Feeding the Gut-Brain Connection

It’s no secret that a healthy diet is critical for physical well-being, but science has proven that what you eat can greatly impact mental health, as well. Beneath the walls of the digestive system, the gut and brain communicate via chemical and physical connections and the mere thought of food releases gastric juices. Considering this undeniable connection, it’s important to ensure the gut is properly nourished and is supplied with healthy bacteria and depending on what you eat, your gut bacteria can flourish or flounder. The population of bacteria that makes its home in your gut is there because you touched it, ate it or drank it.¹ Nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract cause neural and hormonal signaling between the gut microbiota and the brain through secretion into the circulatory system and via the vagus nerve, known as the gut-brain axis.² A typical American diet of refined grains, fried foods, sugary treats and too much saturated fat negatively affects your gut microbiota and causes low-level inflammation through the release of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which activates immune cells and influences inflammatory cytokine production (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukins, etc.). ²,³ This can contribute to declines in mood and cognitive function and chronic metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.⁴ Eating healthfully to nourish your gut microbiota is critical to reduce your risk for inflammation and is an important way to support brain and overall health.¹

The Gut-Brain Axis
The gut microbiota are involved with metabolizing the nutrients you eat into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as well as neurotransmitters, such as γ-aminobutyric acid and serotonin, chemicals that affect brain function through the vagus nerve and interact with the immune system.² SCFAs such as acetate, propionate and butyrate are a readily available energy source for the epithelial cells of the colon, the colonocytes, helping to maintain the colon barrier and prevent inflammatory compounds from entering circulation.⁶ Fermentable fibers, such as pectin found in berries and inulin found in artichokes, facilitate interaction with healthful, probiotic gut bacteria, resulting in the production of anti-inflammatory compounds such as SCFAs.^5,6 Whole grain wheat fiber, has prebiotic effects increasing population of beneficial bacteria species Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus.⁷ Although the mechanism is not fully understood, negative gut microbiota, such as growth of gram negative Enterobacteriaceae and suppression of healthful Bifidobacteria, is linked to inflammation suggesting an alteration in the crosstalk between gut immune cells and gut bacteria.⁸

What you eat allows beneficial bacteria to flourish and helps reduce permeability in the digestive tract, sometimes called leaky gut, which is at the root of this inflammation. A high-fat diet increases LPS production, and leaky gut allows LPS absorption into circulation, increasing inflammation and risk for anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.^2,4,5 Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between an imbalance in gut microbiota and increased susceptibility to psychiatric and neurologic changes.⁵

Saturated fats are related to negative changes in gut microbiota, leaky gut, weight gain, and pro-inflammatory status. Diets low in microbiota-accessible prebiotic fiber reduce the diversity of the microbiota; whereas high-fiber and low-sugar and low-fat dietary patterns are linked to microbiota diversity.²

Herbs and Spices Can Support Gut Health and Cognition
Many herbs and spices are rich in potent antioxidants, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, and research supports their antimicrobial and antiviral effects which are beneficial for gut microbiota.9,10 They add flavor and variety to foods and are easy to incorporate in a healthful diet. Here are a few common spices and herbs and that offer protective effects:

Turmeric: Curcumin, a polyphenol found in turmeric, is thought to exert positive effects on gut microbiota modulating richness, diversity and composition.¹¹

Cinnamon: Cinnamon contains bioactive compounds procyanidin and cinnamaldehyde which have antioxidative effects, and antimicrobial action which helps modulate gut microbiota.^10,12

Parsley: Parsley has a high flavonoid content including apigenin, isorhamnetin and luteolin, which are responsible for the antioxidative action of this herb. In vitro studies found that apigenin promotes growth and diversity of gut microbiota and production of healthful SCFAs and lowered Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, indicating positive changes in gut microbiota.^10,13

Ginger: Gingerols, shogoals and paradols, the main phytochemicals in ginger, offer strong antioxidative properties linked to improvements in gut microbiota.¹⁴ The antibacterial properties of ginger contribute to its beneficial effects against harmful bacteria such as Esherechia coli and Staphylococus aureus, which helps modulate an overall healthy gut bacteria population.^9,12

Food for Thought: Tips for Maintaining Healthy Gut Microbiota
Amazingly, the gut microbiome can shift temporarily within 24 hours after eating.¹² Certain foods can improve gut microbiota composition and reduce low-level inflammation. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs contains antioxidants which reduce oxidative stress and helps a healthy gut microbiota population flourish.^10,14

Choose plant-based foods, herbs and spices, foods with probiotic cultures and foods with omega-3 fats more often, and limit meat, saturated fat and refined sugar to boost your population of healthy gut microbiota and reduce levels of inflammation.³ Here are some important changes to consider making to improve your gut microbiota.

