There is magical bacteria that lives in our gut environment yet our microbiome can get messed up by one of 6 events: Antibiotics, a bout of gastroenteritis, food poisoning, parasitic infection, diet high in sugars and high stress levels. Many people can pinpoint the onset of their gut problems by one of these events.
They help us digest food and absorb nutrients, produce digestive enzymes and nutrients like short chain fatty acids, Vitamin A, B12 BK and Biotin, metabolize lipids, break down cholesterol, improve peristalsis and bowel transit time. These good bacteria manufacture three essential amino acids: tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine – Critical nutrients that are the building blocks of dopamine, serotonin and melatonin (grumpy, anxious and can’t sleep)
Bacteria can consume these nutrients before our body has a chance, contributing to malabsorption and malnutrition. Fat malabsorption can lead to deficiencies of Vitamins A and D which are needed to break down carbohydrates.
Bacteria need B12 and Iron for their survival and these are the two most common deficiencies found in people with SIBO – bacteria also need calcium, magnesium, amino acids and others. Bacteria causing diarrhoea contributes to malabsorption and malnutrition.
What it disturbing is how Bacteria and parasites can break through the thin walls of the small intestine: migrating to all areas of the body with the ability to cause a wide array of disruptions and far-reaching harm – Physiologically, Psychologically, Neurologically, affecting the Nervous System and Triggering Autoimmune Reactions
Bacteroides 39%, Lactobacillus 25%, Clostridium 20%, Streptococcus 60%, E-Coli 36%, Staphylococcus 13%, Klebsiella Pneumonia 11%, Enterococcus 32%, Proteus Mirabilis 6.5%, Helicobacter Py, Peptostrepococcus, Antinomyces, Citrobacter, Shigella, Salmonella, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Lyme, Candida, Prevotella copri,
Symptoms may vary from person to person depending on what species of bacteria is overgrown and the level of overgrowth and where the bacteria are located. Different species of bacteria display different behaviours.
Most bacteria like to feed on sugar, starches and carbs present in our diet by fermenting them – this leads to the releae of gases like hydrogen and methane. When bacteria are over abundant these can lead to a variety of symptoms.
Hydrogen dominate – IBS, autoimmune disorders. People who have Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis typically present with low levels of methane – Diarrhoea is the dominant feature. Excessive Hydrogen Sulfide linked to Colon Cancer, abdominal pain and leaky gut.
Methane dominant – Constipation is the dominant feature (in severe cases is not uncommon to have a motion once a week), bloating, offensive flatulence, abdominal distention after meals, IBS – prone to weight gain. People with high levels of methane have lower post-meal serotonin levels – Methanbrevibacter smithii is the most common cause.
Producing both Hydrogen and Methane – both constipation and diarrhoea may present depending on which is the more dominate at any given time.
Toxins from the bacteria or other microbes (like Candida) get into the bloodstream then travel to the brain impairing neurotransmitter production or functions that regulate our moods, thoughts and behaviour. These bacteria may also use the Vagus Nerve (transmits signal to the brain, stomach, heart and lungs.) The Vagus Nerve helps to modulate mood, fear and anxiety.
Clostridium -Watery diarrhoea, Colitis, abdominal pain, a bacteria associated with conduct disorders, autism, depression, schizophrenia by altering the neurotransmitters in the brain. They can also inhibit the enzyme called dopamine.
Streptococcus – reducing digestive capacity SIBO or Constipation – this infection causes Rheumatic fever, it has proteins in the cell walls similar to the proteins that exist in various places throughout the body like the heart, brain and joints. The immune system may mistake human tissue for the bacteria’s protein and attack causing inflammation and damage to these tissues. A disorder call PANDA’S which develops in children after an infection which manifests as obsessive- compulsive disorder and tic disorder. Can make the gut too acidic. high levels of L-lactate may indicate a bowel overgrowth of Streptococcus.
Helicobacter Py. – (food poisoning) aching burning pain in the abdomen, Ulcers, Iron deficiency, Heart burn, is implicated in the cause of GERD (acid reflux) It can trigger an auto-immune response – Helicobacter can potentially precipitate overgrowth of other bacteria – and it creates intestinal inflammation.
E-Coli – food poisoning- Produces a cell wall protein Ro-60 which triggers attack from the immune system – systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) fragments found in the amyloid plaques of people with Alzheimer’s disease whose brains were examined at autopsy. abundant in Crohn’s disease.
Bacteroides – high levels found in people with Alzheimer'(University College London Dementia research group research)
Bacillus Cereus – food poisoning – water diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, can also infect the eyes, attack the heart and heart valves.
Enterococcus – abdominal pain, abdominal abscesses, serious UTI and can also affect the heart, produces lactic acid – killing off good probiotic bacteria like Bifidobacterium -L-lactate is metabolised in the liver – high levers correlate with cognitive dysfunction such as nervousness, memory loss, forgetfulness, confusion and mind going blank.
