“Fuel Your Core, Absorb More: Gut Health Meets Vitamin Power! Balance Your Gut, Unlock Your Vitality.”

 

Gut health affects nearly every aspect of your well-being—from digestion and immunity to mental clarity and disease prevention. Supporting your gut with a balanced diet, fibre, fermented foods, and stress management is one of the most powerful ways to improve overall health.

Here’s why it’s important:

1. Digestion and Nutrient Absorption

• The gut breaks down food and absorbs nutrients your body needs to function, like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
  
• Poor gut health can lead to malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies.
  

2. Immune System Support

• Around 70% of your immune system is located in the gut.
  
• A balanced gut microbiome helps the immune system respond appropriately, fighting harmful invaders without overreacting (as in autoimmune diseases).
  

3. Mental Health and Brain Function

• The gut-brain axis is a communication system between your gut and brain.
  
• The gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin (about 90% of it is made in the gut), which regulate mood, sleep, and cognition.
  
• Imbalances in gut bacteria have been linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.
  

4. Inflammation and Chronic Disease Prevention

• A healthy gut limits systemic inflammation.
  
• Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut microbes) is associated with chronic conditions like:
  
  • Type 2 diabetes
    
  • Obesity
    
  • Heart disease
    
  • Certain cancers
    
  • Autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
    

5. Detoxification and Barrier Function

• The gut lining acts as a barrier, preventing toxins and pathogens from entering the bloodstream.
  
• If the barrier is compromised (“leaky gut”), it may trigger inflammation and immune responses.
  

6. Metabolism and Weight Regulation

• Your gut microbiome plays a significant role in influencing metabolism, appetite regulation, and fat storage.
  

Some bacteria are more efficient at extracting energy from food, which can affect weight gain.

 

 

2-minute Neuroscience Gut-Brain – neuroscientificallychallenged.com

Lactose and Gluten Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance	MCM6	−13910C>T	CC	heavily impacted
Gluten Intolerance	HLA	DQ2/DQ8	DQ2.2	moderately impacted

The DNA results correlate with Alex’s blood test results – he is lactose intolerant. Though his DNA results show a predisposition to develop Coeliac Disease, his blood test only showed that he is gluten sensitive.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to properly digest lactose due to low lactase enzyme levels. It’s manageable through dietary choices and is not dangerous, but it can cause uncomfortable symptoms if unmanaged.

🧪 What Causes It?

Lactose is broken down in the small intestine by an enzyme called lactase.
People with lactose intolerance have low levels of lactase, so lactose remains undigested and ferments in the colon, leading to symptoms.

⚠️ Common Symptoms (30 minutes to 2 hours after eating dairy):

• Bloating
  
• Gas
  
• Abdominal pain/cramps
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Nausea
  

🧬 Types of Lactose Intolerance:

1. Primary (most common)
   
   • Develops gradually with age as lactase production decreases.
     
   • Common in adults, especially of Asian, African, Hispanic, and Indigenous descent.
     
2. Secondary
   
   • Caused by illness or injury to the small intestine (e.g., celiac disease, gastroenteritis).
     
   • Usually temporary.
     
3. Congenital (rare)
   
   • A genetic condition where babies are born without any lactase.
     

🥛 Foods That May Cause Issues:

• Milk (cow, goat, etc.)
  
• Cream
  
• Cheese (especially soft types like ricotta or cream cheese)
  
• Ice cream
  
• Butter
  
• Whey or milk powder in processed foods
  

✅ Managing Lactose Intolerance:

• Avoid or limit high-lactose foods.
  
• Use lactose-free or plant-based alternatives (e.g., almond, oat, or soy milk).
  
• Take lactase enzyme supplements before consuming dairy.
  
• Choose low-lactose dairy like hard cheeses (cheddar, parmesan) or yoghurt with live cultures.
  

❗ Not to Be Confused With: Milk allergy – an immune response to milk proteins (not the same as lactose intolerance).

Lactose Intolerance: Everything You Need To Know – www.youtube.com/@MedicalCentric

Gluten 

🌾 What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It gives dough its elasticity and is common in bread, pasta, cereals, and many processed foods.

🔍 1. Gluten Sensitivity (Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity – NCGS)

What it is:

• A condition where people experience symptoms related to eating gluten, but do not have celiac disease or a wheat allergy.
  
