Gut and Psychology/Physiology Syndrome (GAPS)

This blog is intended solely for educational purposes and should not be construed as health or medical advice.

INTRODUCTION: PART 2B

This post is a continuation of Introduction Part 2A, where I started discussing the various roles microbes play in the human body and how we use the GAPS diet to target the cell regeneration process in the digestive system. For full context, please read my two earlier posts.

Furthermore, I will delve into how gut flora is passed on to the baby. I have little-known and important information to share, so I encourage you to read the entire post. In this post all quotes will be from Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride's latest book, "Gut and Physiology Syndrome," published in 2020.

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The Living Carpet: Visualizing the Gut Biofilm

Since it has been a while since my last blog post, I'll provide a brief review of the previous ones. This award-winning photo from the Stanford School of Medicine's Center for Human Microbiome Studies shows a mouse colon colonized by human microbiota. In this image, the microbes appear as colorful entities above the green mucus layer produced by the gut wall itself. The photo effectively illustrates the mucus layer as a barrier between the microbes and the colon cells, indicated here by the blue nuclei.

In a healthy individual, modern genetic sequencing from labs like Stanford shows that microbial cells exist in a near 1:1 ratio with our human cells, balancing roughly 38 trillion bacterial cells with 30 trillion human cells. Microbes residing on the gut's absorptive surface, with its tiny fingerlike protrusions called villi, secrete various substances such as polypeptides, glue-like adhesions, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and others to form biofilm, their 'home.' All microbes create these 'homes,' resulting in a complex community of varying microbes living in a mixture of their biofilm, filling all the deep crevices and crypts between the villi of this absorptive surface. The biofilm is part of the green mucus layer, not clearly visible in this photo.

The Soil Metaphor: An Underground Fungal Network

Remember, this is not a chaotic microbial mass but a highly organised system, much like the soil beneath our feet. Speaking about soil research, Dr. Natasha writes:

"The most active place in the soil is an area around plant roots because the roots secrete sugars. A myriad of microbes live in this area feeding on these secretions, none so important as fungi called mycorrhiza. These fungi create an extension of the root system of the plant; they attach themselves and grow a fine network of long filaments with many branches, spreading to a large area around the root. Through mycorrhiza all plants growing in an area are connected to each other underground; two trees may be many metres away from each other, but they are connected through this fungal network sharing information, nutrition and water...researchers now talk about the whole planet being wrapped in a fungal 'blanket' of fine filaments- a network probably much more sophisticated than our World Wide Web...This network is dynamic: new filaments grow all the time and connect to the whole network, while other filaments disappear. This fungal network provides soil with a fine structure, a road system of a sort, and a myriad of small creatures (bacteria, viruses, archaea, protozoa and other) live on this structure Just as we -humans- build our homes along streets, lanes, and roads that deliver goods back and forth for us, the microbes build their 'homes' along the micorrhizal 'road system'."

Could our microbial ecosystem be structured similarly? According to Dr. McBride, without a doubt. Recent microbiome research has identified some 60-70 species of different fungi in the gut of healthy people; future research will probably discover more. Dr. McBride writes:

"These fungi provide our microbial community with a structure; their network of thin filaments makes a 'road network' in the gut flora. Along this network smaller creatures can build their homes (their 'houses, villages and towns') and thrive. Nutrients, information and water are delivered to their 'homes' via this 'road network' and wastes are taken away. So, our ability to benefit from the food we eat, would depend greatly on the fungal population inside our gut flora!"

The Internal Nutrient Factory

In my last post, I discussed three primary roles of microbes in the human body: 1) protecting us from invaders and toxins, 2) aiding in the digestion and absorption of food, and 3) orchestrating the cell regeneration process. Microbes have additional functions, and I will elaborate on a few significant ones here.

There are nutrients so crucial to the functioning and maintenance of the body that the body does not depend on food intake but rather produces them itself. A fourth major role of microbes is the synthesis of some nutrients. They actively synthesise the whole B vitamin group and vitamin K2 as well as some amino acids and other molecules. Dr Natasha writes:

"...Mother Nature has provided us with our own little factory inside our digestive system to produce these substances for us all the time. There is a very complex 'conversation' going on between the body and the gut flora, where the body asks for so much vitamin B12, for example and the gut flora releases it in the right amount and the right chemical shape for the body to use."

