I mentioned a while back I would create a thread of useful mind boosting supplements. In typical ADHD fashion, I haven’t done it yet.
I’ve spent the past month studying the microbiome (‘good bacteria’) as part of my mission to be as happy and healthy as possible. And fuck me, it’s seriously important. I’ve always been interested in the gut flora and keeping it healthy, but now have an understanding of really how important it is. I will move on to the other information about vitamins and supplements when I can, but looking at this thread first would maximise any further nutritional support anyway…
I can’t include all of the information here but I’ll document some of the most important bits. We really can feel mentally a lot better and physically much healthier by taking care of your good bacteria.
The microbiome has a major influence on our immune system and inflammation in our bodies, including modulating and even triggering autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancers and dementia (and many more).
An unhealthy microbiome can increase anxiety and depression via the gut brain axis (vagus nerve) and via inflammation of the brain, and can also make people put on extra fat leading to obesity. The are several reports of depression, fatigue, anxiety, ADHD symptoms etc being vastly improved after a microbiome boosting lifestyle change. Our gut makes more serotonin than our brains!
A healthy microbiome is needed for digestion of foods and production of essential fatty acids and vitamins. An unhealthy microbiome releases bad things into our body that reduce our immune system, make us feel tired/ depressed/ more anxious, gain body fat and increase our risk of cancer, diabetes, dementia, autoimmune disease, infections and many more.
It’s relatively easy to get your microbiome healthy. Eating a variety of healthy foods ensuring lots of fibre, minimising sugar, avoiding artificial sweeteners, less carbs/ more good fats, filtering water etc all help.
But I would suggest considering…
- get some Inulin powder (a prebiotic) and have a teaspoon twice a day dissolved in a drink (dissolves best in water 40C or higher). Prebiotics are food for the good bacteria and have the best evidence for health benefits.
- take a good pro-biotic with a broad range of bacteria. I take Bio-Kult original. Amazon have a good deal at the moment.
- eat pro-biotic foods regularly such as Kefir (there are many dairy free options now), kimchi, decent sour kraut, live yoghurts…
- have as wide a variety of healthy foods as you can to boost diversity of your little bowel dwelling friends.
The book Brain Maker by Dr David Perlmutter is very good, but I don’t agree with his view of autism specifically.
Here are a couple of decent TEDx talks.
If anyone is interested please feel free to ask questions, or take the piss. To ensure a bit of humour here is South Park and a scene from their microbiome episode (which is fucking awesome and a spoof of the original David Lynch Dune).