What is the hype about Gut Bacteria?

So much research focused on our guts...

Have you noticed that there has been a lot of research lately about the stuff in your tummy?  They are on We've done our own research through our lives.  We all learned in school about how the stomach aids in digesting food our experiences tell us what makes us well, what makes us sick and what we don't like to eat. We know how some foods make us happy, some have other moods associated with them and some foods cause real problems as many have allergies to it.  Commercially processed food and pesticides, all that food hype!  It's not specifically all about Multiple Sclerosis, all of humanity is affected by what goes on in the gut, even since before we were born.

How does the Gut affect humans?

Overall it has been said that the gut is another brain.  We all have a gut working hard the same way using that bacteria as it has all your life all through the history of humans.  What you eat can really affect your mood, and if you starve yourself, it weakens you sometimes to become immobile.  Same if you eat food that your body rejects or is infected with competing bacteria.  McDonald's anyone?  Generally any fast food has its problems for many sensitive people.  Reactions, silent allergies that develop into chronic illness can all be attributed to changes to the Microbiome (another term for the collective bacteria your stomach holds).  One of the diseases (and the the one I'll focus on, inspired in part by Dr Kim Lee) is Multiple Sclerosis.  It is highly affected by the gut...

From pre-birth to post-death, your gut is actively working.

Your individual collection of Gut Microbiome were given to you from your birth mother and all the diverse genetic line of women before we were who we appear to be today.  It is unique, just like the body it inhabits.  It can be influenced more by what you eat than the environment you live in.  Upon birth, your entire body is new.  Before birth, the bacteria grows and develops individual reactions from the ingestion of nutrients derived from the mother.  The microbes prepare the infant for the world they will arrive in approx 9mo from the spark of life.  All through the life it influences emotions, health outcomes and energy levels and more including mental health.  It continues after death to help the body decompose

There is a similar disease that brews completely from our Guts

Up to about 15 years ago as of 2019, a few diseases were misdiagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis.  Most commonly, it was Lyme Disease which manifests in similar fashion.  For confirmed cases of Multiple Sclerosis, some MS Flareups could be attributed to artificial sweeteners and tobacco use,  Coincidentally, those do change the structure of the Gut Microbiome in a negative way.    Helicobacter pylori (Hp) Hp Sydney Strain-1 antigen is a disease very similar to Multiple Sclerosis born in your guts.  Some of us have both or even just Hp misdiagnosed. If you are new to this disease, or even if you are a "Vet" (more than 5 years of diagnosed life) and you have questions about your diagnoses, talk to your MS Specialist about that. It could be possible it was overlooked to test for it.  Who knows.  You may be "Cured" of MS before death.  I'll leave you with a question:  Does Cannabis affect our Gut Bacteria?  Perhaps a subject for a new post perhaps on Walknroll.info

Thank you for reading about our guts

And in the end, it all gets flushed out with oils and toxins.  There is a saying about your personal plumbing system.  Just like your house, it can get backed up or have other issues voiding waste.  This sometimes can be attributed to changes in that Gut Bacteria.  Some of it is in the Lower Intestine where the Bowel voids solid waste aka Feces. For more information on Gut Bacteria. Multiple Sclerosis, misdiagnosed conditions etc, the MS Society of your nation (in Canada, the MS Society of Canada) will have accredited information they give free of charge. In addition always maintain a good relationship with at least one accredited medical professional that knows your disease and you.  If you would like to help change the path of Health Care in your Canadian health region there are links to provincial Patent Engagement teams found via the BC Patient Voices Network on their website and connected partner sites like the BC SUPPORT Unit on theirs.  At the SUPPORT Unit in your Canadian province you could even become a "Citizen Scientist".  How cool would that be?

Support more research on the Gut

To help fund more research on the Gut and other subjects leading to MS and it's effects, as well as supporting those of us living with the Disease nationally, consider a donation to our MS Walk in Prince George through our Self Help Group's Walk Team. (link will come active closer to the date where our top banner says the walk is happening soon, about 150 days before I think.  All other links should work). 10] of the money donated through our team stays in Prince George to be used for our local community.  For news about the MS Walk and other events in your community, refer to the MS Society of Canada's website and locate your area of support.