Fiber: Choose more foods with fermentable fibers to increase production of SCFAs which can be absorbed and metabolized to produce energy in the body. Fermentable fibers can be found in oats, barley, pulses, legumes and fruit.^5,6 Whole grain and wheat bran are linked to increased population of healthful gut Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus.^7,12

Herbs and spices: Support gut microbiota and add flavor and variety to a healthful diet with herbs and spices such as cinnamon, parsley, ginger and turmeric.^9,10

Mushrooms: Mushrooms have antioxidative, cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. The polysaccharides found in mushrooms are thought to provide prebiotic effects as well as immunomodulatory effects to activate and regulate gut microbiota.¹⁵

Limit meat: A diet high in meat and low in plant-based foods is linked with less bacterial diversity and an overgrowth of harmful bacteria.^5,12

Limit refined sugar: A diet high in fat and refined sugar has been linked to inflammation and memory impairment.^3,4 Inadequate fiber, high fat and high sugar intake is linked to declines in gut microbiota richness and function.^1,5 Consuming less refined sugar can improve gut microbiota diversity, and a high refined sugar intake can increase the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, indicating negative changes in gut microbiota.²

Foods developed with probiotic cultures and dairy: A 2020 systematic review of the effects of dairy on gut microbiota found that milk, yogurt and kefir consumption promoted the growth of healthful gut Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. During digestion, milk proteins can produce bio-active peptides with antimicrobial properties that benefit the gut microbiota.¹⁶ Fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir supply probiotic bacteria promoting the growth a healthful gut microbiota population. Soy, almond and other plant-based products are being developed with probiotic cultures, and although research in this area is limited, these products hold promise as an alternative to fermented dairy.^16,17

Limit excess fat and choose omega-3 fatty acids: Fats play a role in the structure of gut microbiota, and a high-fat diet, especially saturated fat, promotes negative bacteria population in the gut. Omega-3 fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) promote healthy gut microbiota, help mediate inflammation and enhance immunity in the body.^2,3,14,18 Chia seeds, flaxseeds and walnuts are rich in ALA. Fatty fish such as salmon, herring and sardines are a good source of DHA and EPA, and foods made with algal EPA and DHA are available for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet.¹⁹

Here are some gut-friendly food swaps to share with your patients or to help get you started on ways to improve your gut health to benefit your brain and body. Including Orgain Superfoods + Immunity Up!™ Powder in meals or snacks is another great way to support gut health as it contains superfoods, probiotics, and beneficial herbs and spices.

Choose This	Lose This	Benefit
Baked potato flavored with salsa, plain yogurt, herbs and spices	Baked potato with butter and sour cream	Decreases total fat and saturated fat. Increases probiotic cultures and spices and herbs.
Broccoli with olive oil, herbs and spices	Broccoli with cheese sauce	Decreases saturated fat. Increases intake of spices and herbs.
Whole wheat or sprouted grain toast with mashed avocado	White toast with butter	Decreases saturated fat. Increases fiber.
Tea with mint leaves over ice	Sweet iced tea	Decreases refined sugar.
Seltzer with fresh lemon	Regular soda	Decreases refined sugar.
Oatmeal	Cereal with refined grains	Increases fiber.
Whole wheat or legume pasta	White flour pasta	Increases fiber.
Roasted edamame or chickpeas	Potato chips	Decreases fat. Increases fiber.
Pinto beans with vegetables, olive oil, vinegar, herbs, spices and sliced avocado	Refried beans with sour cream and cheese	Decreases saturated fat. Increases spices and herbs.
Vegetarian chili with pulses, mushrooms and other vegetables and plain yogurt	Beef chili with sour cream and cheese	Decreases meat and saturated fat. Increases fiber and probiotic cultures
Sardine salad sandwich on whole wheat bun	Fried fish sandwich on white bun	Decreases saturated fat. Increases omega-3 fats.
Sardine salad sandwich on whole wheat bun	Fried fish sandwich on white bun	Decreases saturated fat. Increases omega-3 fats.
Hamburger made with a blend two thirds ground beef with one third mashed, cooked lentils	Hamburger	Decreases meat and saturated fat. Increases fiber.
Yogurt with berries	Yogurt with chocolate chips	Decreases fat and refined sugar. Increases fiber.

