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anxiety

Increased sociability improves vagus nerve function: the role of social anxiety, pyroluria and low zinc

December 13, 2019 By Trudy Scott 1 Comment

increased sociability and vagus nerve

With the objective of taking a deeper dive into some of the favorite topics of the recent Anxiety Summit: Gut-Brain Axis, today’s blog is about the vagus nerve since Dr. Navaz Habib’s interview, Vagus Nerve Activation to Reduce Anxiety, was voted one of the favorites. I’m focusing on one tool that improves vagus nerve function that we didn’t have time to get into in great detail – and that is how increased sociability helps.  It’s all good and well to recommend getting out and hanging out with more people but if you have the social anxiety condition called pyroluria it’s really challenging, hard work and very stressful. Added stress makes pyroluria worse so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Let’s start with the research that supports the connection between the vagus nerve and increased anxiety and mood problems.  In the interview with Dr Navaz, we discussed this paper: Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders which states that “vagus nerve stimulation is a promising add-on treatment for treatment-refractory depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and inflammatory bowel disease” and how stimulation of vagal fibers that go from the gut to the brain (afferent fibers) influences neurotransmitter production and “play crucial roles in major psychiatric conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders.”  The gut bacteria play a major role too, “partly by affecting the activity of the vagus nerve.”

In our interview we end with very practical ways to activate your vagus nerve

  • Deep breathing exercises (mentioned in the above paper, together with yoga and meditation) and cold showers (which makes you breathe harder)
  • Gargling and using the gag reflex
  • Humming, chanting and singing (I used these approaches for my vagus nerve issue – more here on that)
  • Auricular acupuncture (which is also very effective for addictions)
  • And finally, social interaction or increased sociability, which I want to cover today

The research on the vagus nerve and being more social

Let’s look at the research on the vagus nerve or vagal tone and being more social.  This paper, Upward spirals of the heart: autonomic flexibility, as indexed by vagal tone, reciprocally and prospectively predicts positive emotions and social connectedness, reports that that vagal tone and connectedness or being more social is a two-way street i.e. it’s reciprocal

  • “…increases in connectedness and positive emotions predicted increases in vagal tone” and
  • “Adults who possessed higher initial levels of vagal tone increased in connectedness and positive emotions more rapidly than others”

In summary, the more social and happy you are, the healthier your vagus nerve is and a healthier vagus nerve leads to feeling more connected and happy.

This study was done with adults in a community-dwelling setting over 9 weeks: “adults were asked to monitor and report their positive emotions and the degree to which they felt socially connected each day.”

Address pyroluria in those who have social anxiety

Pyroluria, the social anxiety condition, was not part of the study because it’s under-recognized as a factor in anxiety.  I’d like to propose that we address pyroluria in those who have social anxiety in order to further improve social connectedness and their vagus nerve function.

Many folks with pyroluria put on a brave face in social settings and even “extrovert” which is extremely stressful. The added stress makes pyroluria worse (zinc and vitamin B6 are dumped in much higher amounts) so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Others, who are not willing to even show up because of their severe social anxiety, are not getting that social interaction and connectedness that is so crucial for improved vagus nerve function and better overall health.

Here is the pyroluria questionnaire and the pyroluria/introvert connection.

Connecting the dots further we have

  • research that reports that vagus nerve stimulation has potential in autism treatment and we know pyroluria and social issues are common in autism
  • one of the key nutrients for pyroluria, zinc, plays a role in vagus nerve function
  • another key nutrient in pyroluria is vitamin B6 and it plays a role in reducing inflammation
  • according to the vagus nerve study above, the vagus nerve “plays important roles in the relationship between the gut, the brain, and inflammation”
  • both zinc and vitamin B6 are needed for neurotransmitter production, so increasing both GABA and serotonin will further improve mood and reduce anxiety
  • and finally, the more social and happy you are, the healthier your vagus nerve is and a healthier vagus nerve leads to feeling more connected and happy

By addressing the social anxiety called pyroluria with a foundation of zinc and vitamin B6, we can increase sociability and thereby improve vagus nerve function.

Have you got pyroluria and has addressing it nutritionally allowed you to be more sociable? Do you find you have better vagus nerve function when you are more sociable?  What other avgus nerve exercises have you found helpful?

Filed Under: Pyroluria Tagged With: anxiety, anxiety summit, autism, depression, Habib Navaz, Inflammation, posttraumatic stress disorder, pyroluria, sociability, social anxiety, stress, vagal tone, vagus nerve, vitamin B6, zinc

Recommended gut-brain books as holiday gifts for you or a loved one

December 6, 2019 By Trudy Scott 1 Comment

gut brain books

With one of the post Anxiety Summit: Gut-Brain objectives of sharing additional reading resources and with the holidays right around the corner this is perfect timing for my holiday book blog and all books gut-brain related. Read on below for book excerpts from these books, some of which have just published, some are older and a few have yet to be published.

  • Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, 5th Edition By Elizabeth Lipski (publication date Nov 22, 2019). The first edition was published in 1995 and this 5th edition (which I hear involved a great deal of revision) makes it current. I have yet to read this one but I know Liz and the previous editions and this is a firm favorite for overall digestive health.
  • The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More by Dr. Becky Campbell (publication date Dec 10, 2019). I have read this one and it’s excellent! It’s the only book that I am aware of that goes into so much depth on the topic of histamine intolerance.
  • The Microbiome and the Brain, edited by David Perlmutter MD (publication date Dec 12, 2019). As Dr. Perlmutter shared in our Anxiety Summit interview, “it’s not just for clinicians, it’s also for researchers.” I can’t wait for my copy to arrive and will share more when it does.
  • Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by David Perlmutter MD and Austin Perlmutter MD (publication date Jan 14, 2020). Dr. Perlmutter shared this in our summit interview: “I think technology can be either our most wonderful servant or a really disastrous master. It’s all in how we mindfully use technology.” I can’t wait for my copy to arrive and will share more when it does.
  • Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio (publication date February 15, 2018). Misty Williams raved about this book in our interview and although I have yet to read it, I have attended one of Dr. Ruscio’s SIBO trainings, so I’m including it here too.
  • Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?: More than 100 Delicious Recipes–Pegan, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and More – For Lifelong Health by Dr. Mark Hyman MD (publication date October 22, 2019). I reviewed this book a few months ago and am always a big fan of Dr. Hyman’s work so am including this one too.
  • The Mediterranean Method: Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! by Steven Masley M.D. (publication date December 31, 2019). We all like to be inspired by new recipes and I love that Dr. Masley is a heart doctor, nutritionist and chef so I’m including this one even though I have yet to get a copy.
  • Hanger Management: Master Your Hunger and Improve Your Mood, Mind, and Relationships by Susan Albers PsyD (publication date December 24, 2019). Susan is a good friend and is well-recognized for her work on mindful eating, so I’m including this one too in order to round out this selection of books.
  • The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings by Trudy Scott (publication date June 2, 2011). I’m including my book too. If you don’t yet have a copy I encourage you to get a copy as a great foundation to the work I do. If you already have a copy I know you can see the value in gifting a copy to a loved one or sharing with your practitioner – so this is a reminder for you.

Here are more details on each of the above books….

Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, 5th Edition By Elizabeth Lipski  (publication date Nov 22, 2019)

digestive wellness

Optimize your overall health through digestive wellness!

Fewer antacids and less bloating aren’t the only benefits of good digestion. When your digestive system is healthy and balanced, you sleep better, have more energy, think more clearly, experience less pain, and combat disease more effectively.

Digestive Health shows how everything from migraines to skin disease to arthritis are connected to your digestive system. And now, this go-to guide has been updated with critical new research and developments, including late-breaking information on:

  • Probiotics and Prebiotics
  • Celiac Disease
  • The Gut-Brain Connection
  • Carbohydrates
  • Leaky Gut Syndrome
  • Auto-Immune Conditions
  • Kidney and Bone Health
  • Cancer Prevention
  • Alzheimer’s Disease

You’ll find practical solutions to numerous conditions and disorders, along with expert guidance on the newest advances in testing and diagnosis, nutrition, and natural therapies.

A perfect balance of science and practical advice, Digestive Health explains how your digestive system works and what to do when it doesn’t function properly.

It provides everything you need to take control of your overall health through close, careful attention to your digestive system.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).

 

The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More by Dr. Becky Campbell (publication date Dec 10, 2019)

histamine reset

Uncover the Root Cause of Your Health Issues and Heal Your Body for Life

Millions of people suffer from allergies, migraines, skin issues, sleep disturbances, digestive ailments or anxiety due to undiagnosed histamine intolerance.

Dr. Becky Campbell, who has years of experience in the field and who suffers from histamine intolerance herself, has created a revolutionary four-phase program to heal your body naturally. What makes her approach different―and more effective for lifelong results―is that it looks for root causes and offers a well-rounded, holistic treatment plan that addresses diet, environmental toxins, lifestyle and more.

To help you uncover why your body is not processing histamine correctly, Dr. Campbell explains the eight most common factors and how to address them. Then she gives you a plan that includes a low-histamine diet, liver care, gut support and direction on how to safely reintroduce the foods that were once making you sick. Along with her wealth of delicious recipes, she also includes information on supplements, ways to reduce stress and much more.

Invest in your health and use The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan to heal your body for good.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).

 

The Microbiome and the Brain, edited by David Perlmutter MD (publication date Dec 12, 2019)

microbiome and brain

Brain related disorders are among the most challenging health issues of our time. The development of effective therapeutic and preventive strategies for these disorders relies on a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causative mechanisms. And, until recently, these mechanisms have remained somewhat elusive.

