Neuroscientist Reveals How to Repair Gut Health without Probiotics - Dr. Sherr

Intro (0s)

• The gut, specifically the small intestine, requires fuel to function, and this fuel does not necessarily come from carbohydrates or food, but rather from specific sources such as glutamine and butyrate (9s).
• The large intestine is primarily fueled by butyrate, while the small intestine relies on glutamine as its main source of fuel (34s).
• A lack of proper fuel in the gut can affect gut permeability, gut health, and ultimately mood (21s).
• The cells in the small intestine are only one layer thick and require glutamine to work, make energy, and function (52s).
• The gut is considered the body's first immune system, and its primary function is to protect the body from the outside world (1m21s).
• If the gut is not functioning properly, the entire system can become disrupted, allowing toxins and other substances to enter the body (1m40s).
• A leaky gut can be caused by a lack of fuel for the cells, inflammation, infection, or other factors, leading to a breakdown in the body's natural defenses (1m50s).
• The gut is closely linked to the brain and nervous system, with the first neurons and connections developing in the gut to understand the outside world (1m24s).

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• A company called Fatty15 offers a C15 supplement for individuals who do not consume a lot of cheese or want to increase their C15 levels, with research funded by the United States Navy (2m18s).
• Fatty15's research has been discussed across the literature for a long time but has only recently become widely known (2m42s).
• The founder of Fatty15, Dr. Ven Watson, has been interviewed on this channel and is one of the key people who discovered the C15 deficiency in dolphins (2m32s).
• C15 is a form of saturated fat that can be found in good quality cheeses, but consuming enough cheese to address a deficiency would require a large amount (3m1s).
• A 15% discount link to Fatty15 is provided in the description underneath the video, and it is recommended to read the literature on the topic, which is considered fascinating (3m11s).

Cause of a Leaky Gut (3m22s)

• A leaky gut can be caused by various factors, all of which are related to the final issue of inflammation in the gut (3m22s).
• When the gut is inflamed, the cells lining the gut do not receive the fuel they need, leading to them opening up and allowing substances to pass through, resulting in a leaky gut (3m45s).
• The key fuel for gut cells is the amino acid glutamine, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the gut lining (4m2s).
• Inflammation in the gut can cause the cells to become dysfunctional, leading to impaired gut function and the onset of a leaky gut (3m47s).
• A leaky gut can lead to the passage of inflammatory substances into the body, causing further inflammation and related issues (3m59s).

Glutamine (4m11s)

• Glutamine is not essential for muscle building, but it plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health, particularly for endurance athletes and individuals who engage in high-intensity exercise (4m12s).
• When glutamine levels are depleted due to intense exercise, it can lead to leaky gut, diarrhea, and abdominal symptoms (4m50s).
• Many athletes experience gut problems due to glutamine depletion, which can be mitigated by supplementing with glutamine (4m57s).
• A case study of an ultramarathon runner who took 4-5 grams of glutamine every four hours during a race resulted in a significant reduction in gastrointestinal symptoms and improved performance (5m40s).
• Glutamine is also important for individuals who are not accustomed to exercise, as it can help prevent gut damage and inflammation (6m24s).
• Gut damage can occur quickly, even in individuals who engage in moderate exercise, such as running a 5K (6m30s).
• People who undergo surgery or are hospitalized also require more glutamine to support their gut health and prevent muscle loss and inflammation (6m48s).
• Supplementing with glutamine, even in small amounts, can help prevent gut damage and inflammation, and promote overall gut health (6m59s).
• In some cases, individuals may require up to 20 grams of glutamine per day, particularly in postoperative situations (7m38s).
• Glutamine depletion can lead to leaky gut, which can occur quickly, especially in individuals who engage in intense exercise or are hospitalized (7m50s).

What Happens When Your Gut is Permeable (7m55s)

• Gut permeability is a real and important issue, but it's often over-marketed and discussed in the wrong circles, leading to a lack of understanding about its significance (7m56s).
• When the gut is not functioning properly, it allows the outside world to enter the body, causing significant immune system activation and inflammation, which is usually not beneficial (8m28s).
• The immune system activation and inflammation can cause the brain to become leaky, allowing particles and substances to cross the blood-brain barrier that shouldn't be there (8m41s).
• This can lead to inflammation in other areas of the body, including the brain, and can cause reactivations of dormant infections such as Epstein-Barr, Lyme, or mold (9m6s).
• A leaky gut can be caused by a massive inflammatory response, issues within the gut itself, or external factors such as food, toxins, medications, or environmental stressors (9m25s).
• The relationship between gut permeability and inflammation can go both ways, with inflammation causing a leaky gut or a leaky gut causing inflammation in the rest of the system (9m38s).

Stress & Glutamine Depletion (9m41s)

• Exercise endurance depletes glutamine levels, and stress works along a similar pathway, causing physical changes that contribute to this depletion (9m43s).
• Chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, also known as the "fight or flight" response, which is not conducive to digestion and can lead to issues like bloating, poor digestion, and bacterial overgrowth (10m5s).
• When an individual is in a state of sympathetic overload due to chronic stress, they are unable to enter the "rest and digest" state, resulting in reduced blood flow to the intestines and impaired digestion (10m28s).
• The stress response caused by exercise is an acute stress that depletes glutamine and can lead to a higher incidence of leaky gut, whereas chronic stress is a different response that affects digestion and overall gut health (10m52s).
• Sympathetic dominance caused by chronic stress can prevent the body from properly digesting food, leading to various gut health issues (11m2s).

