The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis<\/a>, today I am going to highlight GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), so you can really connect the dots and understand how far-reaching an impact this calming neurotransmitter has, and how important GABA is as an amino acid supplement.<\/p>\nHere are a few of the many interviews on the summit that feature GABA. Some of these gems come from the experts and some are from me helping to make the connections.<\/p>\n
The GABA challenge for a leaky blood brain barrier: a theory<\/h2>\n
In my interview with Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Fix the Brain to Fix the Gut, <\/strong>we take a deep dive into his GABA Challenge for a leaky blood brain barrier and he shares how it is a theory and agrees that we still have much to learn about GABA:<\/p>\n\n- The GABA challenge test was based on the lactulose mannitol test which is a well-established test in gastroenterology for measuring leaky gut.<\/li>\n
- He used GABA because the S100 B and blood brain permeability tests were not readily available at the time.<\/li>\n
- The theory was that if GABA helped ease anxiety or improved sleep, the person had a leaky blood brain barrier because of the GABA particle size.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
He is still always suspicious if someone takes GABA and they have a reaction and does always want to go and check the blood brain barrier too.<\/p>\n
But Dr. Kharrazian agrees there may be other mechanisms at play: \u201cthere is actually the possibility of other pathways that can impact GABA, maybe directly to the gut itself, through the vagus, so I don\u2019t discount those possibilities. The real answer is, we don\u2019t know.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nI have deep respect for Dr. Kharrazian and appreciate having the opportunity to discuss this with him.<\/p>\n
Estrogen dominance, low progesterone, zinc-copper balance, GABA and\u00a0 benzodiazepines<\/h2>\n
In my interview with Ann Louise Gittleman too, Bile: Key to Anxiety and Hormone Havoc, <\/strong>we talk about high estrogen, low progesterone, zinc-copper balance and GABA:<\/p>\n\n- Part of the whole issue with estrogen dominance is that we don\u2019t have enough zinc in our diet and we need the zinc to make progesterone. We know that when we have a copper\/zinc imbalance, with high copper and low zinc, we\u2019re going to feel more anxious.<\/li>\n
- And we need zinc in order to make GABA and other neurotransmitters like serotonin. We also need it to make progesterone.<\/li>\n
- Damage to the liver and thyroid that was caused by fluoride was reversed by using the amino acid GABA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ann Louise also shares how GABA was a savior for her personally. After suffering from a very bad concussion and a bout with post-traumatic stress she eventually ended up on a benzodiazepine and GABA helped her get off it. The benzo \u201cwas very very toxic for my system because I don\u2019t have all the detox pathways functioning the way they should. GABA was my savior. So I\u2019m a big believer in GABA. And to this day, I still take 750 mg at night and in the morning<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nMimosa pudica seed kills parasites and the whole plant extract modulates GABA<\/h2>\n
In my interview with Dr. Jay Davidson, Parasites, Anxiety and TUDCA for Your Liver, <\/strong>we take a deep dive into the role of parasites in anxiety and a product he uses for doing a parasite cleanse. Dr. Jay shares these gems about mimosa pudica seed:<\/p>\n\n- It is amazing for overall gut support: \u201cSo even if your goal isn\u2019t a parasite cleanse, mimosa pudica seed is awesome to help support the digestive tract<\/em>.\u201d<\/li>\n
- It can help break up biofilm.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s really good against Candida<\/li>\n
- It helps to normalize microbial levels within the GI system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And I share a study where the whole plant extract of mimosa pudica was found to help modulate GABA receptors. The study reported the benefits were very similar to one of the common antianxiety medications.<\/p>\n
I would love to know if the seed has an impact on GABA levels too and will be digging into the research. I\u2019ll share what I find in a follow-up blog post.<\/p>\n
Lactobacillus rhamnosus (a probiotic) increases in GABA levels<\/h2>\n
In my interview with Dr. Peter Bongiorno, Gut-Brain Axis and Mental Health<\/strong>, he shares a mouse study that found Lactobacillus rhamnosus (a probiotic) led to increases in the calming neurotransmitter GABA:<\/p>\n\n- GABA is typically very low in people who have epilepsy and anxiety.<\/li>\n
- \u201cThis study is showing us that you can actually increase GABA by just getting a good microbiota and getting the right strains of probiotics into your body.<\/em>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I love his description of how he thinks about this: \u201cwhen the brain gets over-excited it\u2019s like a calm blanket that sort of covers the brain and makes everything feel okay<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nEveryone who has benefited from the calming effects of GABA can relate to this.<\/p>\n
GABA for gut pain, throat spasms, burning mouth, and anxiety and sleep<\/h2>\n
And finally, in my interview, GABA & Tryptophan: Gut-Anxiety Connections<\/strong>, I take a deep dive into all things GABA, sharing how low GABA plays a role in poor gut health and digestion:<\/p>\n
![\"gaba](\"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/gaba-for-anxiety-unwanted-thoughts.png\")
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