¹ Moszak M, Szulińska M, Bogdański P. You Are What You Eat-The Relationship between Diet, Microbiota, and Metabolic Disorders-A Review. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1096. Published 2020 Apr 15. doi:10.3390/nu12041096
² Torres-Fuentes C, Schellekens H, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. The microbiota-gut-brain axis in obesity. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Oct;2(10):747-756. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(17)30147-4. Epub 2017 Aug 24. PMID: 28844808.
³ Agus A, Denizot J, Thévenot J, Martinez-Medina M, Massier S, Sauvanet P, Bernalier-Donadille A, Denis S, Hofman P, Bonnet R, Billard E, Barnich N. Western diet induces a shift in microbiota composition enhancing susceptibility to Adherent-Invasive E. coli infection and intestinal inflammation. Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 8;6:19032. doi: 10.1038/srep19032. PMID: 26742586; PMCID: PMC4705701.
⁴ Agustí A, García-Pardo MP, López-Almela I, et al. Interplay Between the Gut-Brain Axis, Obesity and Cognitive Function. Front Neurosci. 2018;12:155. Published 2018 Mar 16. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00155
⁵ Estrada JA, Contreras I. Nutritional Modulation of Immune and Central Nervous System Homeostasis: The Role of Diet in Development of Neuroinflammation and Neurological Disease. Nutrients. 2019 May 15;11(5):1076. doi: 10.3390/nu11051076. PMID: 31096592; PMCID: PMC6566411.
⁶ Oregon State University. Linus Pauling Institute. Micronutrient Information Center. Fiber. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/other-nutrients/fiber, accessed 2/12/2022
⁷ Costabile A, Klinder A, Fava F, Napolitano A, Fogliano V, Leonard C, Gibson GR, Tuohy KM. Whole-grain wheat breakfast cereal has a prebiotic effect on the human gut microbiota: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Br J Nutr. 2008 Jan;99(1):110-20. doi: 10.1017/S0007114507793923. Epub 2007 Aug 29. PMID: 17761020.
⁸ Calder PC, Bosco N, Bourdet-Sicard R, Capuron L, Delzenne N, Doré J, Franceschi C, Lehtinen MJ, Recker T, Salvioli S, Visioli F. Health relevance of the modification of low grade inflammation in ageing (inflammageing) and the role of nutrition. Ageing Res Rev. 2017 Nov;40:95-119. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2017.09.001. Epub 2017 Sep 9. PMID: 28899766.
⁹ Panpatil, V.V., Tattari, S., Kota, N., Nimgulkar, C.C., & Polasa, K. (2013). In vitro evaluation on antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of spice extracts of ginger, turmeric and garlic. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2, 143-148.
¹⁰ Yashin A, Yashin Y, Xia X, Nemzer B. Antioxidant Activity of Spices and Their Impact on Human Health: A Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2017;6(3):70. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/antiox6030070
¹¹ Scazzocchio B, Minghetti L, D’Archivio M. Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Curcumin: A New Key of Understanding for the Health Effects of Curcumin. Nutrients. 2020;12(9):2499. Published 2020 Aug 19. doi:10.3390/nu12092499
¹² Singh RK, Chang HW, Yan D, et al. Influence of diet on the gut microbiome and implications for human health. J Transl Med. 2017;15(1):73. Published 2017 Apr 8. doi:10.1186/s12967-017-1175-y
¹³ Wang M, Firrman J, Zhang L, et al. Apigenin Impacts the Growth of the Gut Microbiota and Alters the Gene Expression of Enterococcus. Molecules. 2017;22(8):1292. Published 2017 Aug 3. doi:10.3390/molecules22081292
¹⁴ Riaz Rajoka MS, Thirumdas R, Mehwish HM, et al. Role of Food Antioxidants in Modulating Gut Microbial Communities: Novel Understandings in Intestinal Oxidative Stress Damage and Their Impact on Host Health. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(10):1563. Published 2021 Sep 30. doi:10.3390/antiox10101563
¹⁵ Jayachandran M, Xiao J, Xu B. A Critical Review on Health Promoting Benefits of Edible Mushrooms through Gut Microbiota. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(9):1934. Published 2017 Sep 8. doi:10.3390/ijms18091934
¹⁶ Aslam H, Marx W, Rocks T, et al. The effects of dairy and dairy derivatives on the gut microbiota: a systematic literature review. Gut Microbes. 2020;12(1):1799533. doi:10.1080/19490976.2020.1799533
¹⁷ Crosby L, Davis B, Joshi S, et al. Ketogenic Diets and Chronic Disease: Weighing the Benefits Against the Risks. Front Nutr. 2021;8:702802. Published 2021 Jul 16. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.702802
¹⁸ Tangyu M, Muller J, Bolten CJ, Wittmann C. Fermentation of plant-based milk alternatives for improved flavour and nutritional value. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2019;103(23-24):9263-9275. doi:10.1007/s00253-019-10175-9
¹⁹ National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/#h3, accessed 2/13/2022