Glutamine & GABA for Relaxing & Sleep (11m7s)

• Glutamine, an amino acid, can be converted into glutamate, which is also an amino acid and the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, responsible for energy and focus, with dopamine and noradrenaline also involved (11m21s).
• Glutamate can be converted into GABA in the brain, but this process requires vitamin B6 and magnesium as co-actors (11m47s).
• Having too much glutamate compared to GABA can lead to feelings of energy, irritability, insomnia, and other issues, making it essential to maintain a balance between the two (12m0s).
• A healthy gut is necessary for obtaining glutamine, which is then converted into GABA, and inflammation caused by leaky gut can disrupt neurotransmitters, including GABA (12m8s).
• Individuals with leaky gut or depleted GABA levels require more glutamine, not only for their gut but also for the rest of their body, particularly for converting glutamine into GABA for sleep (12m23s).
• A balance between glutamine and glutamate is necessary, as too much glutamate can lead to an overabundance, causing issues such as insomnia and tremors (13m9s).
• Vitamin B6 and magnesium are essential co-actors for converting glutamate into GABA, and many people are deficient in magnesium, making supplementation necessary (13m18s).
• Foods are often depleted of minerals like magnesium, and some individuals may require magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements, but it's essential to check levels to avoid excessive intake (13m29s).

MSG (13m49s)

• Glutamate is an example of a substance that can be associated with MSG, and some people may experience sensitivity to it, such as difficulty sleeping and feeling wired after consumption (13m57s).
• MSG can be a sensitive topic for some individuals, and discussing it can lead to strong reactions, as seen in a past experience where a well-known food personality from the show "Ugly Delicious" reacted negatively to a video discussing MSG (14m28s).
• A study titled "Chinese food syndrome" explored the effects of MSG on the brain, highlighting its potential impact on the body (14m40s).
• When the body is flooded with MSG or glutamate sources, it can lead to an imbalance, causing symptoms such as headaches, which are a common sign of excessive glutamate levels (15m9s).
• Foods high in glutamate, such as caviar and certain hard cheeses, can contribute to these symptoms, and the body's inability to convert glutamate to GABA can exacerbate the issue (15m13s).
• Maintaining a balance between glutamate and other neurotransmitters, such as GABA, is essential to avoid symptoms like headaches and difficulty sleeping (15m38s).

Supporting Your GABA System (15m40s)

• The body is constantly trying to balance itself when faced with stress, and sometimes it requires additional support, such as higher levels of glutamine, especially for individuals with leaky gut or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (15m40s).
• Supporting the glutamine system and increasing GABA levels can be achieved through dietary changes, improving GABA receptor function, and supplementing with vitamin B6 and magnesium (15m47s).
• GABA deficiency is often overlooked, but it can contribute to depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, and supporting the GABA system can have a significant impact on overall well-being (17m0s).
• A holistic approach to supporting the GABA system involves enhancing the GABA receptor, increasing GABA levels, and converting glutamate to GABA, which can lead to improved sleep, mood regulation, and overall comfort (17m10s).
• Excessive glutamate levels can cause jitteriness and edginess, making it essential to find a balance between glutamate and GABA (17m36s).
• Supporting the GABA system can have a positive impact on relationships and daily life, and using supplements like Troom can be beneficial in increasing GABA levels (17m51s).
• Testing for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, such as copper and zinc, is crucial in ensuring the GABA receptor is functioning properly, and magnesium and B6 are also essential for GABA system support (18m1s).
• A comprehensive approach to supporting the GABA system can help individuals overcome challenges and engage in inner work, leading to improved overall well-being (18m20s).
• There is a time and place for intervention in gut health repair, and this can involve using substances like glutamine or products like transcriptions to help get to a place where one can do the work to get themselves right (18m37s).
• The mental and emotional side of gut health is very important, and people often don't realize this (18m49s).
• A nonprofit organization called Health Optimization Medicine and Practice was formed in 2017 by Dr. Ted Naiman, with the goal of optimizing health instead of just treating disease (18m58s).
• Optimizing health involves looking at the root cause of illness, but also focusing on how to keep people healthy and their cells healthy (19m11s).
• This can involve optimizing vitamins, minerals, nutrients, circadian rhythms, exposure, relationships, and other factors (19m24s).
• It can take a long time to feel better, and people often expect to feel better quickly, but it can take years to optimize health, especially when dealing with issues like parasites and bacterial overgrowth (19m34s).
• Transcriptions was developed as a way to help people feel better in the short term while they work on optimizing their health in the long term (19m42s).
• Optimizing gut health can take years, and compliance is also an important factor in this process (19m54s).
• In the short term, things like glutamine, transcriptions products, or even meditation retreats can help, and calming down is often the answer to most problems (20m11s).

Where to Find More of Dr. Sherr (20m28s)

• Transcriptions can be found on Transcription.com, which also offers some products (20m29s).
• Dr. Scott Sherr is personally active on Instagram at @DrScottSherr (20m31s).
• Dr. Sherr's Instagram account is where he does most of his work overall (20m36s).