Your Second Brain | By Dr. Chris Frantz

You didn’t know you had one, you say? In fact, you do have two brains: one

inside your skull and one in your gut. Though they may seem very different, the two

brains are actually connected in the body – and created out of the same type of tissue

during fetal development!

Because of this special “gut-brain” connection, looking for the underlying cause

of psychiatric disorders in the gut makes scientific sense. The gut (“second brain”)

actually produces more of the neurotransmitter serotonin than the brain does. Critical

to the proper functioning of both brains are amino acids, for example, glutamine and

tryptophan. (We have many more!)

When working with an individual with depression, for example, individualized

combinations of amino acids can be used to lift the mood naturally. The body

metabolizes tryptophan into serotonin, the mood-elevating neurotransmitter, thereby

lessening the depression or alleviating it altogether. This is only one example of

treating brain imbalances with amino acids.

Scientific evidence shows that nourishing your gut flora with beneficial bacteria is

extremely important for proper brain function, psychological well-being and mood

control. One of the best ways to optimize the health of the gut is to consume

traditionally fermented foods, such as cultured vegetables, or cultured dairy (kefir or

yogurt). Probiotics can also be used to add good bacteria to the “second brain.”

An optimally functioning digestive system is the first step to good health and that

also requires sufficient minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, and clean water.

“Fluoride and chlorine in the [drinking] water can inhibit one or more of the enzymes that

our stomachs use to make acid, so even though there are only very small quantities of

either one in most municipal water, it’s best to drink water with no chlorine or fluoride

[toxic] content.” - Dr. Jonathan Wright

BG Medical Center is an advanced medical center and med spa, offering a wide range of medical, wellness and beauty services. We cater to patients from Chicago, Chicagoland and the areas surrounding it.