Your · Dr Braham’s Roadmap for Better Health and Wellness Page 5 ©Nutrimedilinks Pty Ltd 2015 Gut Feelings Your The Food Body Mind Connection Following a clinical examination,

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Dr Braham’sRoadmap for Better Health and Wellness

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The Food Body Mind Connection

CONTENTS 3

INTRODUCTION 4

1. DIGESTIVE FUNCTION 5

2. ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS 7

3. TOXIC OVERLOAD 9

4. HORMONAL BALANCE 11

5. THE BRAIN-BODY CONNECTION 12

YOUR NEXT STEPS 13

CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

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INTRODUCTION

From the moment we are conceived, we are dependent upon optimum provision of good nutrition. Initially, in the womb from the mother, from mother’s breast milk and then from the food we eat.

The statement ‘We are what we eat’ is in many respects true. The amount, type and quality of the food we eat all play a major role in determining our health and well-being.

We all need daily optimum amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrate, together with vitamins and minerals, other nutrients and water to maintain health and wellbeing. Excesses or deficiencies of any of the nutrients can lead to nutrient imbalances, which can affect cell and organ function, and over time be detrimental to health thereby leading to poor mental and physical functioning and progressing eventually to disease.

To help ascertain whether there may be any nutrient imbalances, you may need to undergo:

1. a clinical evaluation namely history, examination and food diary;2. specific tests for individual nutrient level eg iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, red cell folate etc.

Treatment and management will be dependent on the clinical condition, your individual circumstances and any identifiable underlying causes.

There are five areas which will be considered as part of my holistic approach to healthcare.






1. DIGESTIVE FUNCTION

The digestive system includes:• the mouth;• oesophagus (food pipe);• stomach;• small intestine;• large bowel (colon);• liver;• gall bladder; and • pancreas.

The primary function of the digestive system is to break down food into small components that can be absorbed into the rest of the body.

The digestive system also acts as a barrier to any toxins and harmful organisation in the food we consume. At the same time the digestive system excretes waste food which may include toxins.

A properly functioning digestive system is essential for optimum health and the prevention of illness.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms or conditions associated with an impaired digestive function may include:• heart burn and reflux;• abdominal pain and bloating;• constipation and/or diarrhoea;• blood loss;• weight loss;

If your symptoms or health concerns indicate a need to properly assess your digestive system, it is wise to seek a professional assessment.





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Following a clinical examination, to assist in the diagnosis, you may be advised to do one or more of the following tests:

NON-INVASIVE TESTING• ultra-sound and x-ray imaging;• Stool Analysis and appropriate blood tests for the detection of infectious organisms such as

worms, parasites, bacteria, viruses, yeast & fungi. As infections can be missed by conventional laboratories, it may be necessary to do specialised testing and if necessary referral to an Infectious Diseases consultant;

• Breath Testing for the detection of helicobacter pylori infection which is the commonest cause of peptic ulcers, stomach pH (acidity), and stomach emptying time;

• Breath Testing for fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which as a group are a common cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These conditions are associated with abdominal discomfort or pain, constipation and/or diarrhoea;

• Elimination and challenge of individual foods and food groups based on clinical situation to determine any adverse food reactions.

INVASIVE TESTING• Blood tests for conditions such as coeliac disease where your body adversely reacts to gluten;• Visual examination of the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach and upper small intestine (endoscopy)

or large bowel (colonoscopy), or pill camera for the early detection and prevention of more serious conditions;

• Treatment and management needs to be customized according to your symptoms, conditions and their underlying causes.

• In general, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment the better the outcome.






2. ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS

Historically adverse food reactions were considered to be primarily due to an allergic reaction to a protein component in foods.

Subsequently, it has been found there is another large group of adverse food reactions where there is no allergic reaction. These are known as food intolerances. Here the person reacts to the chemicals in the foods. These may be naturally occurring or in the case of processed foods, chemicals added as part of the processing.

There is also a smaller group where there are inherited (inborn) or acquired errors in body metabolism, for example Phenylketonuria (PKU), Favism (due to a defect in an enzyme called glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase).