How do you handle negitive stress?

The science of Stress:

We have ample knowledge of what negative stress (NS) does to us.  Well, those of us who live with MS for more or less than than half a decade are aware of it.  In 2018, Researchers finally proved what we knew.  Awesome.  But what good is knowledge and facts without knowing how to avoid NS?  Do we just sit at home and avoid it?  Is that even a good idea?  Experts such as health authorities say "No" very loudly.

What is Stress?

Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood.  There is positive stress.  That gets infants from crawling to walking.  Learning new ways to overcome barriers.  Improvements in life.  Success in goals affecting lives including your own and family.  Those affect our disease in positive ways.  Negative stressors like arguments, angry thoughts, actions, pain are the things that do damage to those of us in all autoimmune diseases.

How to reduce stress in your life

This post would be useless without telling you how to avoid that stress.  Fact is though, you can never avoid negative stress.  You can only change it to positive stress.  But how do you do that?  There are many ways to learn "Stress Management".  The most basic way is to recognize internal negative thoughts and change them to reflect positive.  One way to do this is to force your face into the shape of a smile and hold it 10 seconds.  Try it now.  I'll count for you.  10----9----8----7----6----5----4----3----2----1.  Breath in slowly and deep, exhale just as slow.  How do you feel now?  Try it as soon as you open your eyes. This is known as the "10 second smile" exercise.  I guarantee your day will go better when you start in a good mood.  Go for a walk, but be prepared for the weather and environment you walk in.  You could even try yoga.  There is some poses for chair bound individuals and is so simple to do at home with no real expensive training or specialized equipment.  Some other activities are listed below the video posted

Mindfulness to relieve negative stress

This is a powerful way of calming your thoughts to reduce NS   Simply put, it involves sitting or lying in a quiet comfortable space, closing your eyes, breathing deeply and steadily not too fast and not thinking of anything except sensations in your body occurring during the exercise.  Be aware of your body and try to block harsh sounds distracting thoughts and interruptions.  There are free courses offered in this exercise, I will encourage you to learn and practice it often.  if you live in the region covered by the Northern Regional Chapter of the MS Society of Canada, (much of British Columbia outside the Lower mainland east of Victoria but includes Haida Gwaii and the Yukon Territory) there is a "Regional Self Help Support Group" that meets electronically or by telephone on the 4th Friday of each month.  Contact the Chapter to learn more.  Sign up for their "Messenger" newsletter sent out once a month to be aware of all MS activities affecting our MS'ed up part of the world.  We live here with a huge percent of Canada's large MS population.  The Northern Regional Support meetings are facilitated by an instructor in Mindfulness.  We also have a very active Self Help group in Prince George, as do many communities throughout the region and caregivers are as welcome as people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, just like the face to face groups in our communities

Social activity to combat stress

Social activity is great to combat negative stress.  If your community has no "live" self help group, perhaps you can start one.  For a number of years, I facilitated a group of one here.  If you would rather, join a walk group at a local mall or park or just call a buddy and set up a walk.  Find new friends on a  public transit bus. Almost all communities have some very diverse social groups and activities, many are free and all are welcome.  You will enjoy yourself if you let yourself feel free.  Accept that some NS must be ongoing, particularly grief.  It helps keep memories alive and knowledge that death is only hard on the surviving contacts.  Truly enjoy life and smile lots to overcome NS, even if grief.  Practice that "10 second smile" (described above) now.

Ending stress and this post

Simply said, Stress will never end.  This post must though.  Practice changing it all to Positive Stress.  Smile at strangers, it is incredibly therapeutic and self empowering when they smile back.  Start each day with a smile.  Laugh more often.  Praise, don't criticize.  Practice good hygiene and always find the silver lining to every situation, take value in experiences good or bad.  Try to relax at all times, and live well.  Till next post, practice smiling!

Did you enjoy this post about Stress?

Consider donating to the Prince George MS Walk through our Self Help Group's "Walk Team".  You may join there and help us inspire your contacts by raising money collectively, or simply donate to a member of the team securely with all our thanks.  10% of that donation and other monies collected by the team gets returned to the Prince George Multiple Sclerosis Self Help Group to share through the community unrestricted from MS Society restrictions and obligations.