It is possible to obtain B vitamins from foods, with liver being an excellent source for the complete range of B vitamins. However, the primary source of B vitamins comes from healthy gut flora. Vitamin K2 plays multiple roles in the body; for instance, without it, the body cannot properly utilize minerals, especially calcium. A deficiency in K2 can prevent calcium from reaching the bones and teeth resulting in osteoporosis and tooth decay. Calcium may then accumulate in soft tissues, such as blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure and heart disease, in the brain calcifying important structures, in the joints and tissues causing arthritis, and in the liver and kidneys causing stones. Although a few fermented foods, like high-fat cheeses and natto, can provide K2, microbes are the main and sometimes sole source of this vitamin. Needless to say, if your microbiome is compromised, this entire process will not function effectively, eventually leading to nutritional deficiencies and ultimately disease.

The First Brain: Neurotransmitters and Mental Health

Another significant role of microbes is the production of neurotransmitters, chemicals utilized by the nervous system. These neurotransmitters serve as messengers between nerve cells and fulfill various other functions in the body. Current research demonstrates a link between the gut and the brain, revealing that many neurotransmitters produced in the gut are eventually transported to the brain. For instance, serotonin and dopamine are largely produced in the gut, with about 95% of serotonin and approximately 50% of dopamine originating there.

Serotonin is known as the "happy" neurotransmitter, contributing to feelings of contentment, relaxation, and joy. If the gut fails to produce sufficient serotonin, a person may feel negative and depressed. Dopamine is our "motivational" neurotransmitter, helping us wake up ready to face daily challenges. Individuals whose gut cannot produce this neurotransmitter may lack motivation, a major symptom of depression. Depression is a GAPS condition, Dr. McBride's clinical experience has shown that when treated with the GAPS protocol, irrespective of digestive symptoms or not, the production of seratonin and dopamine normalise.

Microbes are also responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). If these are not produced a person will suffer from anxiety, panic, insomnia and depression as well as being prone to drug and alcohol abuse. It is often hard for these people to believe that their mental symptoms have anything to do with their gut, however, Dr. McBride has found that once successfully treated with the GAPS protocol their symptoms disappear.

The Estrobolome and Hormonal Control

The gut has been referred to as the "second brain" of the body. However, some researchers now go further, labeling it the "first brain" and others even considering it an endocrine organ due to its own complex nervous system, hormone production, neurotransmitters, and various other substances. A group of researchers has even reported the discovery of an 'estrobolome', which consists of bacterial genes involved in estrogen metabolism within the gut. The gut produces around 40 hormones, with microbes playing a role in this process. These microbes produce their own hormones, which metabolize our hormones. For instance, research has demonstrated that steroid hormones excreted into the gut via bile are converted by a common bacterium, Clostridium scindens, into androgens, such as testosterone. From androgens, the gut flora can generate estrogen and other steroid hormones.

Recent studies have demonstrated that microbes can affect our behavior, mood, and thoughts by producing active endorphins, which are substances that make us feel good as Dr. Natasha explains:

"Every food craving you experience is likely driven by your gut flora; the microbes in your gut are addicted to that specific food and compel you to consume it by creating an overwhelming urge... Our bodies function as an ecosystem; they are not solely ours. They comprise a community of various life forms, coexisting and collaborating in the same space. Our lifestyle choices can alter the entire ecosystem, leading to numerous consequences."

There is of course so much more that I could say about the roles of microbes but I will conclude here and will now discuss how gut flora is passed to the baby.

How a Baby Inherits the Microbiome

The baby's microbiome comes from the microbiomes of both the mother and the father (through sexual activity). Early research suggested that microbes interact with the baby in utero, but modern genetic tracking shows that the birth canal remains the primary and most vital environment where a baby gets its pioneer microbiome. According to Dr. Natasha, women with abnormal uterine or vaginal flora may struggle to conceive or maintain a pregnancy, making it a significant cause of infertility.