The newly discovered pivotal role of the intestinal microbiome in brain health, functionality, and resistance to disease is revolutionizing neuroscience. The Microbiome and the Brain, through the contributions of some of the most forward thinking researchers and clinicians in the field, comprehensively reveals the leading edge of our understanding of the fundamental role of gut microbes and their metabolites in a wide array of seemingly diverse brain issues including Alzheimer’s disease, autism, multiple sclerosis, and mood disorders. In addition, mechanisms defining these relationships are explored along with a presentation of the state-of-the-art as it relates to interpretation of relevant laboratory assessments. Finally, novel therapeutic opportunities, derived from this exciting science are presented.

Readers will learn:

  • The highly validated relationship between alterations of gut microbes and their metabolites, and risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The important link between autism and intestinal dysbiosis.
  • Appropriate interpretation of available laboratory assessments of the intestinal microbiome.
  • The potential role of fecal microbial transplant in neurological diseases.
  • The influence of diet and other lifestyle choices on the microbiome as it relates to brain health and functionality.

More information here

 

Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by David Perlmutter MD and Austin Perlmutter MD (publication date Jan 14, 2020)

brain wash

Dr. David Perlmutter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and Dr. Austin Perlmutter, his son, explore how modern culture threatens to rewire our brains and damage our health, offering a practical plan for healing.

Contemporary life provides us with infinite opportunities, along with endless temptations. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. We can immerse ourselves in the vast, enticing world of digital media. We can buy goods and services for rapid delivery with our fingertips or voice commands. But living in this 24/7 hyper-reality poses serious risks to our physical and mental states, our connections to others, and even to the world at large.

Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before.

Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us, and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others, and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day bootcamp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious original recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).  More information and bonus pre-launch gifts are available here.

 

Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio (publication date February 15, 2018)

healthy gut healthy you

Are you experiencing depression, fatigue, thyroid imbalances, joint pain, insomnia, brain fog, inflammation or autoimmunity? Did you know your symptoms could be caused by a problem in your gut? Even if you don’t have gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation you could greatly benefit from improving your health at the core, your gut.

In Healthy Gut, Healthy You, clinician and researcher Dr. Michael Ruscio shows how modern lifestyle changes and the widespread use of antibiotics have made our guts more vulnerable than ever before.

The good news is that almost any ailment can be healed. The key is not just managing the symptoms but treating the root cause; the gut. Restoring this crucial part of your overall health improves the performance of your whole body from the inside out – and it’s easier than you think to get started.

You don’t have to follow crazy diets or spend a fortune to get healthy. Instead, read Healthy Gut, Healthy You to discover:

  • THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GUT
  • DIET FOR OPTIMUM GUT HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE AND ENVIRONMENT FOR OPTIMUM GUT HEALTH
  • TOOLS FOR HEALING YOUR GUT
  • THE GREAT-IN-8 ACTION PLAN

A vibrant, healthy you begins with your gut! Start healing your body today with Healthy Gut, Healthy You!

You can get your copy from Amazon here  (my Amazon link)

 

Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?: More than 100 Delicious Recipes–Pegan, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and More – For Lifelong Health by Dr. Mark Hyman MD (publication date October 22, 2019)

what the heck should i cook

The companion cookbook to Dr. Hyman’s New York Times bestselling Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?, featuring more than 100 delicious and nutritious recipes for weight loss and lifelong health.

Dr. Mark Hyman’s Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? revolutionized the way we view food, busting long-held nutritional myths that have sabotaged our health and kept us away from delicious foods that are actually good for us. Now, in this companion cookbook, Dr. Hyman shares more than 100 delicious recipes to help you create a balanced diet for weight loss, longevity, and optimum health. Food is medicine, and medicine never tasted or felt so good.

The recipes in Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? highlight the benefits of good fats, fresh veggies, nuts, legumes, and responsibly harvested ingredients of all kinds. Whether you follow a vegan, Paleo, Pegan, grain-free, or dairy-free diet, you’ll find dozens of mouthwatering dishes, including:

  • Mussels and Fennel in White Wine Broth
  • Golden Cauliflower Caesar Salad
  • Herbed Mini-Meatballs with Butternut Noodles
  • Lemon Berry Rose Cream Cake
  • and many more

With creative options and ideas for lifestyles and budgets of all kinds, Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? is a road map to a satisfying diet of real food that will keep you and your family fit, healthy, and happy for life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link) and check out some sample recipes on my blog here.

 

The Mediterranean Method: Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! by Steven Masley M.D. (publication date December 31, 2019)

mediterranean method

A fresh approach to the Mediterranean diet that focuses on low-glycemic foods that benefit the heart, brain, gut, and microbiome.

