, and miso soup.
- Also eat foods rich in fiber, like asparagus, beans, and sweet potatoes.
- Increase your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, avocado, and walnuts.
- Consider taking multi-vitamins as well as a vitamin B6/B12 supplement.
- Lower your intake of foods containing trans fats and Omega 6. These come from highly processed food products, sugar, gluten, as well as corn and soy.
Do you notice a trend? When we eat a healthy diet and have a healthy microbiome in our guts, the rest of our bodies benefits as well, including the brain.!
Want to learn more about the connection between your gut and your brain? You can read the full article here: How Do I Know If Inflammation Is Killing My Brain?
