Your gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome…the environment in your gut where billions of healthy probiotic bacteria thrive…is important for good health.
In fact, on Tuesday, I revealed how many chronic diseases—including Type II diabetes—start in the gut.
Today, I’m going to share a new study that looked at how your gut affects brain function.
Then, I’ll explain why taking a probiotic supplement ISN’T the answer. In fact, some research suggests that approach can actually CAUSE brain decline!
Let’s jump right in…
Gut diversity linked to better cognitive scores
For this new study published in the journal Neurology, researchers analyzed the probiotic bacteria present in the GI microbiomes of nearly 600 middle-aged participants. The participants also underwent a series of six cognitive tests.
It turns out, those with a greater diversity of probiotic bacteria in their gut performed better on the cognitive testing. Specifically, they did better on tests involving attention, flexibility, memory, and self-control.
The researchers said this study contributes to a growing body of evidence linking the gut with cognitive health. And that makes sense to me.
After all, the gut affects the brain through a well-known gut-brain pathway, where healthy bacteria in your gut send signals to activate immune system cells in your brain.
These cells “turn on” your body’s response to inflammation, the root cause of most chronic disease…including dementia, Alzheimer’s, Type II diabetes, and cancer.
Why probiotics DON’T make sense
Now, I know some people may see this kind of research and think they should take a probiotic supplement. But that’s not a good idea.
For one, probiotic supplements contain just one or two strains of random “good” bacteria.
But your gut is a complex ecosystem that contains anywhere from 300 to 1,000 different types of bacteria. And as this and other studies show, the general pattern of probiotic DIVERSITY in your gut is what matters most. Not whether your gut has one or two of those random strains!
Second, and perhaps most importantly, previous research actually links probiotic supplements to BRAIN FOG and a DECLINE in cognitive ability!
Remember, throughout your life, many factors influence the health of your microbiome—including birth conditions (i.e. whether were you born via vaginal birth or via c-section), diet, sanitation of living environment, and physical problems. Of course, antibiotic, opioid, and acid reflux drugs can also alter the microbiome.
And by artificially adding one or two specific strains of probiotics into the mix of your gut flora, you can upset this delicate balance and cause great harm.
It’s rather ironic, isn’t it?
Mainstream medical practitioners generally deride the use of natural approaches to treat health problems. But the few natural approaches and supplements they DO recommend — such as probiotics—don’t work. Or worse yet—can cause harm.
The best foods for your microbiome
Rather than taking a useless and potentially DANGEROUS probiotic supplement, I suggest you eat plenty of “prebiotic” foods that nourish the beneficial probiotic bacteria already present in your gut.
Top prebiotic foods include: Apples, asparagus, bananas, garlic, leeks, onions, and whole grains.
You can also eat fermented foods, which contain natural probiotics. These foods include: cheese, pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, and whole-fat, Greek-style yogurt.
As you’ll note, many of those prebiotic and probiotic foods are staples in the balanced Mediterranean-type diet, which can slash your risk of chronic disease.
So, add these foods to your grocery list (I recommend buying organic or locally whenever you can) and avoid processed, refined, or sugar-laden foods.
Lastly, there are many drug-free, cutting-edge approaches to protecting and restoring brain health—and fighting dementia and AD—as I outline in my Complete Alzheimer’s Fighting Protocol. Learn more about this comprehensive, online learning tool, or enroll today, by clicking here now!