From southern Italy, Sardinia, and France to Spain, Greece, and Northern Africa the Mediterranean region is synonymous with sparkling azure waters and clear blue skies. It’s also home to most of the world’s longest-lived and vibrantly healthy people. Now we know why! Repeatedly ranked the #1 diet by U.S. News and World Report, the Mediterranean eating style–abundant seafood, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts; lots of olive oil; a wide variety of herbs and spices; and even dark chocolate and red wine–has been scientifically proven to maintain a healthy gut and healthy weight, thereby reducing your risk for heart disease, dementia, memory loss, and many cancers in the process.

Taking this famously healthy and life-enhancing “prescription” one step further, Dr. Steven Masley–renowned physician, nutritionist, bestselling author, and trained chef–offers all the flavors and benefits of the Mediterranean diet, but with a “skinny” twist: he focuses on delicious ingredients with a low-glycemic load. Including 50 recipes for food everyone at the table will love–from hearty breakfasts, crowd-pleasing appetizers, soups, and sides, to family-style salads, memorable main meals, and irresistible desserts–The Mediterranean Method is a revolutionary program for losing weight and maintaining the amazing health you regain. Slim down and protect your heart, your brain, and your healthy longevity–all while you enjoy the amazing bounty, variety, and joy of Mediterranean cooking!

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

 

Hanger Management: Master Your Hunger and Improve Your Mood, Mind, and Relationships by Susan Albers PsyD (publication date December 24, 2019)

hanger management

The complete program for mastering your “hanger,” from mindful-eating pioneer Dr. Susan Albers — with 45 tips to turn hanger into happiness.

It happens to all of us. One minute you’re happily going about your day, and a few seconds later you’re a snappy, illogical version of yourself. The culprit? Hanger.

We’re living busier lives than ever before, and when we forget to eat — or accidentally overeat — hunger can make us angry, unreasonable, and dull, with big impacts on our emotional and psychological well being. And hanger can become a cycle. When we get too hungry, we’re more likely to make food decisions we regret, which sets us up for another hanger crash later on.

The good news: when we make better decisions about food, we think more clearly, connect better in our relationships, and improve our performance. Hanger Management is the book that can help you break this cycle and create healthy habits that fuel and empower you.

In Hanger Management, New York Times bestselling author and clinical psychologist Susan Albers sheds light on the causes of hanger, and shares 45 of her best tips for managing it well. By learning to stay on top of your hunger cues, cultivating a better understanding of your appetite, and creating a better overall relationship with food, you’ll become happier — and healthier — for life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

 

The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings by Trudy Scott (publication date June 2, 2011)

antianxiety food solution

It’s remarkable how much the foods we eat can impact our brain chemistry and emotions. What and when we eat can make the difference between feeling anxious and staying calm and in control. But most of us don’t realize how much our diets influence our moods, thoughts, and feelings until we make a change.

In The Antianxiety Food Solution, you’ll find four unique antianxiety diets designed to help you address nutritional deficiencies that may be at the root of your anxiety and enjoy the many foods that foster increased emotional balance. This helpful guide allows you to choose the best plan for you and incorporates effective anxiety-busting foods and nutrients. You’ll soon be on the path to freeing yourself from anxiety—and enjoying an improved overall mood, better sleep, fewer cravings, and optimal health—the natural way! The book also includes an easy-to-use index.

In The Antianxiety Food Solution, you’ll discover:

  • How to assess your diet for anxiety-causing and anxiety-calming foods and nutrients
  • Foods and nutrients that balance your brain chemistry
  • Which anxiety-triggering foods and drinks you may need to avoid
  • Easy lifestyle changes that reduce anxiety and increase happiness

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

I’ve provided my Amazon links for your convenience but if you’re not in the USA, Book depository is a great place to purchase books and offers free shipping worldwide.

I hope I’ve given you some wonderful gift ideas! Happy shopping! And happy reading if you decide to gift yourself one or more of these wonderful books.

Let us know which books you are excited about getting for yourself or a loved one or friend, and which ones you already have and love.

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: anxiety, anxiety summit, Becky Campbell, David Perlmutter, digestion, Elizabeth Lipski, gut-brain, mark hyman, Michael Ruscio, steven masley, Susan Albers, Trudy Scott

Parasites, Anxiety and TUDCA for Your Liver with Dr. Jay Davidson: The Anxiety Summit 5

November 22, 2019 By Trudy Scott 1 Comment

parasites anxiety TUDCA

***** IT’S ENCORE WEEKEND OF THE ANXIETY SUMMIT – NOV 23-24 ******

Dr. Jay Davidson is one my guest experts on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis and our topic is: Parasites, Anxiety and TUDCA for Your Liver.  What you’ll learn

  • Parasite facts and myths
  • New dosing options for mimosa pudica seed
  • TUDCA for liver, neuroinflammation and depression

and much more. It’s an excellent interview and was voted as one of the top 5 interviews of the summit.

jay davidson

After hearing Dr. Jay’s explanation of what a parasite is, I couldn’t resist using the above image of a happy worm. This is what he shares:

the Greek meaning of parasite is one that sits at another’s table. So essentially think of a parasite as it’s taking things from you. It’s taking nutrients, it’s taking key things that your body needs and literally off of you, not to the point that it’s killing you because then you’re not a good host to give a good environment. So it’s basically just kind of sucking you dry.

