The Power of our Gut
- Olivia Borer
- Sep 4, 2015
- 3 min read
Recently, I finished reading an insightful book, Brain Maker, which discussed the power of the gut-brain connection. I found this book so powerful in its message, and wanted to share some of the information that I found hidden within its pages.
Brain Maker delves into the gut-brain connection that is often overlooked by conventional medicine. The author, Dr. David Perlmutter, argues that healing and nourishing the bacteria in our gut has the power to aid in the recovery of numerous diseases, including autism, chronic inflammation, dementia, Alzheimer’s, obesity, and many others. (Side note – notice that I said aid in the recovery not heal. Dr. Perlmutter is very careful to specify the difference between the two.)
First, Dr. Perlmutter begins with a “Gut Check,” asking a series of questions that may determine whether or not certain events in our past may have influenced the integrity of our gut. He asked questions related to our birth method, current and past antibiotic use, depression systems, medications we are taking, and so much more.
Second, in Part I of Brain Maker, Dr. Perlmutter walks through the various aliments plaguing us today and how new research is showing that healing the gut is where to start for recovery, not medication.
In Part II, Dr. Perlmutter explains the toxins in our environment that can lead to a leaky gut. A leaky gut is common language for an impaired immune system that is unable to perform up to par, thereby leading to the diseases mentioned above. The toxins mentioned include fructose (anyone ever heard of high-fructose corn syrup??), gluten, antibiotics, the pill, NSAIDS, and environmental chemicals. These factors, along with many others, contribute to impaired gut function, which in turn can lead to the diseases mentioned above.
Lastly, in Part III, Dr. Perlmutter gives concrete steps for each one of us to take today in order to heal our gut and thus increase our overall wellness. One of the steps he listed was to start taking a probiotic, especially if we’ve used antibiotics in the past. (Another side note – antibiotics are often over-prescribed; however, for certain cases, they are completely necessary, which Dr. Perlmutter explains and understands).
Over the past few months, I have been reading more information and research about the importance of feeding and nurturing our good gut bacteria through the use probiotics. I started eating organic sauerkraut every morning as a way to start increasing my probiotic intake. However, after reading Brain Maker, I realized I needed to take it one step further. So today, I took the plunge and (following Dr. Perlmutter’s advice as to which probiotic strains to look for in a supplement) purchased a high-quality probiotic (aka not just the Walmart brand, which will probably do more harm than good) that I plan on consuming once daily for one month. I am anxious to see the results of this experiment.
Overall, I gained a breadth of information from reading Brain Maker. The new research that is being conducted on the brain-gut connection is amazing to say the least. I highly recommend reading it, as well as his previous book, Grain Brain, which discusses how the modern diet high in wheat, sugar, and processed carbs are harming the integrity of our brain.
Here are links to Dr. Perlmutter’s website and both of his books:
Website - http://www.drperlmutter.com/
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