Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Even if you have not been exposed to the Coronavirus, you may have some level of immunity to it. Immunologists are trying to decipher what exactly this means but it’s important to understand what’s going on inside of your body, especially with your T-cells.
And just like that, we are ending one season and transitioning into another, which means it is fall allergy time for so many people. We’re going to focus on what you can do to support your immune system and respiratory system.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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Welcome back to our episode on the gut-brain axis, the influence your gut has on your brain. In Part 1, I discussed how gut bacteria and your diet influence your memory. Check out Part 1 here if you missed it! Now, we’re going to look at how the gut impacts your mood.
PROBIOTICS, DEPRESSION AND STRESS
A study done at McMaster University in Canada published in the Journal of Gastroenterology showed that probiotics can improve symptoms of depression. Researchers worked with 44 adults who had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. Half of the group took a daily dose of bifidobacterium longum for 12 weeks, while the other half took placebo at the same frequency. At the 6 week mark, 64% of the patients taking the probiotic had decreased scores on tests for depression. Only 32% of patients on placebo saw decreases in these scores. The patients were also given functional MRIs, which showed that the improvement in these scores was connected to changes in multiple brain regions involved with mood control.
Griffith University in Queensland, Australia performed a systematic review and meta analysis that was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The researchers looked at 7 different studies with over 300 participants and found that probiotics reduce psychological symptoms, stress, depression and anxiety. This helps prove the validity of the gut-brain axis.
The Benefits of Probiotics for Allergies – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 124. Listen Now >>
A study in the Journal of Cephalalgia looked at patients who suffer from migraines. The researchers worked with people who have episodic migraines, meaning they have 14 or less migraines a month, as well as people who have chronic migraines, meaning 15 or more migraines a month. A group of these patients took a probiotic supplement with 14 different strains of gut-friendly bacteria for 10 weeks, while another group took placebo. Researchers found that the probiotic significantly improved a number of migraine-related symptoms in the patients. Patients with episodic migraines saw a 40% decrease in migraine days, and people with chronic migraines saw a decrease of 45%. Researchers also found that the probiotics reduced the intensity of episodic migraines by 29%, and of chronic migraines by 31%.
These studies are evidence that bacteria in the intestines affect the health of the brain. For all studies mentioned in this podcast episode, please listen to the full episode now by clicking the play button above or wherever you stream podcasts!
WHAT REDUCES HEALTHY BACTERIA IN THE BODY?
Here are some things that can reduce the amount of healthy bacteria you have in your body:
NOT ALL PROBIOTICS ARE EQUAL
Not all probiotic supplements are made the same. Here are some qualities that you should look for when choosing a probiotic supplement:
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. For all studies mentioned in this podcast episode, please listen to the full episode now by clicking the play button above or wherever you stream podcasts! You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
Our gut is often referred to as our second brain. Expressions like “a gut feeling” or “butterflies in my stomach” refer to this connection. Much of this communication has to do with the trillions of bacteria that reside in our digestive tract.
The power of hormones is so critical to our well-being and how we feel every day. When women start to experience menopause, there can be so many factors that can disrupt your normal sense of well-being, including sleep, energy levels and weight. Let’s talk about nutrients that can be supportive.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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Welcome to part 2 of ‘Why Ubiquinol May Improve Scary Blood Test Results’. If you missed part 1, click here to listen now! We’re continuing our conversation about the active form of coenzymeQ10, called ubiquinol, which lowers the level of various scary results on a blood test that are connected with heart health. When these levels are elevated, they’re scary. When they’re lower, that’s good for the heart, survival, longevity, physical activity and wellness.
Make sure to check out the first part of this episode for more background on ubiquinol and heart health, as well as the first of the 3 blood tests that predict heart health.
More Information on NT-proBNP
As discussed in the first part of this podcast, NT-proBNP is a protein released by cardiomyocytes primarily from the left side of the heart. It helps tell you the health of your heart. NT-proBNP tests are not common in typical blood work, unless there is some sign of heart damage like heart failure or heart attack. Research also indicates that NT-proBNP reflects the youthfulness and strength of your heart muscle. It is continually produced in small quantities by your heart. It is released in larger quantities when the heart senses that it needs to work harder.
A young person’s NT-proBNP level might read at 16, whereas someone who has heart damage might reach a level of 200. It also increases with age as fibrous build up in the heart. Doctors can use NT-proBNP levels to gauge the severity of damage to the heart. They also look to see if the levels increase to check if treatment methods are working.
Ubiquinol may help decrease levels of NT-proBNP. The Division of Cardiology at the University of Minnesota and the Division of Cardiology at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center performed a study published in the journal Annals of Vascular Surgery. In this study, researchers worked with heart surgery patients. The patients were randomly broken up into groups and for three days prior to their surgery, were given either a placebo or a high dosage of coQ10, the inactive form of ubiquinol. The researchers checked their NT-proBNP before the surgery and for two days afterwards to test the impact of the ubiquinol. They found that NT-proBNP levels in the blood dropped as coq10 levels increased.
The last value that can predict heart health is Troponin. This is a group of proteins that help regulate the contractions of the heart and skeletal muscles. Troponin 1 and Troponin T are two variations of the protein that are released by the heart when it is damaged.
A study done by researchers in Northern Italy and published in the journal Aging worked with 50 elderly patients who were receiving surgery for severe aortic valve stenosis. One group of the patients took placebo for a week prior to surgery and for five days post surgery, while the other took ubiquinol for the same amount of time. The researchers found that patients who had taken placebo saw a greater increase in Troponin 1 related to the heart surgery than patients on ubiquinol did. This indicates that the ubiquinol was protecting the heart during valve replacement surgery.
My Heart Health Recommendations
The studies shared in both parts of this podcast indicate that ubiquinol can help decrease levels of hs-CRP, NT-proBNP and Troponin in the body. I recommend it and take it every day. Always take ubiquinol with food and remember that the body absorbs it much better than regular coQ10.†
While ubiquinol is extremely beneficial to anyone with heart damage, it can also be helpful to others. Diabetics can strongly benefit from ubiquinol because they struggle with converting coQ10 into ubiquinol. Aging people could benefit as well, as the body slows ubiquinol creation in your 40s. I usually recommend that people start taking ubiquinol around the age of 55.†
Avoid coQ10 or ubiquinol formulas that contain titanium dioxide. This is a heavy metal that makes shaving creams and paints white. It can damage the lining of your intestines and create leaky gut syndrome.†
Questions about CoQ10? Leave a comment below to join the discussion today!