I have written often about the importance of good gut health. We now know poor gut health not only affects our digestion and immune health, but may also contribute to arthritis, depression, asthma, Alzheimer’s Disease, allergies and even obesity. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Kale Brock a researcher and journalist who has written the books The Gut Healing Protocol and The Art of Probiotic Nutrition. Kale specialises in the areas of gut health and the microbiome after overcoming his own serious health issues. Kale has worked as a TV presenter and public speaker and has kindly agreed to hold a Heal Your Gut seminar in Batemans Bay on Tuesday 4th April next. The following is an article Kale recently wrote on the connection between gut health and Alzheimer’s Disease. In health, Bev Dunne
PROBIOTICS POTENTIALLY REVERSING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (STUDY) By Kale Brock
The health of the gastrointestinal system (specifically microbiome) plays an important in the maintenance of brain function. Your gut microbes produce most of your brain’s neurotransmitter supply but they also control levels of inflammation in the blood and, subsequently it seems, the brain. A study published in November 2016 in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience reported incredible results using probiotic treatment for Alzheimer’s patients. In fact, the study showed actual reversals of blood indicators associated with Alzheimer’s and improvements in mental function for patients using probiotic treatment, while the control group (not taking any probiotics) continued to worsen in those same markers! This is significant because, normally, most research into Alzheimer’s looks at the possibility of only reducing the rate of cognitive decline, not actually reversing it. Participants of the study underwent a widely used, standardised MMSE (Mini Mental Status Exam) and had their blood tested for an inflammatory marker called highly sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Importantly, hs-CRP is a highly inflammatory marker and is often seen in higher levels in neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Of the 60 patients, 30 were given a placebo and 30 the probiotic formula. Probiotics used were Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus fermentum. The Amazing Results. The placebo group (no probiotic) saw increases in their inflammatory hs-CRP score by an average of 45% whilst the experimental group receiving the probiotic, actually declined (thus improving levels) by 18%! On the MMSE tests measuring cognitive function, the placebo group dropped from a mean score of 8.47 to 8.00, whilst the experimental group drastically improved their MMSW scores from an average of 8.67 up to 10.57 (a big shift). Importantly this indicated a process of not just delaying or reducing the declining cognitive function of the participants, but actually regaining cognitive function. Now, it would be easy to jump the gun and pull all sorts of conclusions from this but until the study is replicated we will always have to stick with the ‘may’ and the ‘potentially’, but this ground breaking study certainly provides insight into the mechanistic functions of Alzheimer’s which has been observed to be consistently related to inflammation.
Above: Kale Brock
Heal Your Gut Seminar Tuesday 4th April @ 7pm In this 1 hour keynote presentation, health journalist Kale Brock shares the fundamental role the gut microbes play in your health. The presentation will cover: • A scientific round up of the gut; how it works and how it can influence your health • discussions on points of view of work experts on the microbiome • the roles played by the various microbes who live on and inside of you • why eliminating certain foods can drastically decrease the inflammation in the gut • why the addition of certain foods can drastically decrease the inflammation in the gut • why the addition of certain foods and supplements can assist in healing the gut lining • a comprehensive, gentle 8 week program for you to undertake • principles of recipe creation to ensure the foods you consume rebalance your gut Catalina Golf Club, Beach Road, Batemans Bay $25 per person Bookings essential!! at Go Vita Batemans Bay 5 North St Batemans Bay To book online please visit us at www.govitabatemansbay.com.au This article is provided for information purposes only - all comments and enquiries are to be directed to Go Vita Batemans Bay
