Page 25 - Dainfern Precinct Living 3 2021

HEALTH & WELLNESS

A healthy, properly-

functioning blood-

brain barrier is critical

for optimal brain and

mental health.

he blood-brain barrier is are likely have a leaky blood-brain In 2006, researchers found that
a protective shield that barrier. gluten clearly increases zonulin and
surrounds your brain. It contributes to ‘leaky gut’ and ‘leaky
acts as a gatekeeper and The good news is that even though brain’, resulting in neuro-inflammation
filter, allowing beneficial the blood-brain barrier can break and altered cognitive function.
Tnutrients to cross down and become leaky, it can also
over into your brain, while keeping be fixed! You can repair it if you give Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, author
unwanted molecules out. it what it needs to heal. of Grain Brain and Brain Maker,
explains: “Not only is there increased
But in his book Why Isn’t My Brain Here are nine strategies that can gut permeability when the gut is
Working? Dr Datis Kharrazian help. They’ve been proven to help exposed to gliadin, a protein found
explains that the blood-brain barrier repair and support the blood brain in gluten, but in fact the blood-
can break down and become ‘leaky’. barrier and, together, they can help brain barrier also becomes more
This allows harmful substances to you reduce neuro-inflammation, heal permeable in response to gliadin
enter your brain, contributing to brain your ‘leaky brain’, and overcome your exposure.”
inflammation, which has been shown mental health challenges.
to cause cognitive problems and 3. DRINK COFFEE
mental illness. 1. HEAL YOUR GUT Coffee and caffeine are excellent
It has become increasing clear that for brain health. Studies show that
Hyper-permeability of the blood- your gut bacteria directly affect the caffeine protects against Alzheimer’s
brain barrier and neuro-inflammation health of your blood-brain barrier. disease and Parkinson’s disease by
have been linked to a number of And manipulating your gut bacteria, keeping the blood-brain barrier intact,
different brain and mental health and increasing the amount of good and protecting against blood-brain
problems and symptoms, including bacteria in your digestive system, barrier dysfunction and leakage.
depression, anxiety, cognitive can help improve the integrity of your
impairment, brain fog, Alzheimer’s blood-brain barrier and heal your Coffee and caffeine can disrupt
disease, Parkinson’s disease, leaky brain. Eating more prebiotic sleep, though, so make sure you
headaches, migraines, chronic fibre and resistant starch, taking a don’t drink it late in the day. (It’s
fatigue syndrome, attention deficit high-quality probiotic, and eating important to note that some people
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and fermented foods on a regular basis simply can’t tolerate coffee. This is
schizophrenia. can increase the amount of good because most coffee contains low
bacteria in your gut. levels of mycotoxins, which are toxic
A number of factors contribute to metabolites produced by mould).
a ‘leaky brain’, including: 2. AVOID GLUTEN
• Systemic inflammation Avoiding gluten is necessary for
• Oxidative stress optimal brain and mental health.
• Autoimmune disease It’s recommended that if you
• Chronic psychological stress struggle with a chronic brain or
• Infections mental illness, you should follow
• Head trauma a strict gluten-free diet for at least
• Poor diet and food additives 30 days and see how you feel.
• Intestinal permeability (leaky gut You’ll likely feel better.
syndrome)
• Disrupted circadian rhythm One main reason for this is because
• Excess alcohol consumption gluten has been shown to disrupt
• Environmental toxins and heavy the blood-brain barrier by elevating
metal. ‘zonulin’. Zonulin is a protein in your
body that increases the permeability Drink coffee
Needless to say, these things are of the intestinal barrier and blood- for brain
very common today, so many people brain barrier. health

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