Fuel your ‘other’ brain to STOP stroke damage

Witnessing a stroke play out in real time is downright terrifying.

Because once it happens, time is of the absolute essence to prevent irreversible damage.

Last week, I saw raw video footage on CNN of an Oklahoma news anchor suffering the ‘beginnings of a stroke’ on LIVE TV.

(You can watch it unfold here)

Thankfully her colleagues were able to get her quick medical treatment so she was able to walk away unscathed.

Unfortunately, not everyone who suffers a stroke is that lucky.

But there is something you can do to help swing the odds in your favor when it comes to stroke risk.

In fact, the recent research reveals an entirely NEW target in beating back a stroke…

One that seems like it has NOTHING to do with your blood vessels… circulation… or heart health!

Here’s the IGNORED aspect of health that you need to pay attention to in order to improve your chances with stroke.

You may think that your BRAIN is in charge of all your bodily functions.

But emerging science has shown how our bodies have a kind of “second brain“…

One that COMMANDS your digestion… metabolism… mood… memory… immune system… and more.

It’s your gut – specifically, the colonies of beneficial bacteria that comprise your microbiome.

Now, a new study shows how your “gut bugs” can INFLUENCE how severe a stroke is…

And how well you might “bounce back” after a stroke.

I’m talking about brain damage… motor dysfunction… cognitive deficits… and more.

One of the culprits of worse stroke outcomes appears to be the presence of excessive amounts of a gut byproduct called TMAO.

Some experts will tell you that the only way to lower your TMAO levels is to cut down on eating red meat and eggs…

But research shows that vegans and vegetarians are MORE susceptible to brain bleeds than meat eaters!

Fortunately, there’s something else you can do.

It’s something that will IMPROVE your gut health on the whole… rather than ZEROING IN on one tiny aspect of it.

Probiotics!

A 2018 animal study out of Iran found that probiotics helped CURB brain damage in stroke victims.

And another animal study published last year found that certain strains of “good bugs” reduced TMAO levels…

And that may be because TMAO is actually produced by “neutral” or even “bad” gut bugs.

NOT the “good” ones!

Supplementing with probiotics helps keep the population of potentially harmful bacteria in check…

And it also helps REGULATE an enzyme that contributes to the formation of TMAO, called FMO3.

But that’s not all…

Beneficial bacteria help food move more quickly through your system… which gives less time for the digestive process to release TMAO and for your bloodstream to absorb it.

There’s only one problem…

Researchers haven’t figured out exactly WHICH combination of beneficial bacterial strains are MOST effective in beating back TMAO…

So taking your regular ol’ probiotic may help… but it may not be enough on its own.

Fortunately, you can go the extra mile by also lowering your TMAO levels with a combination of vitamin D3 and B vitamins… and the heart-healthy antioxidant, resveratrol.

To reducing your risk of stroke,
Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Scientific American. “Targeting Gut Microbes May Help Stroke Recovery.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/targeting-gut-microbes-may-help-stroke-recovery/