The brain cells that grow in your gut

A new study from UCLA and Danone shows that daily supplements of a fermented milk product may influence the parts of the brain linked to emotion and sensation.

Yes, the gut-brain axis is alive and well, with science now confirming what all of us have understood intuitively all along ... 

“I knew in my guts it was wrong” 

“I just trust that gut-feeling”

“My insides were in knots”

“That was my initial gut-reaction!”

and so on ... our emotions, our response to stress, our initial impressions of an idea, a person or an action ... deep-seated and gut-connected. There is a brain in our guts, with connections and receptors that are very like those in our “head brain”. What’s more, this latest study, though hardly surprising, shows that gut brain is influenced by the health and composition of the gut microbiota.

I keep saying it and the research is piling up in support. This is the new frontier where natural (and orthodox) medicine will finally discover the foundation of true physical and mental health and wellbeing (well at least until we can all manipulate our energetic anatomy but that’s likely to be longer in the doing). In the meantime ensure your regular daily intake of a premium probiotic product for emotional balance and stress-reduction! So very easy - Zoloft sales might never be the same again!

"...despite significant concerns about marketing breast milk substitutes"

Danone has topped the Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) for its efforts to address issues such as obesity and malnutrition.

Apparently those assessing the performance of the food and beverage manufacturers of the world don’t place much value on compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. Danone rates 6.3 and and Nestlé 6.0, scoring out of possible 10 in the ATNI Index. Both were applauded for their efforts to address obesity and malnutrition, improving the health profile of their products, making them affordable and promoting them appropriately, yet their breastfeeding policies remain of “significant concern.”

Which means the ATNI score is a complete oxymoron. If these companies are still flouting the MAIF Code, they’re white-anting the most fundamental, preventive health promotion measure that should be the birthright of everyone on this planet! Whatever they do down the track to tackle obesity or malnutrition pales into insignificance. 

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) has branded the report a ”whitewash.” They say the ATNI Report is “a clever tactic that rewards companies for the wrong things!” Absolutely agree with that and the fact that Coca Cola and Friesland-Campina (one of the four largest Infant Formula companies in the world) don’t even rate a 0 on the ATNI scale should be cause for panic (but probably no surprise)! A long time ago, concerned women of the world boycotted Nestlé for inappropriate promotion of their breast milk substitutes in developing countries - maybe we need to mount another campaign?