In the big picture, adverse food reactions are generally classified as either FOOD ALLERGIES or FOOD INTOLERANCES.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Food allergies are typically immediate reactions to foods and are potentially life-threatening. They are said to occur in approximately 1% of the population, but a recent survey at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne Australia reported an incidence in 1 year old babies of 10% and a 5 fold increase in severe reactions known as anaphylaxis. The degree of reaction tends to be independent of the amount of the food consumed so that even tiny amounts may cause a severe reaction.

FOOD INTOLERANCES

Food intolerances, in contrast to food allergies, are generally not life-threatening, and appear to be more common in the general population. In many instances, reactions to food intolerances are delayed (up to 48 to 72 hours). Severity of the reaction varies with the individual and the amount of food ingested. In many cases, the symptoms can be mild to severe, with durations that can be either short or long. Due to the delay between the intake of specific foods and the onset of symptoms, the connections between food intolerances and symptoms are not easily identified, and so are often missed.

PEOPLES UNIQUE FOOD REACTIONS

Susceptibility to adverse food reactions will vary from person to person. This susceptibility is determined by a combination of genetic, medical, nutritional, environmental and stress factors.

Food allergies are more commonly experienced in infants and children whereas food intolerances are more common in older children and adults. Both allergies and intolerances may run in families and can also be triggered by sudden changes of diet, infections or severe and/or prolonged stress.





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SYMPTOMS

Symptoms or conditions associated with food reactions may include: • Acute anaphylaxis (sudden shortness of breath and wheeze, swelling of the mouth and collapse)

involves the lungs, heart, and circulation and is strictly an allergic reaction; • Chronic fatigue, lethargy, tiredness, cognitive, mood and behavioural dysfunction;• Headache, migraine, blurred vision, muscle pains;• Rashes, hives, eczema, mouth ulcers;• Nasal & sinus complaints, ear conditions, asthma;• Joint pains, muscle pains;• Gastro-intestinal symptoms (including irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel

conditions).

The causes of these symptoms or conditions may be one or more whole foods, food components or food additives.

If your symptoms or health concerns indicate a need to properly assess your reactions to various foods, it is wise to seek a professional assessment.

In order to assist in the diagnosis of allergies and/or intolerances, you may be advised, following a clinical examination to do one or more of the following :

• Skin tests and blood tests for food allergies;• A 7 day food/ symptom diary recording your food intake and symptoms;• Exclusion diet followed, if appropriate by food challenges for food intolerances;• Breath tests (eg hydrogen & methane tests) for conditions such as lactose, fructose and sorbitol

malabsorption.

Treatment will be dependent on the clinical condition, the results of your tests, your individual circumstances and any identified and treatable underlying causes for example, nutritional imbalances, immune dysfunction and toxin levels. In general, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment the better the outcome.






3. TOXIC OVERLOADToxins are harmful to your body. Your body is subjected to toxins through the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and exposure and absorption through the skin. Their effects can be cumulative and overwhelming to our cells, organs, whole body and ultimately our health and quality of life.

Your body is also affected by toxins from infectious organisms for example gastro-intestinal infections such as traveller’s diarrhoea, bacterial or viral infections anywhere in the body for example throat, skin etc. Toxins may also result from the failure of the body’s metabolic process for example liver and kidney failure.

YOUR DEFENCE AGAINST TOXINS

Your body has a series of barriers detoxifying and eliminating systems to assist in dealing with these harmful substances. Your capacity to detoxify or eliminate the toxin depends, on the one hand, on the potency and dose of the toxin, and on the other hand, the strength of your defence, detoxifying and eliminating systems.

Examples of toxins include: • air pollutants;• heavy metals such as lead and mercury as found in fish and dental amalgms;• chlorine;• chemicals in food;• pesticide residues etc.• Examples of the body’s defence systems include:• The physical barrier of the skin, of the gastro intestinal lining, the lining of the respiratory, urinary

and genital tracts;• The secretions from these various linings may produce substances that can have a detoxifying

effect. In the case of the digestive system, the intestinal secretions include the digestive enzymes;• The immune defence system is composed of cells and antibodies which may inactivate many toxic

substances;• The detoxifying substances produced by the liver can mitigate the harmful effect of many toxins;• The individual’s cells of the various organs also have processes in place to aid the detoxifying

processes;• The excretion by the intestines (faecal excretion), kidneys (urine excretion), skin (sweat) and

respiratory tract (CO2).





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Symptoms are often not obvious but should be considered when people have chronic symptoms which are unexplained despite thorough standard medical evaluation. Common examples include energy depletion, reduced cognitive dysfunction, impaired mood, gastro-intestinal symptoms, multiple allergies and intolerances and other unexplained organ dysfunction eg kidney and liver.

Clues can sometimes be obtained from the history for example, high chemical exposure, high mercury intake through the consumption of large size fish.

If your symptoms or health concerns indicate a need to properly assess your toxic load or weaknesses in your body’s defence systems, it is wise to seek a professional assessment.

In order to assist in the diagnosis, you may be advised, following a clinical examination to do one or more of the following:

• a seven day food symptom diary (for chemicals in food);• enquiry about airborne pollutants (home, work and the external environment);• blood and urine tests (for foreign chemicals in the body);• gastro-intestinal, liver and immune function tests.

Treatment and management will be dependent on the clinical condition, your individual circumstances and their underlying causes.

In particular, it is wise to minimize your toxin exposure, optimize your natural defence system and if necessary take appropriate steps to detoxify by removing toxins such as mercury.






4. HORMONAL BALANCE

The glandular (endocrine) organs secrete chemical substances that travel in the bloodstream to enter and act on other organs of the body. These substances are referred to as hormones.

There are many endocrine organs and they give rise to many hormones:

• The Pituitary gland produces hormones that stimulate the thyroid, adrenal, ovarian and testicular glands;

• The Thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones which affect the metabolism of all the body’s cells;• The Parathyroid gland produces parathyroid hormone that affect bones and calcium metabolism;• The Adrenal glands produce hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, aldosterone, cortisol,

DHEA and testosterone to cope with stress and enhance body function;• The Ovaries and Testes produce hormones that affect sexual and other functions of the body e.g.

mood, muscle and bones.

The ability of these glands to produce hormones is affected by your individual genetic makeup, your nutritional status and stress levels.

If your symptoms suggest a hormonal imbalance, it is wise to seek professional advice.

You may be asked to complete a blood, saliva and/or urine tests.






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5. THE BRAIN-BODY CONNECTION

Brain function enables us to think, remember, feel (joy, fear, anger, sadness), behave, plan and organise our lives. A healthy brain is also required for sleep, speech, sensory function and movement (motor function).

Each of these individual brain functions can affect each other e.g. how we think can affect our feelings or vice versa.

Each of the brain’s functions may individually or collectively affect any of the rest of the body’s organs.

Each of the body’s organs may affect and interact with all the other organs, including the brain. For example,

• if the heart fails to pump blood, then the supply of oxygen and nourishment to all organs will be impaired and with it there will be a loss of function. This loss of vital oxygen and nutrients can affect the brain;

• many hormone imbalances, albeit by different mechanisms, can also affect other organs, the brain and its functions. For example, thyroid deficiency can lead to loss of cognitive function, depression, fatigue, energy depletion, slow pulse rate, cold intolerance, constipation and weight gain;

• the immune system can affect most organs of the body. For example, when a person gets a viral infection the immune cells can release substances called cytokines which in turn can act on other organs such as the brain producing fever, tiredness and aches and pains.

In the situation of allergies and intolerances substances such as histamine and serotonin may be released which in turn can manifest as actions on many organs of the body which in turn may act on other organs such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, brain and skin system.

This interplay of brain and body function is a dynamic, continuous process of which we are not fully aware.

If your symptoms or health concerns indicate a need for a comprehensive brain-body holistic assessment, it is wise to seek professional advice.

You may be requested to participate in a comprehensive history taking, examination, and investigation and with that develop a holistic plan.







YOUR NEXT STEPS

Essentially, there are several choices you may like to consider:

1. The Clinical Approach

If you may have one or more issues affecting your health. It is wise to seek professional advice to define your specific personal issues or problems, and where possible their underlying causes. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment the earlier the recovery and the opportunity to enhance your quality of life.

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2. The Educational Approach

For the most part we cannot see or feel this dynamic food, body and mind connection. Very often we do not have the basic knowledge of what is happening and what we can do to be better masters of our minds and bodies.

If you want to gain a better understanding, feel empowered, and be in a better position to be a master of your destiny there are many educational sources you may like to consider.

3. Combine the Clinical and Educational Approach

When in doubt I suggest this is far more comprehensive approach and in many cases leads to the best outcomes.

Wishing You a Better Quality of Life

Dr Braham



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