Candida – causes depletion of the serotonin and increases levels of histamine keeping the body in a stress mode. Candida produces a toxin called acetaldehyde which interacts with serotonin and dopamine creating a very powerful opiate called Tetrahydroisoquinolines, this inhibits overall gut motility. Candida creates inflammation of the gut lining, disrupts the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and releases ammonia which lowers the ph of the gut and weakens the immune system. It can also lead to a deficiency of acetycholine used by the vagus nerve to initiate the migrating motor complex.
Citrobacter Feundii – Gastic upsets, weight loss, Intra abdominal abscesses, fever, seizures, vomiting (projectile in nature, neonatal meningitis.
Enterobacteria and Proteus – one of the by-products produced is ammonia. Ammonia is a neurotoxin and when in excess can lead to neuroinflammation, impairment of neurons, brain fog, mental confusion impairment of cognitive functioning and more. High ammonia levels can overload the liver and kidneys and may produce a wide range of symptoms like headaches, irritability, fatigue, diarrhoea and nausea.
Fusobacterium -Sepsis, well known in Lumiere’s syndrome, swollen lymph nodes, abnormal headaches, pains shooting down neck, inflamed tonsils – Increasing evidence links to Colorectal Carcinoma – increases tumour multiplicity – infiltrating myeloid cells – Fusobacteria is enriched in human adenomas suggesting early role in tumor genesis – a common mouth bacteria, pro-inflammatory bacterium can be found in the gut , linked to colon cancer ulcerated colitis and appendicitis -may produce hydrogen, sulfide gas or hydrogen. Abscesses, septicemia,
Klebsiella – hydrogen producing, loose stools, sore lymph in throat, food intolerance, anxiety
Methanobacteria – Belching, flatulence, stomach pain, Heart burn, anxiety, fatigue, skin issues, nausea, joint and muscle pain – family of bacteria that produce methane, low levels may indicate reduced production of short-chain fatty acids and be associated with inflammation. High levels linked to chronic constipation. 78% of people with MS have an overgrowth of Methanobrevibacter smithii.
Oxalolbacter Formigenes – bloating, irritation of mucosal linning throuhout the body, UTI’s, cloudy urine, Kidney stones, Bone loss, teeth enamel weakened, body aches, . Auto-Immune conditions – Mineral deficiencies.
Desulfovibrio Piger – Parkinson’s disease link – Gas, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, Crohn’s disease, ulcerated Colitis, leaky gut, causes abscesses. DS is a sulpate reducing bacteria, can affect cognitive (spoken and receptive) communication.
Entamoeba Histolytica – parasite, mild pain, gurgling, severe abdominal pain, ulcers, bleeding, dysentery, travels to the liver and brain forming pus pockets and abscesses.
Prevotella – linked to chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis – Prevotella has cell wall antigens that look identical to the type 11 collagen contained in human joints. Low grade systemic inflammation, ear infections, sinusitis, abscesses in lungs, swollen lymph nodes.
Parasites and Protozoa’s -Can invade the Central Nervous System or various parts of the Brain. Distort production of modulation of neurotransmitters, also the NS functioning leading to behavioral problems, motivation, aggression. Parasites can destroys organs (ovaries and testes) of the endocrine system which produce hormones necessary for our energy, vitality, sex drive, fertility and immunity, affects production of insulin, and, can causes anemia, deplete nutrients by interfering with their absorption and direct consumption of the nutrients. Parasites can make their host crave foods such as sugars and carbohydrates. They can cause food allergies. There can be utero exposure from the mother.
Psuedomonas – affects the lungs, UTI, Sepsis (blood stream) pneumonia, pharyngitis, colonises the lungs of cystic fibrosis, can colonise the small intestine abdominal distension and worsening abdominal pain
Staphococcus Aureus – implicated in asthma and allergies – damages structures essential for epithelial integrity – settles in the small intestine causing inflammation and swelling, abdominal pain, cramping dehydration, diarrhoea and fever.
Salmonella – food poisoning – can invade the lymphoid tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and spread to the bloodstream, severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
Shigella -contaminated foods with human waste – severe diarrhoea, fever, vomiting stomach cramps straining to have a bowel movements – in rare cases children with the disease can have seizures.
Yersina -food poisoning – fever, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Inflammation of the small intestine. Constipation, arthritis and autoimmune like disorders
Some bacteria produce histamine. High levels can lead to a wide variety of psychological disturbances like OCD, addiction, abnormal fears, brain racing, schizophrenia as well as physical symptoms like hives, itching, weepy eyes, runny nose and more.
Dr Emeran Mayer, a professor of medicine and psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that connections between regions of the brain differ depending on what species of bacteria is dominant in a person’s gastrointestinal tract.
Dr Mark Lyte of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre studies how the Microbes have the capacity to manipulate behaviour and mood through altering the neural signals in the vagus nerve, changing taste receptor, producing toxins to make us feel bad and releasing chemicals rewards to make us feel good.
Some Brain remedies:
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