Unfortunately you have this very “happy” and satisfied parasite sitting at your “table” and causing all kinds of symptoms:

Mood stuff for sure, which obviously this is The Anxiety Summit. So we want to highlight that one, absolutely. Sleep issues though. In the big sleep one that I see is restless sleep where you toss, you turn, you wake often. You can’t just be relaxed when you sleep. Parasites get active when you go to bed.

So the more active they are within your body and the more you’re trying to calm down, the more your body is getting stressed out. This is where teeth grinding happens when you sleep. This is, again, where the restless legs. You can also say the calf cramping, restless leg type symptoms would come in as well being associated. It’s classic, though, for parasites to affect the gut. So obviously diarrhea, is clearly a classic sign of acute parasitic type infection.

Other symptoms we discuss at length: bowel urgency, SIBO, vertical wrinkles above your mouth, nail-biting, food sensitivities, bed-wetting, insomnia (especially around full moon), grinding teeth, night sweats and anxiety, and also how parasites affects neurotransmitter imbalances.

We cover why and how do do the parasite protocol before, during and after the full moon, his parasite story and the latest information on mimosa pudica seed:

So mimosa pudica seed is an amazing, just overall gut support. So even if your goal isn’t the parasite cleanse, mimosa pudica seed is awesome to help support the digestive tract. It can help break up biofilm. It’s really good against Candida and just helping to normalize microbial levels within the GI besides the fact that it can help with parasites.

Dr. Jay shares what he’s seeing clinically in terms of dosing mimosa pudica seed and when exactly to use it.

I share that I found an animal study where they were looking at the whole plant extract and found that it helped with modulating GABA receptors. And they said it had very similar effects to diazepam, which is a benzodiazepine that a lot of people with anxiety are prescribed. Fascinating!

The latter half of the interview focuses on drainage and supporting bile production with TUDCA, which also happens to support the mitochondria and help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

I encourage you to also listen to Pyroluria, Oxidative Stress and Parasites with Todd Watts, DC, PScD. We discuss some of these same protocols in the context of pyroluria/social anxiety and oxidative stress.

You’re going to be hearing a lot more from me about these products and protocols as I learn more and trial them personally.

jay davidson trudy scott as5

You may notice this image doesn’t look like the video on the summit. This was one of 4 interviews we had to repeat due to technical issues!

Be sure to listen to Dr. Jay’s wonderful interview on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis.  As I mentioned, his interview was voted as one of the top 5 interviews of the summit. The other 4 top voted interviews are:

  • Fix the Brain to Fix the Gut – Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, FACN, CNS (more here)
  • Why Bile is the Key to Anxiety & Hormone Havoc – Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS (more here)
  • Vagus Nerve Activation to Reduce Anxiety – Dr. Navaz Habib, DC (more here)

and my interview GABA & Tryptophan: The Gut-Anxiety Connections (more here)

anxiety summit 5 encore

If you have already signed up for the summit and have been tuning in, I do hope you enjoy these interview highlights and the encore weekend. Look out for encore weekend emails from Health Talks Online.

If you have yet to sign up, please do come and join us and learn on this encore weekend – November 23-24 – when all the interviews will be replaying for 48 hours.

Encore weekend

 

If you’re considering purchasing the summit to keep for your learning library, you have a number of options that include:

  • Online only or flash drive or both
  • A PDF or printed transcripts of all the interviews
  • The Best of Anxiety-Gut interviews from previous Anxiety Summits
  • GABA Quickstart Program (a group program with me on how to actually use GABA for your physical anxiety, with a private Facebook group and live Q & A call)
Purchase options

 

If you’re already familiar with Dr. Jay’s parasite protocols and TUDCA please share how they have helped you. That way we can all learn.

If you’d like to ask a question, please post in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear from you once you’ve listened in to Dr. Jay’s interview and the others.

Filed Under: Anxiety Summit 5 Tagged With: anxiety, anxiety summit, biofilm, candida, GABA, insomnia, Jay Davidson, microbial, mimosa pudica seed, mood, parasites, Todd Watts, TUDCA

Spore-based Probiotics for Serotonin and GABA with Kiran Krishnan: The Anxiety Summit 5

November 15, 2019 By Trudy Scott 5 Comments

spore-based probiotics

Kiran Krishnan is one my guest experts on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis and our topic is: Spore-based Probiotics for Serotonin and GABA.  What you’ll learn

  • How are spore-based probiotics different
  • Bacillus coagulans for depression with IBS symptoms
  • How they increase carotenoids and serotonin, and reduce inflammation
  • and more

Kiran Krishnan AS5

Kiran starts by explaining what makes spore-based probiotics different from other probiotics:

in terms of what makes them different – to begin with these are organisms that have a unique capability of covering themselves in a thick calcified protein-like coating. So it’s armor, essentially, around the bacterial cell.

