Download The effect of Nutrition on the brain

THE EFFECT OF
NUTRITION ON THE BRAIN
“All disease begins in the gut.” Hippocrates
HOW DO I KNOW THIS STUFF?

A full-service neurologically based chiropractic and behavioral health clinic

Specialize in intervention methods for neurological and psychological disorders
BRAIN BOOSTERS™
The Brain Boosters™ program combines the use of three core
therapies:
Neurofeedback therapy: Re-trains the brain with scientific and noninvasive tools; allows the brain to send and receive messages
correctly.
Nutrition based therapies: Reduces or minimizes toxicity in the body
built up from improper processing of nutrients, environmental factors,
antibiotics, and other toxins ingested.
Behavior therapy: Social skills development, behavior management,
and emotional awareness are important to function in the social world.
Interactive and engaging tools are used throughout the session.
Full implementation of the Brain Boosters™ program results in better
functioning to meet the demands of daily life-for kids and adults!
IS IT THE CORRECT DIAGNOSIS?
SCHOOL AGED STUDENT
• Phone calls or e-mails couple times per week from teacher
• Never with mean or defiant intent, just busy
• Needs constant reminders to stay in his seat, raise his hand to talk, etc.
• When he gets up everyone knows about it
• Frustrated with daily tasks-so smart just doesn’t want to do the work
• Hard to rope him back in
• He’s just busy, busy, busy…..
• At home: argumentative, wants grilled cheese and pasta all the time, frustrated with
tedious tasks, irritable, sensory seeking
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE GUT
• Often referred to as “second brain.”
• It’s own nervous system-network of 100 million neurons in the gut wall
• Can continue to function even when vagus nerve (main conduit between the gut and the
brain) is severed
• Single celled organisms-most bacteria-outnumber our own cells 10-1.
• The gut is home to most of the bacteria in our body
• Brain chemistry, behavioral phenomena, pain perception, and how the stress system
responds are all linked to the bacteria in the gut
• Two way street: tweaking the balance in the gut can influence the brain and the brain can
influence gut response (even mild stress can make one more vulnerable to infectious
disease)
BACKGROUND ON THE GUT
• The gut of a fetus is sterile
• At birth it is immunized with the mother’s normal bacteria
• The gut bacteria regulates digestion and metabolism; programs body’s
immune system.
• Produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate
physiological and mental processes such as:
• Learning
• Memory
• Mood
Gut bacteria produces 95% of the body’s supply of
serotonin (a neurotransmitter which influences mood
and gastrointestinal activity).
WHAT IMPACTS THE GUT?
Dysbiosis occurs when the bad bacteria take over. This usually happens when the body is unable to break down
certain nutrients and it causes a chronic imbalance of the good and bad bacteria. There are several causes of
dysbiosis:

Alcohol: It is a yeast by-product; increases the risk of yeast overgrowth

Antibiotics: Of course there are times it is necessary to use an antibiotic. Excessive use of antibiotics results
in dysbiosis. Includes antibiotics in foods (beef, poultry, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, etc)

Anti-inflammatory drugs: (aspirin, Advil) inhibits the growth of the good bacteria. This can result in a
bacterial imbalance.

Diet:
 A diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar can cause an overgrowth of yeast and fungus.
 Starches (including grains, sugary fruit, lactose, and starchy vegetables) get broken down as sugar.

Elevated hormone levels: Caused by birth control, infertility drugs/treatment, pregnancy, steroids, and
other hormone
elevating drugs can cause an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in the gut.
Chronic stress also alters
hormone levels.

Prescription Drugs: Meant to be used with specific medical events but were not designed to be used for long periods of
time. When people are on prescription drugs, the negative side effects of the drug are compounding and accumulate.

Decrease in Immune Function: Stress, sugar, lack of sleep, autoimmune disorders, etc.
SENSITIVITY VS. ALLERGY
• Estimated that 18 million Americans have a sensitivity-6 times more
than the number with an allergy
• Those with a sensitivity may experience some of the same symptoms
without the attack on the intestinal wall.
• An allergy, otherwise known as celiac disease, causes biological
changes that comes before the onset of many autoimmune diseases.
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
• Abdominal pain and distension
• Skin irritations/rash
• Bloating
• Migraines-especially if onset is
within a couple hours of eating
• Constipation
• Acid Reflux
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Joint Pain-often mistaken for
rheumatoid arthritis
WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE AT SCHOOL
GLUTEN AND BEHAVIOR
Withdrawing
Low Motivation
GLUTEN AND BEHAVIOR
• Irritability
• Disorganization
• Impulsivity
• Low or lack of
motivation
• Inability to
concentrate
• What dx???
GLUTEN AND BEHAVIOR
• Gluten and casein can be metabolized in the form of an opiate
• What is an opiate?......
• Kids may be getting HIGH off of gluten and casein
• Research supports it may account for repetitive movements, spinning,
head-banging, fixation on certain objects, withdrawal, difficulty with
changes in schedule or environment
• What dx?
OTHER MOOD DISORDERS
• Schizophrenia
• Linked to a gluten sensitivity since 1960s
• Opiate response similar to Autism
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
DYSBIOSIS/CANDIDA
• AD(H)D
•
• Autism Spectrum Asperger's
•
Syndrome
•
• Bipolar Disorder
•
• Celiac Disease
•
• Chronic Fatigue
•
• Depression
• Digestive Disorders
• Down Syndrome
• Dysautonomia (malfunction of the
nervous system)
Dyspraxia
Ear Infections
Fibromyalgia
Immune Deficiencies
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Tourette & Tic Disorder
FOODS THEY CRAVE…..
….USUALLY THE ONES TO AVOID
ADDICTED LIKE A DRUG ADDICT
(REMEMBER THE OPIATE EFFECT)
WHAT DO WE DO?
• Boost immune system - supplementation
• Avoid stimulants (caffeine, sugar, etc.)
• Improve digestion – enzymes and probiotics
• Improve sleep – routines and dark
• Quiet time – reading, rest, (no video games, e-readers, etc.)
• ESTABLISHING HABITS FOR THE FUTURE….
WHAT TO DO…..
AFOA – Always Focus On Adding
- Vegetables first
- Grazing – nuts
- Protein, protein, protein
- Decrease sugar….insulin ride…..
- Digestive enzymes
- Probiotics (25 billion)
- Vitamins
- Fish oils (omega 3 only)
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
• Favorite foods
• Behavior after eating
• Sleep
• Bathroom habits
• Stimulation
• Pain behaviors
• Emotional “rollercoaster”
REMEMBER: SCHOOL AGED STUDENT
• Leader in the classroom
• “I’m so glad he’s in my class. He really helps my students who have special needs. He
takes the initiative but when he needs to pull it back in, he knows. That’s a tricky thing to
understand and he’s got it.” –teacher at family night this school year
• “I have to admit I didn’t believe in what you do, I thought it was all voo doo. But I see it, I
notice a difference in him; on the soccer field, it’s like it’s just so clear” –parent of a
teammate
• At home: finishes weekly spelling homework the day he gets it independently, responds
immediately to requests and direction, helps out without being asked, handwriting is
legible, eats all foods without complaint; verbalizes how different food makes him feel
ISABEL’S PLUG