You have probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat”, but have you ever thought about what that really means? Basically, our stomachs hold a very high rank of importance in our bodies. Depending on how we treat it, our stomachs can either be the life of the party or the Debbie downer!
Our stomachs are filled with trillions of microorganisms. Microorganisms are bacteria in our stomach that can fall into 2 categories: the good bacteria (aka team life of the party) and bad bacteria (aka team Debbie downer). These microorganisms form our gut microbiome which is the culture or “mood” of our gut. In our gut microbiome, it is pretty much a majority rule type of society. This means our microorganisms can strengthen or weaken our stomach and digestive system depending on who’s in charge. When the bad microorganisms are in charge, they can create a leaky gut. This can lead to inflammation in the gut and other systems or organs in the entire body, including the brain. When there are more good microorganisms than bad, it decreases our risk for a long and dreary list of health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Recently, Kowalksi and Mulak (2019) explained this link between our gut and Alzheimer’s disease. These findings provide a very good reason to adjust our eating habits in order to avoid that risk. Researchers are currently searching for potential benefits of healthier eating habits and how they may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease because of the impact on gut microorganisms.
So far there is already research that shows value in the Mediterranean and MIND diets that include high levels of plant-based foods, probiotics (like yogurt), anti-oxidants (like blueberries, strawberries, kale), soybeans, nuts, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (like fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts). Following these dietary recommendations can help to keep your gut happy and in balance — and to potentially reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease!
You can read the full research article here!