This allows the bacteria to, of course. exist indefinitely in the environment. In harsh conditions under UV, radiation and desiccation.These are typically conditions that would kill off a lot of the bacteria that live in your gut. Virtually most of the bacteria, 90% of them cannot exist in that type of environment.

But it also allows these bacteria to come in through the gastric system, through the oral route, and survive the gauntlet that bacteria have to go through just getting through the process of digestion.

He goes on to explain how they can survive the stomach acid, the bile salts and the pancreatic enzymes and how all this is “a very specialized function of these microbes” and how very few bacteria have this capability.

We talk about a number of specific strains of spore-based probiotics and how they directly impact mood, anxiety, your gut health and microbiome:

  • bacillus coagulans is associated with bringing down depression, clinical depression, and at the same time alleviating IBS. And when you look at the correlation there it’s really interesting because IBS is associated with having a high risk for clinical depression.
  • bacillus licheniformis…it tends to increase the growth of other beneficial bacteria. Because one of the characteristics about these spore formers is that they have the ability to do something called quorum sensing. They get into the gut and they breed the microbial environment. They can find the overgrown pathogens or opportunistic bacteria that are causing problems. They’ll sit next to them and they’ll produce up to twenty five different antibiotics in that little micro environment to bring down the growth of those pathogens.

I ask some pressing questions like:

  • what have we seen in the research in terms of seeing changes in the microbiome if you do a stool test?
  • how Megaspore is best used when someone starts out because there is a method of titrating up?
  • why do you say other probiotics aren’t working? We do see some research showing that they are working

I find all of this quite fascinating and we do geek out a fair bit. He shares this: “what’s important to know is that these microbes had been producing these neurotransmitters and compounds before humans ever existed.”

kiran krishnan and trudy scott as5

Be sure to listen to Kiran’s wonderful interview to get a complete understanding of spore-based probiotics and how to use them to improve gut health and help with anxiety and mood issues.

anxiety summit

Please join us and listen to this interview and all the others on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis.

When you register now you’ll get access to there 3 interviews right away:

  • Fix the Brain to Fix the Gut – Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, FACN, CNS
  • MTHFR, B12 Genes and Anxiety – Carolyn Ledowsky, ND
  • Why Bile is the Key to Anxiety & Hormone Havoc – Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

anxiety summit 5 speakers

If you have already signed up for the summit, I hope you enjoy these interview highlights.

If you have yet to sign up, please do come and join us and learn.

Register for the Anxiety Summit 5

 

If you’re considering purchasing the summit to keep for your learning library, you have a number of options that include:

  • Online only or flash drive or both
  • A PDF or printed transcripts of all the interviews
  • The Best of Anxiety-Gut interviews from previous Anxiety Summits
  • GABA Quickstart Program (a group program with me on how to actually use GABA for your physical anxiety, with a private Facebook group and live Q & A call)
Purchase options

 

If you’re already familiar with spore-based probiotics please share how they have helped you. That way we can all learn.

If you’d like to ask a question, please post in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear from you once you’ve listened in to Kiran’s interview and the others.

 

Filed Under: Anxiety Summit 5 Tagged With: anxiety, anxiety summit, bacillus coagulans, bacillus licheniformis, depression, IBS, Kiran Krishnan, Megaspore, serotonin, spore-based probiotics, stool test

Sage, gluten, CBD and gut-brain axis: highlights from The Anxiety Summit 5

November 8, 2019 By Trudy Scott 11 Comments

sage gluten cbd gut-brain axis anxiety summit 5

Today I’m sharing a few highlights from The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis which airs November 11-17. We cover all new material, it’s research-based and we talk about practical solutions.

The highlights cover sage and other herbs that can impact GABA and anxiety; new testing for gluten issues; CBD and the role in gut health, anxiety and PTSD; and the microbiome and gut-brain axis and neurotransmitters.

#1 Herbs to Improve Digestion and Support GABA ~ Magdalena Wszelaki, author of Cooking for Hormone Balance, shares this in our interview

Astringents like sage, rose and red raspberry tighten loose junctions in IBS, support female hormonal health and ease anxiety.

We discuss sage and make reference to this study called Flavonoids: some of the wisdom of sage? which concludes that the “actions of molecules such as hispidulin [a flavonoid found in sage] might be able to target GABAA receptors for the management of anxiety and epilepsy.”

What I really love about this interview is that Magdalena brings it all back to practical steps and shares how to make a healing medicinal tea.

#2 Latest Gluten Research and Testing (Part 2) ~ Dr. Tom O’Bryan, DC, CCN.  We discuss the Neural and Wheat Zoomer tests and Dr. Tom shares this:

Let’s do a different test that’s more accurate and more sensitive. That’s why the Wheat Zoomer looks at 26 different peptides of poorly digested wheat. And it’s the most comprehensive test on the market today …. on the Anxiety Summit, the ones that you’d be most concerned about is the gluteomorphins and the prodynorphins because those antibodies attack the opiate receptors, and that is critically important with brain dysfunction.

