Not everyone may realize, but nutrition has everything to do with our mental health. In fact, all body functions are connected and intertwined in one way or another. The recognition of the brain-gut axis, or connection, has been on the rise and we are finally acknowledging the importance of a healthy gut. And by gut, we don’t mean the “stomach, belly or tummy”, we mean the GI tract- specifically the small and large intestines. To many, it’s a foreign concept that our overall health lies in the condition of our gut.

Alzheimer’s, which is just one form of dementia, has actually been termed Diabetes Type 3 due to the correlation of dramatic decline in cognitive function and chronic insulin resistance… Lot’s of big words. Let’s back up a minute. What causes insulin resistance in the first place? Well, we have three macronutrients that fuel our bodies- Carbs, Proteins, and Fats. Can you guess which one is related to diabetes?

You guessed it- Carbs.

All carbs eventually turn into glucose, which raises our blood sugar. Insulin then is released to allow the digested sugar into our cells. However, eventually our cells become insulin resistant and stop absorbing glucose, leaving sugar in the blood stream. Uncontrolled insulin resistance leads to type 2 diabetes.

So what about the previously mentioned “Type 3”? Well first off, increased sugar in the body causes chronic inflammation. This means that our gut, which has also been termed our “second brain”, is so inflamed that it cannot properly absorb any nutrients from the food that we’re eating- assuming that we are even eating nutrient dense foods.

Free flowing sugar also means sticky, or viscous, blood. Increased viscosity can impair blood flow to the brain which affects how much oxygen and nutrients the brain cells are receiving. When circulation in the brain is compromised, you are at an increased risk of stroke and the development of dementia. In addition, insulin resistance impairs signaling to the brain and prevents brain cells from properly utilizing glucose for energy. Overall brain functioning suffers as a result of this.¹  Ever have difficulty thinking straight due to low blood sugar? This is the same concept- except a bit more deep-rooted.

The gut-brain axis is complex yet fascinating. We have discounted the association for so long but recently are coming to terms with just how powerful the health of our gut is, (or lack thereof). “The gut–brain axis seems to influence a range of diseases, and researchers have begun to target communication pathways between the nervous system and the digestive system in an attempt to treat metabolic disorders specifically.” ²

Have you ever been nervous, felt nauseous or had butterflies in your stomach? This is because the GI tract is sensitive to emotions, which go hand in hand with the hormones that are regulated by the brain.³ The connection goes both ways since over 90% of serotonin (the happy hormone) is produced in the gut. Therefore, if your gut is inflamed from an unhealthy diet, say goodbye to serotonin and hello to mood swings, anxiety, and depression!

If you’re interested to find out if you have a healthy gut, before you spend the copay on a very uncomfortable endoscopy or colonoscopy, see a registered dietitian who can assess whether your daily intake is helping or hurting you.

¹ http://dlife.com/type-3-diabetes/
² https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/metabolism-in-mind-new-insights-into-the-gut-brain-axis-spur-commercial-efforts-to-target-it/
³ http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection