What is Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS)?

Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) is a collection of symptoms believed to be caused by poor digestive health and affects the brain. The syndrome was first introduced by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Dr. Campbell-McBride has a degree in medicine and postgraduate degrees in human nutrition and neurology. She believes that poor diet and an unhealthy gut lead to serious conditions, but by making dietary changes patients can see notable improvements in conditions such as hyperactivity and autism.

GAPS Theories
Conditions such as dyslexia, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and dyspraxia frequently overlap. These psychiatric and neurological conditions may have a common root cause: GAPS. GAPS may begin in children within the first days of their lives. Parents, particularly mothers, pass on a unique gut microflora to babies. Microflora are bacteria in the intestinal tract. The right balance of bacteria creates a healthy gut. If bad bacteria overgrows, it affects people both physically and mentally. When mothers breastfeed, their babies develop natural microflora in the gut. Babies who are bottle fed have completely different microflora. Even a mother who breastfeeds her babies but was not breastfed herself can pass on a compromised gut microflora to her children, which predisposes babies to future health complications. As children age, they are vaccinated and generally take antibiotics, which destroys healthy gut microflora. Antibiotics kill all bacteria, not just the bacteria that cause infections. Without a healthy balance of microflora in the gut, around 500 pathogenic and opportunistic microbes are free to grow out of control in the intestinal tract. This growth is further fueled by diets comprised of unhealthy processed foods.

Eating a poor diet means that women have signs of abnormal gut flora by the time they are ready to have children. Many mothers-to-be have issues such as digestive abnormalities, chronic fatigue, skin problems, allergies, and auto-immunity. Almost all women who have psychiatric and neurological conditions demonstrate these signs of abnormal gut flora, also called gut dysbiosis.

GAPS Symptoms
People with GAPS and abnormal gut flora are likely to experience problems such as allergies, eczema, digestive issues, and asthma. Over time, their problems can develop into neurological and psychiatric disorders. Each individual will experience unique signs and symptoms due to the differences in microflora and bacteria, viruses and fungi that grow in their body.

Common bacteria groups found in the gut of people with GAPS are yeasts and Clostridia family. These microbes digest food, resulting in large amounts of toxins. The toxins get into the bloodstream and eventually end up in the brain, where they cross the blood-brain barrier.

The specific toxins that reach the brain affect the resulting symptoms and problems people experience. It is this link between the microbes in the gut, the resulting toxins and the toxic effects on the brain that led to the naming of GAPS. People with GAPS may show symptoms associated with disorders such as:

• Obsessive-Compulsive disorder
• Autism
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Allergies
• Crohn's disease
• Asthma
• Dyslexia
• Schizophrenia
• Depression
• Eczema

GAPS Treatment
Dr. Campbell-McBride recommends testing all children and adults with psychiatric or neurological disorders for abnormal gut flora. Using diet and probiotic supplementation to balance the gut microflora may treat GAPS. Following a GAPS diet is a natural treatment for the syndrome. Dr. Campbell-McBride worked with hundreds of neurological and psychiatric patients, both children and adults, before coining the term GAPS in 2004.

How to Treat MRSA & MRSA Recovery

What is MRSA?
MRSA is short for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Commonly known as Staph, this microbes is a type that causes infection in many parts of the body. Most of the time Staph infection is not serious, but this type of infection can turn deadly if not treated. MRSA is a mutated strain of Staphylococcus aureus that has developed genes that allow it to resist disinfectants and antibiotics, making it a serious health threat. The mutation is the result of excessive use of antibiotics and disinfectants. Microbes replicate quickly. As new generations grow and survive after exposure to antibiotics, they will pass along resistant genes to the next generation and so on. Eventually there is a strain of microbes that is completely resistant to these antibiotics.

What are some common symptoms of MRSA?
The symptoms of MRSA are wide and varied. Symptoms include: nose sores, blisters that may look like insect bites, boils that may look like spider bites, fluid, blood or pus-filled boils, itchy skin or nose, low-grade fever, fatigue, body aches, cuts that become infected easily or often, red spots or various types of rashes, diaper rash, chest cold, jaw pain, ear pain, sinus infection, mastitis (breast infection in nursing mothers), red, warm, swollen or painful area on the skin, and urinary tract infection. As you can clearly see, MRSA symptoms can often be confused with other infections and diseases. If experiencing any of the before-mentioned symptoms on a regular basis, it is a good idea to get a check-up for MRSA.

In addition to these, there are other symptoms that may occur. The following may indicate some serious issues and a lethal level of MRSA: pain or lumps under the skin, red streaks on the skin near an old or new wound, signs of infection on or near a surgical site, low or high fever, low blood pressure, chills, malaise, chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches, rash, vomiting, vision change, and dizziness. These may be signals of significant infection and you should immediately seek out medical attention.

Who is at risk for MRSA?
The risk factor of MRSA infection for certain groups of people are higher than others. These groups include the elderly, infant health care workers, law enforcement officers, children the chronically ill Immune compromised lactating mothers, surgical patients, those with high stress lifestyles, drug addicts, prisoners, homeless, athletes, and surfers.

How can MRSA be prevented?
The best way to prevent MRSA is by living a healthy lifestyle along with good hygiene. Maintaining healthy habits will help prevent MRSA, including daily exercise, eating right, and a balanced diet. Washing hands after every meal and bathroom visit will help prevent an infection. Since MRSA is common in hospitals, avoiding elective surgeries will help as well.

Six steps to treating MRSA
Contracting MRSA does not mean life is over. The infection is treatable, and here are some steps to help.

1. Find an infectious disease doctor. These doctors are trained in the treatment of infections like MRSA. A specialist will be able to recommend steps a regular doctor may not even know about.
2. Use natural Antibiotics. These antibiotics will help work with your body to heal the MRSA infection. A person can take these along with pharmaceuticals, but make sure to ask a doctor before hand.
3. A change of diet. Eating healthy may not be enough. Contracting a infection like MRSA means that there are choices a person needs to make. Certain foods and diet plans will help with the infection.
4. Take a strong probitoic. Not recommended until after a person is in recovery, a quality probiotic can replace the good baceteria in the gut that is typically killed off by multiple antibiotic treatments and will help fight off future MRSA infection. A probiotic supplement is a helpful bacterium that can be used to fight off the bad bacteria that are present in the MRCA infection. Probotics are often added to food, though the bacteria can also be a natural part of fruit, vegetables, and other items.
5. Change of lifestyle. This is a step that hits all parts of life. The changes can be small or they can be large. These include washing hands and not taking any type of drug, including antibiotics and over the counter medication.
6. Use Herbal Supplements. Since drugs are not something that can be consumed, herbal supplements will help fill the gap. Most vitamins should come from the change of diet but sometimes a supplement is needed to help a body out.

How Gut Microbes May Affect the Brain

The human gut holds about 100 trillion bacteria, and many of these are beneficial strains that keep the intestines healthy and assist with nutrient absorption. These microbes also produce many substances on their own, including not only vitamins but also serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of relaxation and contentment. In fact, the gut actually contains 95 percent of the body’s serotonin, and recent studies have begun to shed some light on the interplay between the microbial make-up in your digestive tract and mental health as well as brain development. Here’s a look at what we know about this connection so far.

Recent Studies
One study, published in Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, found that animals fed probiotics for a few weeks had lower levels of stress and anxiety and improved mood. Another study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, found that brain development is altered when certain types of beneficial bacteria are lacking in the gut early in life and that these microbes help to regulate the brain’s serotonin levels. While these studies were performed on animals rather than people, they’re groundbreaking because they expose a gut-brain connection that scientists had long suspected, but had yet to prove. Now, researchers are trying to pinpoint which bacterial strains have the greatest effect on the human brain and exactly how this interaction occurs. Already, a study performed at UCLA showed that participants who ate probiotic yogurt were less affected by exposure to negative stimuli. These studies all point to gut health as essential in child development as well as adult mental well-being, strongly supporting the use of a raw, fermented probiotic supplement throughout the course of one’s life.

Scientists in Sweden and Singapore are looking at behavior and gene expression in mice with and without normal gut bacteria. They’ve found that mice without healthy levels of beneficial microbes during early development engage in more risky behavior and are more hyperactive as adults compared to the mice that had normal gut bacteria. When germ-free mice were given normal microbes early in life, they developed normally, but when they were given the probiotics as adults, their behavior remained unchanged, suggesting that probiotic supplementation is critical in the early, formative years. After looking at the genes of these mice, scientists found signaling pathways affected by the presence and absence of these gut microbes; when these bacteria were present early in life, they played a crucial role in brain development. While the scientists say that these bacteria play an important role in the function of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, they also say that it’s too early at this point to draw conclusions about the role of probiotics on the brains of humans.

Conclusions
With the numerous documented benefits of probiotics on many aspects of health in the gut and around the body, it’s definitely not too early to recommend the use of probiotics for anyone concerned about their physical and mental health. The connection between the gut and the brain is already very clear from a practical standpoint. Instead of waiting for years to see the results of a study, probiotics can be taken right away to improve overall health and digestion and, most likely, mood and cognitive function.

To encourage the growth of good gut bacteria, consumers should get plenty of probiotic foods that contain plenty of soluble fiber, such as the pulp of fruits and lots of green leafy vegetables (kale, chard, spinach, etc). Processed sugars and grains, the preferred food of candida, should be avoided as much as possible if not eliminated. Probiotic foods, such as unpasteurized sauerkraut and kimchi, work well for many people who enjoy their unique flavors and have the time to make them, but many consumers do best with a high-quality probiotic supplement. Since scientists don’t know yet which strains of bacteria contribute the most to mental health, a comprehensive mixture of strains is the best bet for people interested in the brain benefits of probiotics.

Your Gut and Your Immune System

Keeping a healthy, strong immune system is crucial to optimal health. Our immune system is our key defense against infection and disease, especially as we age. Our modern diets are seriously lacking the beneficial bacteria and flora that the gut needs in order to stay balanced.

Regular use of quality probiotics improves the intestine’s immunologic barrier, which fortifies the body’s protection against pathogens. It also helps to balance our gut bacteria, which can be sent off balance by stress, inflammation, surgery or injury, illness, age or antibiotics. Notice the prefix in that word: “anti.” Antibiotics kill both bad and good bacteria, so it is vital to rebalance it when taking this medication.

Right now, probiotic use is being clinically shown to improve intestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colitis and Crohn’s disease (CD). Probiotic bacteria produce metabolites, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), that demonstrate powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This gives great hope to those people suffering from these intestinal diseases, because traditional medical treatments are somewhat disappointing. In these conditions, it is thought that the intestines become inflamed due to the body’s immune reaction against it own intestinal tissue. This inflammatory response can be triggered by a pathogen or an antigen (allergy).

Seventy percent of the body’s natural immune defenses are found in the gut, so it makes sense to supplement with a probiotic featuring beneficial digestive enzymes in order to strengthen our body’s defense systems. In fact, you have ten times more gut bacteria than you do human body cells. CLA has also been demonstrated to have an effect on our T cells, which are necessary for fighting off infections. Why supplement with a probiotic if there are already thousands of species of microorganisms in the gut? Many of these microorganisms are transient, and must be replaced on a regular basis. This is crucial not only for optimal health, but especially for those suffering from intestinal inflammation diseases. For these people, probiotic bacteria can normalize gut mucosal dysfunction, alleviate inflammation and reduce hypersensitivity reactions.

Recent lab studies have shown that when probiotic diversity in the gut was increased, the gut pathology decreased. This shows us that taking probiotics and eating foods that encourage these healthy bacteria does help to improve our digestive health. Additionally, studies have shown promise in using CLA to hinder the growth of tumors in colon tissues.

There are ways that we can help support the bacteria in our gut and achieve optimal health. We should eat plenty of prebiotics, which are foods that actually feed the bacteria in your gut. These are:

• Fermented dairy, such as kefir and yogurt
• Fruits, such as cherries, bananas and berries
• Vegetables, such as kale, chard, garlic, onions, leeks, chicory, asparagus and artichokes
• Whole grains, such as wheat, barley and oatmeal (they must be whole grains)

Eat plenty of foods that contain probiotics, which will also help support your gut bacteria. These are:

• Cheeses, cottage cheese and buttermilk
• Soy products, such as miso and tempeh
• Sauerkraut and kimchi
• A quality, raw and fermented probiotic containing the entire lactobacillus family, the saccharomyces and the rhodopseudomonas strains
• Take a quality blend of vitamins, enzymes and antioxidant

When eating fermented vegetables, make sure that they are unpasteurized, as this process kills the beneficial bacteria. Make sure to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and eat plenty of fiber to keep things in your gut moving. It is still prudent to take a quality probiotic supplement that provides a diverse and broad spectrum bacterial count.

As you can see, the regular use of probiotics can feed our immune systems as well as greatly alleviate the body’s responses that cause inflammatory intestinal conditions. Supplementing with probiotics can give health and hope. By making changes today, you can start strengthening your immune system and have a healthier gut.

Probiotics for Children

Probiotics support vitality by improving digestive health, assisting nutrient absorption and helping guard against illness and infection. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to the benefits children receive from probiotics, through either supplements or fermented food and drink. Allergies, digestive problems, colic and acne are all often traced to gut dysbiosis and can be improved through probiotic supplementation. The following will discuss what parents should consider when choosing a dependable probiotic for their children.

Specific Uses
Certain disorders and health problems have been the focus of probiotic research. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, have been shown to respond best to mixtures of good bacteria rather than single strains. Children’s diarrhea is best treated by either Lactobacillus rhamnosus or a mix of strains. Researchers found Lactobacillus reuteri to be best for reducing colic in babies. For replenishment after a course of antibiotics, Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG work best. Certain strains, such as Lacobacillus casei DN-114001, support immunity against colds and respiratory illness.

Single Strains or Mixtures?
Raw, naturally fermented foods and drinks contain numerous species of good bacteria, but many probiotic supplements contain single strains. The most commonly supplemented probiotics are also among the most heavily researched, making supplements containing them a good bet for positive results. Many experts, however, believe that a mixture of strains is likely to produce superior benefits. As a diverse colony, the combined power of similar positive strains provides additional protection against bad gut bacteria and illness. For this reason, seek out a quality probiotic with multiple strains of beneficial bacteria.

Freshness and Shelf-Life
Some probiotic supplements require refrigeration and will become ineffective if left out at room temperature for long periods. To ensure freshness at time of purchase, shoppers should look for storage information on the packaging of probiotic supplements to make sure that storage requirements have been met at the store. Online retailers of probiotics should inform consumers clearly about products’ refrigeration requirements. For ease of use, many consumers prefer probiotics that can be stored at room temperature as these supplements can be bought online without concerns about spoilage during transport.

Ease of Use
When children take supplements, ease of use is essential to consider. Because capsules are unbearable for some kids, liquid supplements are preferable. Liquid probiotics can be mixed with juice or other beverages to mask the taste, making them undetectable to your child.

All-Natural Products
Some products combine diverse colonies of good bacteria with a raw, fermented substrate for dramatic benefits. Pro EM•1 Probiotic is an example of this, supplying individuals with diverse probiotics and a wide range of natural vitamins and enzymes in liquid form. Many children with gut issues suffer from certain food intolerance; this makes it important to choose a supplement free of common food allergens, such as wheat, gluten, dairy, nuts and soy.

With the recent FDA ban on BPA in packaging for children's consumable products, be mindful of finding a probiotic that is packaged in a BPA-free bottle. PET bottles (the same type of bottle as a soda bottle) are BPA-free. Glass is also BPA-free.

Comprehensive Formula
As with any type of supplement, certain products will be more reliable than others for improving children’s health. A wholesome, comprehensive probiotic contributes to optimal health with non-genetically modified beneficial bacteria, toxin-removing phototrophic bacteria and lack of preservatives or animal products. To support the probiotic population in a child’s gut, the child’s diet should include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, as beneficial bacteria thrive on soluble fiber. At the same time, high-sugar foods should be restricted, as simple carbohydrates are preferred by harmful yeasts that will crowd out beneficial microorganisms if allowed to proliferate. In addition, kids should drink plenty of purified water to keep the intestines well-hydrated, and exercise should be performed regularly to support blood flow to the intestines. With the combination of a high-quality, comprehensive probiotic supplement and a wholesome lifestyle, children can enjoy improved immunity, better mood and stronger physical and mental development.

The (Amazing) Influence Gut Flora Has Over Your Health

Recent science publications (Science Daily, Nutrition in Clinical Practice, etc.) have highlighted the importance of certain microorganisms or “gut flora” to an individual’s overall health. These tiny creatures affect everything from the absorption of nutrients, to brain development & function, to our immune system & weight and even to our energy levels. In fact, these studies have linked certain nutrition-related illnesses – both malnutrition and obesity – to the imbalance of gut flora, suggesting that a healthy gut ecosystem not only improves life quality, but can also stave off disease.

What is Gut Flora?
Gut flora refers to the microbes that dwell in the human digestive system. There are both beneficial gut flora and abnormal flora, and it is ideal to keep an 85:15% breakdown between the two. Good health depends on a digestive environment that fosters the good flora and keeps the abnormal flora in check. The beneficial gut flora combat pathogens and toxins, while also aiding in the breakdown of organic materials, allowing the human body to absorb nutrients and produce energy.

There are three major forms of gut flora, Eukarya, Bacteria, and Achaea, but these microbes are surprisingly diverse and complex… and it is nothing less than amazing how the human body interacts with these tiny beneficial gut organisms. From as early as birth, these microbes influence both mental and physical development. In fact, studies have found that vaginal communities of microorganisms shift in order to introduce certain beneficial gut flora to the infant as it passes through the birth canal. For this reason, it is believed that some caesarian births may result in a less balanced, troublesome digestive tract that could lead to larger health issues. Likewise, breast milk is thought to help a child’s stomach control abnormal gut flora by introducing beneficial microorganisms in the milk. Studies are currently underway that test a theory that children with imbalanced gut flora have a higher rate of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), dyslexia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. If this is the case, it will be clear that our gut flora directly influence our brain development in a very real and profound way. The continued study of our intestinal gut flora will likely have implications to a wide range of neurological, psychological, and autoimmune disorders, and may be particularly important in regards to childhood health and pregnancy.

How do you foster a good gut flora ecosystem?
There are several simple ways you can promote a balance gut flora environment for good health.

• Regularly “re-seed” you guts flora by consuming fermented or cultured foods such as yogurts and fermented vegetables (kimchee, pickles, etc.) Consider fermenting your own foods at home in order to eliminate unwanted preservatives.
• Enhance your gut flora ecosystem with a daily serving of a high quality gluten free probiotic.
• Consume whole foods and avoid or eliminate the consumption of processed foods.
• Do not take antibiotics unless strongly urged by your physician.
• If you are pregnant, place a high rate of importance on your digestive health and incorporate a gentle prenatal probiotic cleanse into your daily regimen.

The Dangers Of Processed Sugars

Americans have an addiction to sugar. On average, Americans consume an estimated 156 pounds of sugar per year. It’s not only found in candies, baked goods and other confections but also in the most unlikely of places. Canned vegetables, condiments, salad dressings, pastas, gravies, even chicken stock and other foods that don’t taste distinctly sweet at all are often loaded with the substance to enhance flavor. This is especially true with “low fat” foods, which are loaded with sugar in the place of fat. Given the ubiquity of sugar in the modern industrialized diet, it can be a challenge to get away from. However, the need to do so has become painfully obvious. Refined sugar is incredibly destructive to the human body and contributes to many of the most common diseases of modern times.