When the baby passes through the mother's birth canal, they ingest a multitude of microbes present there. The mother's vaginal flora comes from her bowel, while the father's flora comes from his groin area. If either parent has abnormal gut flora, it will be passed to the baby at birth. A child starting life with abnormal gut flora will have a weakened immune system and constitution. If a child is born via c-section, this vital step of passing through the birth canal is missed. Research has shown that babies delivered by c-section have lower microbial diversity and lack bifidobacteria, a critical species essential for the development of the immune system and gut.

The Intergenerational Microbial Decline

Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride writes:

"We have an epidemic of abnormalities of gut flora in the world...As gut flora passes down the generations, this epidemic worsens... After the Second World War the grandparents...passed this partially damaged gut flora to their children. Their children were born at a time when breast feeding was going out of fashion (replaced by artificial formulas), when antibiotics were given to children for every cough and sneeze, and when junk food was increasingly becoming a large part of children's diet. All these factors created generations of people with far more damaged gut flora than in their parents... So, by the time the younger generation decides to have children, their gut flora is far more seriously damaged than in their parents' generation and that is what they pass to their babies. The situation is worsening with each generation. The epidemic of GAPS or abnormal gut flora increase every year."

Environmental Toxins and Biological Maternal Unloading

Moreover, many women and men are unaware that pregnancy serves as a way for a woman to detoxify her body. From a young age, women in today's society accumulate increasing levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies due to factors such as poor food and water quality, pesticides, personal care chemical products, hair dyes, makeup, and daily environmental exposures. Additionally, as women choose to have children later in life, their toxic load increases. During pregnancy, this accumulated toxic load is unloaded (dumped) into the baby, this high toxic burden further compromises the health of the child (if it survives).

The placenta functions intensely as a filter to protect the child by trapping many of these heavy metals within its tissues. However, the sheer volume of modern chemicals can tax this barrier. The firstborn child typically receives the highest level of these toxins, while subsequent pregnancies benefit from the mother's cleaner body, unless she has been exposed to significant amounts of toxins again. Tests on newborns' umbilical blood have detected around 287 toxins, including mercury, pesticides, and fire retardants.

The Protective Shield of Breast Milk

In a healthy mother, breast milk serves as a probiotic food and an additional source of microbes for the baby, which is why breastfed infants develop healthier gut flora compared to those who are bottle-fed. Breast milk is considered the ideal food because its composition is similar to that of the mother's blood.

According to McBride, it contains live and active immune cells, immunoglobulins, enzymes, growth factors, hormones, neurotransmitters, and many other components. All of these vital elements contribute to the proper maturation of the gut wall, gut flora, immune system, nervous system, and all other organs and systems in the child's body.

There is of course so much more to say but I will leave it there and finally conclude the introduction to the gut microbiome. My next post will be about the GAPS diet disspelling a lot of confusion about animal foods and vegetables.

Here is a study from The center for Microbiome Study at Stanford that you may find interesting: cell.com

REFERENCES & DEEPER READING

• The 1:1 Microbiome Cell Ratio Update: Sender, R., Fuchs, S., & Milo, R. (2016). Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacterial Cells in the Body. Cell, 164(3), 337-340. [Weizmann Institute of Science Data Revision].

• The 10:1 Ratio Historical Framework: Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., Hamady, M., Fraser-Liggett, C. M., Knight, R., & Gordon, J. I. (2007). The Human Microbiome Project. Nature, 449(7164), 804-810. [The NIH Human Microbiome Project Baseline Data].

• The Intergenerational Disappearance of Microbes: Sonnenburg, E. D., & Sonnenburg, J. L. (2019). The vanishing microbiota of the industrialized world. Science, 366(6467). [Stanford University Center for Human Microbiome Studies].

• The Re-evaluation of the Womb Environment: Kennedy, K. M., de Goffau, M. C., et al. (2023). Questioning the fetal microbiome: The production of a sterile environment in utero. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 228(2).

• Maternal Heavy Metal Transfer & Placental Trapping: Gundacker, C., & Hengstschläger, M. (2012). The role of the placenta in fetal exposure to heavy metals. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 162, 201-206.

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