The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast, Season 2 – NEW Episodes!

Listen to new episodes of The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast now available on the Orgain Healthcare app, and be sure to subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

Spice It Up! Globally Inspired Recipes

In honor of this year’s theme for National Nutrition Month, try these two Orgain recipes that are inspired by cultural cuisines. Share your favorite Orgain recipe in the Orgain Ambassador Collective Private Facebook Group! Not an ambassador yet? Request an account now.

Dietitian Spotlight: Mary Purdy, MS, RDN

In celebration of RDN Day, we felt there was no better way to celebrate than sharing about an inspiring dietitian, Mary Purdy, MS, RDN. In addition to hosting The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast, she has also presented webinars as part of Orgain’s Professional Education Webinar Series, is a respected author, and continues to lead numerous efforts toward educating others on nutrition practices that support human and planetary health. Learn more about Mary’s journey toward becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist, some of her professional interests, and which podcast episode has been her favorite thus far!

1. We would love to hear about your journey toward being a registered dietitian nutritionist. Why did you decide to pursue this profession?
   
   I was actually making my living as a performer in the theater in NYC and was at a bit of a crossroads, when my dad got very sick with a disease called Meningococcemia. His illness ignited a passion I already had around the concept of food as medicine, especially when I noticed what he was being fed at the hospital! I immediately started taking all my pre-reqs to get a Master’s Degree in Nutrition with the goal of understanding the many root causes of chronic illnesses and helping individuals to prevent, address and even reverse disease with integrative dietary strategies. I completed my Master’s degree and internship with Bastyr University and launched into clinical practice working with patients of all kinds using a personalized medicine and functional nutrition approach which I did for well over a decade. About 3-4 years back, as the climate crisis started to feel more urgent and as my understanding of the role that our food and agricultural system plays in greenhouse gas emissions grew, I shifted directions to focus more on being an “Eco-Dietitian” who teaches, speaks, podcasts, writes and consults around sustainability, our environment and their relationship to human health.

2. What inspired you to become a nutrition educator?
   
   One reason is that I thrive on learning which inevitably happens in the “classroom”! Additionally, teaching is like growing a garden where you plant these seeds and then get to watch the plants grow and bloom into teachers themselves. I also love helping students build confidence and think critically and adore seeing light bulbs going off for them as they connect the dots between what they are learning and how to apply it. My background in performing made the classroom feel like a natural stage where I could convey information in a way that felt dynamic and entertaining, which I believe helps to serve learners when it comes to both enjoying the topic and retention of information.

3. What are some of your professional interests?
   
   For better or worse, I am way too interested in way too many things as it relates to the nutrition profession. Ultimately, I am interested in saving the planet one bite, conversation and policy at a time. I relish helping individuals find their way to wellness via improved diet and lifestyle habits in a way that feels inclusive and meets them where they are at. I am also devoted to amplifying the role of dietitians and health professionals in working to transform our food system to mitigate issues around the climate crisis. And I am committed to embracing diversity, equity and inclusion principles both personally and professionally, as well as speaking up in every role I take on to ensure that the voices of marginalized and Black and Indigenous people of color are recognized and included in the offerings and conversations.