Sugar Feeds Cancer Cells
It’s widely known that consumption of refined sugar can promote cancer by causing chronic inflammation and obesity, but did you know that once you have cancer, it actually serves as fuel for the errant cells? Cancerous cells grow much faster than normal cells, approximately eight times faster, and this process requires considerable amounts of sugar for energy. Take away the sugar and the cancer will starve and become weak. Because people typically have cancer long before they are diagnosed, it’s better to simply avoid it at all costs. Those snack cakes might be tasty, but are they really worth your life?

Cold and Flu and Reduced Immunity
Each year, right around cold and flu season, the public is bombarded with advertisements reminding them to get their flu shot and alerting them to great deals on tissues and cough remedies. Have you ever looked at the ingredients on these cough remedies? Most are loaded with sugar. Meanwhile, nobody seems to question why these problems are so common in the first place. It is not a natural thing to get sick every year without fail, and the fact that it does happen means something is very wrong with society’s collective health. Science has revealed in recent years that sugar may be the cause. Sugar has a direct suppressant effect on the immune system that lasts for as long as five hours after consumption. When you consider how much time sugar-eaters spend in public with one another, it’s easy to see why these yearly epidemics happen. Eating sugar is tantamount to laying out the welcome mat for viruses!

Digestive Diseases
Digestive problems have become one of the most common complaints of Americans in the last few decades and nearly all of them can be traced to an unhealthy, sugar-laden diet. The intestines are home to hundreds of different species of yeast and bacteria, some good and some bad. Many of the harmful microorganisms thrive on sugar, so if you consume a diet high in refined sugar, you are helping them crowd out the good yeasts and bacteria. When harmful organisms overwhelm your body, a variety of illnesses can result.

Digestive disorders aren’t the only things that can be caused by dysbiosis, however. Secondary problems like nutritional deficiencies, obesity, chronic fatigue and mood disorders are also common results. Good bacteria consume soluble fiber from fruits and vegetables and turn them into valuable vitamins, especially those of the B group. This particular vitamin group is essential for nervous system health and maintenance, energy production, metabolic support and creating mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin. Immune insufficiency may also be caused by a poor bacterial balance in the gut. Good bacteria act as guardians of the immune system, protecting it from the bad microorganisms and teaching it to recognize true threats.

Anyone who wishes to avoid detrimental effects on their health and well-being is advised to give up refined sugars and processed carbohydrates in all of their forms. These include corn syrups, evaporated cane juice, pasteurized honey, white flours and anything with ‘sugar’, 'cane' in its name and/or ends is “ose”. Although giving up these things promotes good health, it may not always be enough. If you’ve been eating a lot of sugar, your populations of beneficial gut bacteria need to be brought back into balance. For this, fermented foods or a high-quality probiotic supplement and are recommended. And be sure to choose a wheat and soy free Probiotic that contains several bacteria strains for optimal results.

Theories of Antibiotics and Probiotics

The theory behind probiotics is to use lots of beneficial microorganisms to out-compete pathogenic microbes for food sources, thereby starving the pathogens.

The objective of antibiotic use is to quickly kill the pathogenic microbes in the body to prevent further illness or death. The problem with this approach is that all the microbes are killed, leaving the body susceptible to bacterial infection. Extended use of antibiotics also leads to severe digestive problems including chronic constipation, diverticulosis, and a host of other problems. Antibiotics are helpful when there are severe cases of microbial infection. However, their use should always be followed up with the use of a probiotic to recolonize the gut.

Introduction

We'd like to make use of this space to expand on information relating to digestion. It would be great to get some discussions going on here that relate to probiotics and health. From time to time, when we find some relative information here, we'll post articles that relate to this field. Please also send links to articles when you find them if you think they'd be helpful to our readers.

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EM America