September 14, 2022

In the last article, we talked about the connection between leaky gut and leaky brain; i.e. bad food damages the gut. Leaky Gut results in a Leaky brain that causes anxiety. Anxiety causes individuals to eat bad foods that are damaging to the gut resulting in a leaky gut and so on.

But it all starts in the gut with the bad food which means that healing a Leaky Brain starts by healing a Leaky Gut. 

What’s Involved?

First, we have to eliminate the factors causing leaky gut. A significant contributor to leaky gut is glyphosate or other herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides that attack the lining of the gut. The best way to do this is to opt for organic foods which have not been sprayed with these toxins.

It’s also important to eliminate other sources of gut dysbiosis. These include but are not limited to:

  • Gluten for individuals who do not tolerate it well

  • Drinking alcohol in excess or for some people even in limited quantities as it may damage both the gut and the brain.

  • Eliminating sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup, which is added to almost all processed foods 

  • Ignoring bacterial and viral infections 

  • High levels of stress

The next step is to eat foods that are rich in nutrients that support the gut and the brain. In general, these include clean foods which are defined as 100% grass-fed, organic, minimally processed, and wild-caught.

Additionally,

  • Taking probiotics

  • Eating  foods to keep the gut balanced such as essential fatty acids, which are good for the brain, including avocado, coconut oil, flaxseed, hemp seed, oily fish, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts

  • Making Fitness a priority

  • Getting quality sleep

  • Reducing psychological and emotional stress through exercise, emotional freedom tapping (EFT) dialectical behavioral therapy ( DBT), meditation/chanting

  • Supplements that can help repair the BBB, (Always seek the help of an integrative medical practitioner)

    • Acetyl L-Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, and Alpha-GPC

    • Astaxanthin

    • Apigenin

    • B12-B6-Folate Mix

    • Berberine

    • Type I and III Collagen

    • Curcumin

    • Vitamin D3 plus K

    • Fish Oil, Ginseng, Goji Fruit

    • Magnesium for bowel support

    • Melatonin for sleep 

    • Methylene Blue

    • Oxaloacetate

    • Progesterone

    • Pterostilbene

    • Resveratrol

    • Selenium (from Brazil nuts) 

Therapeutic medications that repair the BBB, like:

  • Low Dose Naltrexone to support the immune system (requires a prescription from your MD).

 

 

References

    1.    Anyia, A. (2018). Leaky brain: Signs, symptoms, causes, treatments and more. Retrieved from Consumer Health Digest at https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/brain-health/leaky-brain.html

    2.    Ball, K. (2018). Could your leaky gut be causing a leaky brain? Retrieved from Mr Vitamins at https://www.mrvitamins.com.au/news/digestion/could-your-leaky-gut-be-causing-a-leaky-brain/

    3.    Fasano, A. Zonulin, regulation of tight junctions, and autoimmune diseases https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384703/

    4.    Cohen, J. (2017, October). What is the blood-brain barrier? Causes and tests for a leaky brain. Retrieved from Self-Hacked at https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/blood-brain-barrier-causes-tests-leaky-brain/

    5.    Kent, J. (n.d.) 7 Tips for reversing leaky brain syndrome. Retrieved from Mind Body Network at https://mindbodynetwork.com/article/7-tips-for-reversing-leaky-brain-syndrome

    6.    Lopez-Ramirez, M. A., Wu, D., Pryce G.,…Romero, I. A. (2014). MicroRNA-155 negatively affects blood-brain barrier function during neuroinflammation. The FASEB Journal, DOI: 10.1096/fj.13-248880

    7.    Perlmutter, D. (2018). What on earth is a leaky brain? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.drperlmutter.com/leaky-brain/

    8.    What is the Gut-Brain Axis? Retrieved from https://empoweredsustenance.com/gut-brain-axis/

    9.    Signs you might have a leaky brain. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20800/signs-you-might-have-a-leaky-brain-what-t