4. Considering your interest and expertise on environmental health, can you please share any advice for healthcare professionals that are looking to support their clients in improving planetary health?
   
   Absolutely! Everyone and anyone working in healthcare has an opportunity (and an obligation, truly) to be involved with engaging in dialogue, activities and actions that support planetary health. Increasing awareness and education around the role that the industrial food and agriculture system plays in environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions is a great start. Plus, we can tap into the very strong connection between the health of the environment, the nutritional value of the food and the resulting human health status. Encouraging patients to eat more plant based, minimally processed and packaged foods, that are local and seasonal and grown with fewer chemicals using “soil-building” practices is one way to have an impact. Consumer demand can make a difference in what gets produced and served. However, this isn’t always about consumer choice, as many communities simply don’t have access to these foods. But healthcare providers, because they understand the role that poorly produced food has on health, can be advocates for reimagining and transforming the food system, by working to shift what food is served in hospitals and other institutions and where it is sourced, to promoting community gardens, farmers’ markets and local food systems. And we can be active on the policy front too, banding together to urge representatives to pay attention to bills that are working to promote more plant-based, planet-friendly meals for school lunches, or reduce plastic production, or work towards increasing food sovereignty and food justice. I’m only scratching the surface here, but I see healthcare professionals as having enormous potential as change agents!

5. What is one of the most frequently asked nutrition questions you receive from your clients?
   
   It’s usually something along the lines of “Is _ bad/good for me?”. My answer, almost always, to this question is “It depends”! On you, on your history, your current health status and medical issues, how the food was grown, processed, prepared; how much you are eating, how often etc. If we are talking about processed soy “chick’n” nuggets versus organic tempeh (fermented soybean patty), my answer is going to be different. Additionally, thinking about how that food was grown is also now a big component of my answer. Most people want a clear “yes” or “no”, but as we know, food and people just ain’t that simple!

6. What is the most rewarding part of the work you do?
   
   When people tell me that I made a difference in their lives with nutrition or lifestyle counseling or inspired them to “think differently” about a topic on which I taught, especially related to sustainability in the food system. I feel like I am on this planet to help make it a healthier and more equitable place so any indication that I achieved this, even with one person, makes my heart dance a little jig.

7. What interested you in partnering with Orgain as the host of The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast?
   
   After witnessing way too many patients being prescribed poor quality “nutritional shakes”, discovering Orgain was like finding a little treasure in the nutritional waters. Long before I took on the podcast role, I was recommending Orgain to patients and even a family member who was really struggling with keeping on weight post stomach cancer treatment. I appreciate the commitment Orgain has to creating quality products with a focus on organic and minimally processed ingredients. Plus, I knew this would be an opportunity for me to not only learn about a number of interesting nutrition related topics but to hopefully create dynamic conversations with guests that could help to dispense this key information for consumers and healthcare professionals.

8. Which episode has been your favorite to-date and why?
   
   I have truly enjoyed interviewing all the guests! If I must choose, I will say that my favorite so far has been Dr. David Katz because of the work he does making those connections around human and planetary health and how very much it aligns with my philosophy and values. Plus, he loves to infuse poetry and creative language in his education which touches my creative spirit! He recited a Shakespeare soliloquy as a warmup before we started recording which was a first for me in my years of podcast hosting. I may need to make that a habit myself!
   

In addition to listening to The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast, learn more from Mary by watching her most recent webinar presented as part of Orgain’s Professional Education Series, Meet Your Microbiome: Eating for Gut Health: Watch Now!

Upcoming Orgain Sponsored Live Webinar

This month, we shared a live webinar, First 1,000 Days of Life: Relationship Between Early Life Nutrition and Future Health Outcomes, presented by Dr. Nicole Avena, which you could watch on-demand now and RDNs and DTRs will earn 1.0 CPEU! This webinar provides education on the impact and importance of nutrition early in life to support cognition and immune health. In case you missed it, Dr. Avena was a guest on episode #4 of The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast,, The Science Behind Sugar Addiction: A Look at the Latest Research with Dr. Avena. Click here to learn more!

Have you downloaded the Orgain Healthcare App yet? Available in the App Store and Google Play, our app provides easy access to Orgain Healthcare’s library of on-demand webinars – each offering one continuing education credit for RDNs and NDTRs.