Research Articles

 Educational only: Keep in mind that the system is really a networked system meaning that one system, say neurology can impact other systems such as endocrine, immunity etc. The gut contains 70% of the immune system and when immunity is triggered, it can seep into other systems, particularly the neurological. The gut/brain axis is well established and now they know that many neuropsychiatric conditions have origins the gut. Examples of this are Parkinson's disease or Autism, but also more common problems like depression, anxiety etc. There are several explanations that I will not go into but primarily, it is the immune responses that are occurring within the gut mostly due to a gut whose microbiome is out of balance.  Sleeping issues can be a telltale sign of some immune triggering, insomnia is one of those which in my case is due to histamine release, that is why anti-histamines tend to help me fall asleep. Histamine is a byproduct of immune activation.  The gut/brain ax...

 Disclaimer: Making sure that you know I am not a doctor which means I cannot provide a diagnosis or treatments. My opinions are my own and do not represent Donato's. The studies are pretty solid concerning the role of the gut to the brain, aka as the gut/brain axis. They know that many neuropsychiatric conditions are related to the gut, particularly what bacteria are growing too strongly (e.g. bad bacteria) and generally, not enough good bacteria are growing. In terms of neuropsychiatry, this would refer to Alzheimer's, dementia, depression, anxiety and autism.  The gut was once thought to be just a disposal vessel but now it is understood to be a very dynamic system that involves quite a few functions that mitigate to the rest of the body including the brain.  A large part of the immune response resides in the gut - they estimate this to be 70% of the immune system. Of course, with immunity, inflammation comes. Inflammation is really a byproduct of immune activation....

You can buy most of this at Kroger's, I listed the pictures below. The idea is that you are targeting the gut, the microbiome to be exact. I am not going to list out all the studies but they have discovered that the right bacteria in the gut can change a lot of things including metabolic, neurological, immune responses, weight gain and many other things.  Increasing the good bacteria such as bifidobacteria etc. can also suppress the bad bacteria which have been linked to numerous problems.  There are products that you can buy on Amazon and these will also support the microbiome by giving the nutrients they need.  Kroger's has the ones in the pictures below, you will find the Cleveland Kraut in the refrigerated section and so is the Kefir. Both of these are live foods meaning they contain the good bacteria. Sauerkraut as canned does not work since there are no live organisms.  You will have to experiment with the doses; I do a couple of tablespoons of the kraut and ju...

  Does SCFA impact immune and inflammatory pathways? Show thinking Yes, absolutely! Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) are major players in controlling immune and inflammatory pathways, both within the gut and systemically. This is one of the most significant and exciting areas of research on SCFAs. Here's how they exert their control: Interaction with G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs): GPR41 and GPR43: These are the most well-studied SCFA receptors, found on various cell types throughout the body, including immune cells (e.g., neutrophils, macrophages, T cells), gut epithelial cells, and adipocytes. When SCFAs (particularly acetate, propionate, and butyrate) bind to these receptors, they trigger intracellular signaling pathways that can influence immune cell function, cytokine production, and inflammatory responses. Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibition: Butyrate (and to a lesser extent propionate) are potent inhibitors of HDACs. HDACs are enzymes that modify histones, proteins aro...