GI health

The twelfth intervention to reverse mild Alzheimer's in the Bredesen Protocol is:

Goal: GI health

Approach: Repair if needed; use prebiotics and probiotics

Rationale: Avoid inflammation, and the potential for provoking autoimmune responses

Good health starts with the gut. It's where your body sorts out the good stuff, like protein and vegetables, from the bad stuff like bacteria. A healthy gut contains trillions of microorganisms (called the microbiome), which use the food we eat to create things like vitamins and other nutrients our bodies need, and do battle with pathogens that we are exposed to daily. Our microbiome affects systemic inflammation, our mental health and many other health-related issues.

Unfortunately, overuse of antibiotics, which have their place in the medical arsenal, have resulted in a significant rise in gut-related illnesses, by killing off good bacteria with the bad. Over time, poor dietary choices can also lead to changes in the composition of our microbiome.

Diet is certainly critical here, and food choices should not contribute to systemic inflammation. Inflammation can be triggered by trans fats, gluten, other grains and dairy causing "leaky gut" where the intestinal track develops small holes that allow fragments of food or bacteria to enter the bloodstream. These can trigger an immune response by our bodies. Cyrex Labs' Array 2 can be used to diagnose leaky gut.

Although we recommend working with a health professional on gut problems, here are some steps for helping promote good gut health.

• Optimize your diet.

• Add Probiotics that may be missing in your gut. Dr. Bresdesen recommends Lactobacillus plantarum (from kimchi, sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables),

Prebiotics feed the bacteria in your gut.

Inflammation

Autoimmunity is when your immune system attacks your own healthy cells.

Next Intervention

The next intervention in the Bredesen Protocol is Reduction of Aß.