hashimotos

⁣When we think about health, we often separate physical and mental well-being! However, emerging research from the Journal of Clinical Medicine reveals a fascinating connection between our gut and brain, known as the “Gut-Brain Axis”. Understanding this link unlocks new pathways to enhancing digestive health and mental well-being. Let's dive into the vibrant world of the Gut-Brain Axis and discover how nurturing your gut can lead to a happier, healthier mind!

The Gut-Brain Connection

The Gut-Brain Axis is a complex communication network that links your digestive system and brain. This connection involves intricate signaling pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormones, and the microbiome (the trillions of bacteria residing in your gut!). Here's how this dynamic relationship works:

⁣Neural Pathways: The vagus nerve is a major highway for signals between the gut and brain. It plays a crucial role in transmitting information about the state of your gut to your brain and vice versa.

⁣Hormonal Signals: Hormones like serotonin, often called the "happy hormone," are primarily produced in the gut. These hormones influence mood, appetite, and overall mental health.

⁣Microbiome Influence: Your gut bacteria produce various compounds that can impact brain function. A balanced microbiome contributes to better mood regulation and cognitive function.

The Impact of Gut Health on Mental Well-being

⁣A healthy gut can profoundly influence your mental well-being. Here are some ways in which your digestive health impacts your mind:

⁣Mood Regulation: A thriving microbiome supports the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which help regulate mood and combat stress and anxiety.

⁣Cognitive Function: Nutrient absorption in the gut is vital for brain health. Proper digestion ensures your brain gets the nutrients it needs to function optimally, enhancing memory, focus, and clarity.

⁣Stress Response: A balanced gut can help regulate the stress response, reducing the impact of chronic stress on your mental health.

⁣Tips for Nurturing Your Gut-Brain Axis

⁣Taking care of your gut is a powerful way to boost your mental well-being! Based upon recent research from an Integrative Medicine journal article, here are some practical and positive steps to support your gut-brain axis:

⁣Eat a Diverse Diet: Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet. Fiber-rich foods promote a healthy microbiome.

⁣Probiotics and Prebiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can enhance your gut health. Prebiotics are foods that feed these good bacteria. Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and fiber-rich foods like garlic and onions are great choices.

⁣Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water supports digestion and nutrient absorption, keeping your gut in top shape.

⁣Manage Stress: Practice stress-reducing activities like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. A calm mind supports a healthy gut.

⁣Get Moving: Regular physical activity promotes healthy digestion and positively influences your gut microbiome.

⁣The gut-brain axis highlights the incredible interplay between our Digestive Health and mental well-being. By nurturing your gut with a balanced diet, hydration, stress management, and regular exercise, you can foster a healthier, happier mind. Embrace these positive changes and experience the transformative power of the gut-brain connection!

⁣While this article may be utilized as researched suggestions for healthy living, always consult a healthcare provider. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, or are ready to start a natural approach to your lifestyle, Call Dr. Branham today! Check out our Facebook page for more client testimonials!

Many patients experience low thyroid symptoms long before they are diagnosed with thyroid disease.

This is because the medical field uses lab averages as the standard for what’s considered “normal” bloodwork.

Lab averages are based on the average ranges of people who get their blood work done.

The problem with using lab averages is that it’s typically people who are sick that are getting their blood work done...

so if you are in the “normal range,” it just means that you are in the same range as other people who are sick.

At Premier Health Care, we use functional lab ranges, which are based on healthy people - which is why our patients finally start to feel better once they start our treatment plan.

To learn more about our approach, click here to download my free Natural Approach Series, in which I explain the causes and treatment of thyroid conditions.

To see if you qualify for a free consultation, call 314-647-1384.

The number one cause of primary hypothyroidism in the United States is a condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid condition. To understand autoimmune, you first need to understand the immune system. The immune system is the body’s defense system. Eighty percent of the immune system lives in the gut.

To illustrate how a properly functioning immune system works, let’s say you go to a party and someone at that party is sick. You are exposed to a bacteria or virus. If your immune system is strong, you’ll fight the bacteria or virus, you’ll win the fight, and you won’t end up sick.

Now let’s say it’s holiday time - you’ve been busy, stress is high, maybe your diet hasn’t been great and you’ve been eating a few too many desserts. Sugar suppresses the immune system; you’re exposed to that same bacteria or virus at the party, your immune system fights it and loses the fight, and you end up sick.

Both of these are examples of a normally functioning immune system.

In an autoimmune situation, the immune system is no longer functioning properly...

...and it’s not even attacking the bacteria or virus anymore. Instead, it’s turned on your own body and is literally attacking and destroying (in the case of Hashimoto’s) thyroid tissue.

The reason Hashimoto’s patients are in a low thyroid situation is because there’s less thyroid tissue than what’s needed to meet the hormonal demand. The standard of care for low thyroid function in the United State is to put the patient on thyroid hormones, regardless of the cause.

A patient who is only given thyroid hormones and has Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is literally being ignored, because they’re treating the wrong thing. Thyroid hormones do nothing for the cause of the problem, which is the immune system.

This explains why a patient that has Hashitmoto’s may get a little bit better initially after starting thyroid hormones...

...because you’re giving them a boost; but the cause is not being treated, and the symptoms come right back. As the symptoms come back, they are prescribed a higher dose of medication, and the cycle continues to repeat.

At Premier Health Care, we treat the causes of your illness. We do comprehensive testing to uncover the cause of your illness, and create a diet and treatment plan customized to each individual.

Patients who have been sick and tired for years get their lives back; they lose 30-50 pounds on average; they go off many or all of their medications; they have energy to do things they never thought they’d do again.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we treat thyroid conditions, download my free Natural Approach Series here.

To see if you qualify to become a patient, give us a call at 314-647-1384.

Why is gluten such a problem and why did we not hear about it 20+ years ago?

Gluten is a term that encompasses a lot of different proteins that are found in grains. The primary grains that it’s found in are wheat, oats, barely, and rye.

Prior to 20 years ago when we were not genetically modifying grains, the amount of gluten found in grains was so low that it was almost imperceptible on liquid chromatography. Now with the genetic modification of grains to make them herbicide resistant and pesticide resistant, we’ve altered the genetic makeup of those proteins. The amount of gluten that’s in these grains is over 200 times higher than it was about 20 years ago.

The human body was not designed to digest gluten.

In every single person, gluten creates an inflammatory reaction and an immune response. For someone that has a gluten sensitivity, that reaction can be life threatening and hospitalize the patient. Gluten is not good for anyone, whether you have a sensitivity or not.

In the commercial food industry, gluten is used as a binder and preservative.

Almost everything processed that comes in a box or a can contains gluten - salad dressings, condiments, soups, cereals, the list goes on and on.

Even if something is labeled “gluten free,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gluten free.

The FDA sets the definition for labeling food items gluten free, and the FDA’s definition is “less than 20 parts per million.” This means that companies can legally label their foods as gluten free, even if there are small amounts of gluten present; as long as it remains under 20 parts per million.

The best way to ensure you’re eating gluten free is to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality meat, beans that come in a bag, and nuts and seeds that are not cross contaminated with gluten grains.

To learn more about the effects of the Standard American Diet on the body, download my Natural Approach to Digestive Disorders Series here.

If you’d like to talk about a custom meal and treatment plan, give our office a call at 314-647-1384.