• It’s a diagnosis of exclusion (meaning other conditions must be ruled out first).
  

Symptoms may include:

• Bloating
  
• Abdominal pain
  
• Brain fog
  
• Fatigue
  
• Headaches
  
• Joint pain
  
• Mood changes
  

Key features:

• No damage to the small intestine (unlike celiac disease)
  
• No specific lab or biopsy marker
  
• Symptoms usually improve when gluten is removed and return when it is reintroduced
  

⚠️ 2. Gluten Intolerance (General Term)

“Gluten intolerance” is a non-medical umbrella term that can refer to:

• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) (as above)
  
• Celiac disease (an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten)
  
• Wheat allergy (an allergic response to wheat proteins, not just gluten)
  

Because it’s vague, gluten intolerance could mean different things depending on how it’s being used.

🧬 Summary Table:

Feature	Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)	Gluten Intolerance (General Use)
Medical diagnosis?	No (diagnosis of exclusion)	No (general/non-specific term)
Immune response?	Possibly innate immune (not autoimmune)	Varies (could include immune, allergic, or no clear response)
Gut damage?	No	Only in celiac disease (a specific form of gluten intolerance)
Symptoms?	Digestive + neurological/fatigue	Similar symptoms; the term varies in meaning
Celiac test results?	Negative	Could be positive (in celiac) or negative

📝 In Summary:

• Gluten sensitivity refers specifically to non-celiac gluten sensitivity, where symptoms occur without an autoimmune or allergic response.

• Gluten intolerance is a more general, often non-medical term that could refer to gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, or wheat allergy.

• If someone experiences symptoms with gluten but tests negative for celiac and wheat allergy, they may be classified as having gluten sensitivity.

Alex’s Result: The analysis detected the presence of the DQ2,2 genotype. This result suggests that you have a moderate chance of developing coeliac disease when on a diet high in gluten. 

Gluten Intolerance: Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatment – www.youtube.com/@MedicalCentric

Gut health and autism spectrum

The connection between gut health and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a growing area of research. Gut health may influence symptoms and behaviours through inflammation, neurotransmitter production, and gut-brain signalling. Supporting gut balance—especially in autistic individuals with GI issues—can be a meaningful part of a holistic care plan, though it should always be guided by a healthcare professional.

Here’s an overview of what we know:

🧠 1. The Gut-Brain Axis in Autism

• The gut-brain axis is a communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.
  
• In children with autism, this communication appears to be altered, potentially affecting behaviour, mood, and cognition.
  

🧫 2. Differences in Gut Microbiota

• Studies show that many individuals with ASD have an imbalanced gut microbiome (called dysbiosis), including:
  
  • Lower diversity of gut bacteria
    
  • Overgrowth of certain potentially harmful bacteria (e.g., Clostridia)
    
  • Reduced levels of beneficial microbes (e.g., Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus)
    

💩 3. Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms in Autism

• Up to 70% of individuals with ASD experience GI issues such as:
  
  • Constipation
    
  • Diarrhea
    
  • Bloating
    
  • Abdominal pain
    
• These symptoms often correlate with increased behavioural challenges, such as irritability or anxiety.

🔬 4. Microbial Metabolites and Behaviour

• Gut bacteria produce metabolites (like short-chain fatty acids or SCFAs) that influence the brain.
  
• An imbalance in these metabolites may affect neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin, potentially influencing behavior and emotional regulation in ASD.
  

🍽️ 5. Diet and Intervention

• Some families report improvements in behaviour and GI symptoms with:
  
  • Probiotics/prebiotics
    
  • Gluten-free/casein-free diets
    
  • Fibre-rich or anti-inflammatory diets
    
  • Faecal microbiota transplants (FMT) – experimental but showing promising early results
    
• Note: These interventions don’t “cure” autism but may reduce symptoms or improve quality of life.

PLEASE NOTE: ANY VIEWS REGARDING THE RESULTS ARE MY UNDERSTANDING AND DO NOT SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. THE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION IS STRICTLY RELATED TO ALEX’S RESULTS AND NOT MEANT FOR SELF-TREATMENT. ALWAYS SPEAK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE STARTING ANY TREATMENTS.