#3 Gut-Brain Axis and Mental Health ~ Peter Bongiornio, ND, LAc, author of Put Anxiety Behind You, talks about the microbiome and bidirectional aspects:

so we have this microbiota, all these germs and bacteria that are in our digestive tract as an example. What we’re seeing now is that the health and the diversity of those create either a healthy brain or an unhealthy brain; that the microbiota that are in our gut actually play a very, very strong role and how neurotransmitters are made both in the gut and in the brain. As well as they also create inflammatory molecules and peptides and things that also travel to the brain and will affect brain inflammation, and affect brain neurotransmitters and affect the receptors of these neurotransmitters as well.

#4 Endocannabinoid System and Your Gut ~ Hyla Cass, MD, talks about CBD and anandamide in the endocannabinoid system:

CBD influences the breakdown of anandamide , extending it’s use. Anandamide is found in both the brain and the gut and the name comes from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means bliss.

So what CBD is doing is extending the life of the anandamides, so they can act longer. Dr. Cass also shares the connection between the endocannabinoid system, stress, the HPA axis, the gut and PTSD:

we react to stress and trauma through the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis/ the HPA Axis. And the endocannabinoid system tends to tone down or modulate the HPA axis to protect us from stress. And when it’s protecting us from stress in that way, it’s also signaling to the GI system to calm down. People that don’t have enough endocannabinoid activity are more likely to have posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis airs online Monday Nov 11 to Sunday Nov 17, with replays the following weekend. I do hope you’ll be joining us.

If you’re having any doubts, read this delightful message I received this week and be inspired and motivated to tune in and learn:

Trudy … thanks so very much for the 3 transcripts featuring Ann Louise Gittleman, Carolyn Ledowsky and Dr. Datis Kharrazian … they were ALL fantastic and unlike many of the health related docu-series, I felt that I obtained some great insights and key take-aways that will help me on my road to good health journey! You asked some GREAT questions and I appreciate you digging further for names of supplements and more specificity to ensure clarity. You are a PRO and I am so glad I found you ❤️

anxiety summit

Please join us and listen to this interview and all the others on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis.

When you register now you’ll get access to there 3 interviews right away:

  • Fix the Brain to Fix the Gut – Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, FACN, CNS
  • MTHFR, B12 Genes and Anxiety – Carolyn Ledowsky, ND
  • Why Bile is the Key to Anxiety & Hormone Havoc – Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

anxiety summit 5 speakers

If you have already signed up for the summit, I hope you enjoy these interview highlights.

If you have yet to sign up, please do come and join us and learn.

Register for the Anxiety Summit 5

 

If you’re considering purchasing the summit to keep for your learning library, you have a number of options that include:

  • Online only or flash drive or both
  • A PDF or printed transcripts of all the interviews
  • The Best of Anxiety-Gut interviews from previous Anxiety Summits
  • GABA Quickstart Program (a group program with me on how to actually use GABA for your physical anxiety, with a private Facebook group and live Q & A call)
Purchase options

 

If you have already purchased, I know you’re going to find immense value from this material to be able to refer back to again and again.

What gems stand out for you today and do you have questions?

If you’d like to ask a question, please post in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear from you once you’ve listened in to these interviews and the others.

 

 

Filed Under: Anxiety Summit 5 Tagged With: anxiety, anxiety summit, cbd, digestion, Endocannabinoid, GABA, Gluten Testing, Gut-Brain Axis Mental Health, herbs, Hyla Cass, Magdalena Wszelaki, Peter Bongiornio, PTSD, tom o’bryan, zoomer

Vagus Nerve Activation to Reduce Anxiety with Dr. Navaz Habib: The Anxiety Summit 5

November 1, 2019 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

vagus nerve activation

Navaz Habib, DC, is one my guest experts on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis and our topic is: Vagus Nerve Activation to Reduce Anxiety.  What You’ll Learn –

  • Using bowel transit time and heart rate variability to measure how your vagus nerve is working
  • How the vagus nerve becomes dysfunctional
  • Vagus nerve activation tools: gargling, auricular acupuncture, social interaction
  • and more

navaz habib as5

Dr. Navaz shares this about the vagus nerve and why good vagus nerve function is so important for both good digestion and for easing anxiety (and preventing it too):

the vagus nerve is one of many cranial nerves. So we have 12 pairs of cranial nerves, or nerves that begin within the head cavity, and they exit to the brainstem at that point.

The vagus nerve is the 10th pair of cranial nerves. So it’s called the 10th cranial nerve, as well. And there’s one on each side. There’s actually one on the left and one on the right. So it is a pair and is the vagus nerves in reality. But the vagus nerve is the only cranial nerve of those 12 pairs that will exit the cranium. Okay. So it does have some function in and around the face and the throat, but it does exit and go into other areas of the body.

