Surprising Parkinson’s Discovery Could Slash Symptoms
Yesterday, I explained that taking a specific probiotic could put IBS into remission. (Read about it here.)
It’s yet another example of the relationship between our gut and overall health.
Today, I have yet another example of the power of gut bacteria to impact your health. This time, it’s a surprising link to Parkinson’s.
We now know there’s a link—a highway of sorts—between your gut and your brain. It’s called the gut-brain axis.
The best way to explain the connection is to think about how feeling nervous can give you butterflies in your stomach.
You can’t (or shouldn’t) separate what goes on in your gut from conditions that impact your brain.
Now, a recent study has demonstrated a clear link between the gut microbiome and Parkinson’s.
Researchers compared fecal samples of people with the neurodegenerative disorder to samples from folks who were healthy.
They found evidence that the gut is involved in a complex chain reaction that can contribute to Parkinson’s symptoms.
Changes in the Parkinson’s patients’ gut microbiomes impacted vitamin B synthesis, decreasing riboflavin (vitamin B2) and biotin (vitamin B7).
This drop in B vitamins decreases short-chain fatty acids and polyamines, which are critical for creating a healthy mucous layer in your intestines.
This can increase intestinal permeability, exposing your body to toxins like pesticides.
These toxins then cause your body to overproduce molecules called a-synuclein fibrils, which collect in cells that produce dopamine in your brain.
This contributes to neuroinflammation and can worsen the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s.
As I said, this is a complex chain reaction of events. Don’t worry about remembering all of the details. Instead, focus on these takeaways…
- First, concentrate on gut health by taking quality pro- and prebiotics. You could also have a stool analysis to determine precisely what imbalances are going on in your gut.
- Second, consider supplementing with riboflavin and biotin. Research indicates that high doses of riboflavin can actually recover some of the lost motor control in Parkinson’s. You’ll want to talk to your doctor about this.
- Third, avoid toxins as much as possible. Simple changes you can make starting today include switching to natural cleaners, buying organic foods, and not using pesticides on your lawn.
Of course, Parkinson’s is a complex disease, so there are likely many contributing factors. However, following these three steps offers a simple treatment that could improve symptoms with zero risk.
P.S. STOP brain problems with THIS morning trick.
SOURCE:
Nishiwaki, H., Ueyama, J., Ito, M., Hamaguchi, T., Takimoto, K., Maeda, T., Kashihara, K., Tsuboi, Y., Mori, H., Kurokawa, K., Katsuno, M., Hirayama, M., & Ohno, K. (2024). Meta-analysis of shotgun sequencing of gut microbiota in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson’s Disease, 10(1), 1-11.