And that’s what makes the vagus nerve so important. It is the only one that does so. And it goes to innervate so many different organs inside our body. This includes the heart, the lungs, stomach, gallbladder, liver, kidneys, every single part of our digestive tract, as well as our spleen. So all of these organs need to have a certain level of information that’s passed from the brain to those organs, but we also need all of those organs, especially the gut, to send that information back up to the brain. And the vagus nerve is very, very important in that specific function.

He shares the two tests he uses to ensure his clients have strong vagus nerve function:

  • the bowel transit time test: “how much time is it is actually going to take for the food that we ingest from our mouth to exit through the opposite end, to go through the entire digestive tract and leave”
  • heart rate variability test which measures vagus nerve function directly: “heart rate variability is actually the measurement of the amount of time in milliseconds between beats of the heart.”

We go into great detail on each of the above tools and how to use them and we also discuss some of the research. This paper is fascinating: Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain-Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders. Here are some highlights from our discussion:

  • how inflammatory disorders and psychiatric disorders are so interconnected through the vagus nerve function
  • gut-brain axis sends information/chemicals from gut bacteria, parasites, viruses, yeast etc. up through the vagus nerve to the brain.
  • it involves the inflammatory system or the cholinergic anti-inflammatory system and acetylcholine
  • if we have gut dysfunction that can lead to dysfunctional inflammatory control, immune dysfunction and autoimmune diseases
  • it’s going to lead to inflammation in the brain, and in the entire nervous system and that’s where a lot of mood disorders like anxiety and depression really start to come from because we now know that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine levels are highest in the gut.
  • this can lead to depressive type symptoms, mood type symptoms, and significant fear and worry that we find in anxiety.

When I found out that Dr. Navaz had written a book called “Activate Your Vagus Nerve: Unleash Your Body’s Natural Ability to Heal” (my Amazon link), I reached out to him to speak on the summit, and I’m so glad I did. I know you’ll love this interview as much as I do and will get tons out of it!

navaz habib and trudy scott

We cover how vagus nerve function can be impacted – lack of sleep and hormonal imbalances can be factors. A big trigger is trauma and I share my traumatic plane ride and how it affected my vagus nerve, voice and throat.  I blogged about this and if you missed all that be sure to check the blog and videos in advance of our interview: Vagus nerve rehab with GABA, breathing, humming, gargling and key nutrients. The amino acid GABA was central in relaxing the throat spasms I experienced.

And we end with very practical ways to activate your vagus nerve

  • Deep breathing exercises and cold showers (“cold showers are a really great way to make our breathing a little bit more difficult. It’s like adding a weight onto the breath/onto the chest so that we’re forcing ourselves to breathe as well as we possibly can even under stressful circumstances”)
  • Gargling and using the gag reflex
  • Humming, chanting and singing (I used these approaches for my vagus nerve issue)
  • Auricular acupuncture (which is also very effective for addictions)
  • And finally, social interaction (I love this one and we talk about pyroluria and why addressing this social anxiety condition with nutrients is also so important for vagus nerve

Be sure to listen to Dr Navaz’s wonderful interview to get a complete picture of the importance of the vagus nerve, how it can start to function poorly and how to reactivate it to improve gut health and help with anxiety and mood issues.

It will lay a great foundation for the mentions of vagus nerve in many of the other interviews.

anxiety summit

Please join us and listen to this interview and all the others on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis.

When you register now you’ll get access to there 3 interviews right away:

  • Fix the Brain to Fix the Gut – Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, FACN, CNS
  • MTHFR, B12 Genes and Anxiety – Carolyn Ledowsky, ND
  • Why Bile is the Key to Anxiety & Hormone Havoc – Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

anxiety summit 5 speakers

If you have already signed up for the summit, I hope you enjoy these interview highlights.

If you have yet to sign up, please do come and join us and learn.

Register for the Anxiety Summit 5

 

If you’re considering purchasing the summit to keep for your learning library, you have a number of options that include:

  • Online only or flash drive or both
  • A PDF or printed transcripts of all the interviews
  • The Best of Anxiety-Gut interviews from previous Anxiety Summits
  • GABA Quickstart Program (a group program with me on how to actually use GABA for your physical anxiety, with a private Facebook group and live Q & A call)
Purchase options

 

If you’re already familiar with the importance of the vagus nerve and already do work on activation (to improve gut health and help with anxiety) please share what you find works for you. That way we can all learn.

If you’d like to ask a question, please post in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear from you once you’ve listened in to Dr. Navaz’s interview and the others.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: activate your vagus nerve, anxiety, anxiety summit, digestion, GABA, gut health, Navaz Habib, serotonin, throat, trauma, vagus nerve

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  • Increased sociability improves vagus nerve function: the role of social anxiety, pyroluria and low zinc
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