Diet and nutrition
From gut health
to brain health
There is increasing scientific evidence
that links the emotional and cognitive
centres of the brain with gut function.
Nutritional therapist Stella Chadwick
explains how this relates to autism
We now know, from a great deal
of research, that the health of the
microorganisms in our gut – the
gut’s microbiome – is crucial to the
health of the brain.
Many practitioners have known
this for some time but lacked the
research to prove it. Over the years
we have seen thousands of children
in our Brainstorm Health Clinics and
often found that restoring gut health
has led to a wide range of
improvements. These have included
better focus and cognition, reduced
anxiety, improved bowel function,
better sleep, balanced appetite,
reduced self-stimulatory behaviour,
balanced hormones, and an
improved immune system.
Let’s explore the workings of the
gut and highlight simple steps to
optimise the microbiome and
improve the connection between
the gut and the brain.
What does the gut do?
The key role of the gut is to extract
energy from food. It also houses 70
per cent of our immune system; this
is significant for children who have
either overactive or underactive
immune systems, food intolerances,
chemical sensitivity or high levels
of inflammation.
The gut also produces about
two dozen hormones and
chemicals, which control everything
from our mood to our appetite.
Deep inside the tissue of the gut
there is a very thin layer called the
enteric nervous system (ENS), which
is also known as the second brain.
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The ENS communicates with the
main brain through the vagus nerve,
which acts as a superhighway in
shuttling information between the
gut and the brain.
How digestion works
Digestion starts when you think
about food, but the key action
begins when the food reaches the
stomach. Here, strong hydrochloric
acid breaks the food down and
turns it into a slop called chyme.
The chyme made in the
stomach goes through a doorway
called the pyloric sphincter into the
small intestine. It starts with the
most digestible foods, such as
juice and simple carbohydrates
such as rice and pasta, followed
by proteins such as meat and fish,
which are tough molecules.
Something to bear in mind if you
give your children fizzy drinks,
including fizzy water, with meals is
that the pyloric sphincter can pop
open through pressure from the
CO2 (the fizz). This destabilises the
sequence in which food gets through
and disturbs optimum digestion.
Once the food reaches the small
intestine the tight folds extract as
much nutrition as possible. Then
the small intestine sends
undigested food through the next
doorway, the ileocecal valve (ICV),
into the colon. Here, trillions of
hungry microbes, made up of more
than a thousand species and
weighing about 2kg, await to
munch on these remains. These
microbes regulate our immune
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and endocrine systems. The
endocrine system is the collection
of glands that produce hormones,
which regulate many of the body’s
functions. The microbes also
regulate our neurotransmitters,
which are chemical agents that
allow impulses to be passed from
one cell to the next. In fact, there
are more neurotransmitters in the
gut than in the brain.
These microbes also help to
make vitamins, especially B
vitamins and vitamin K and
butyrate, which helps to control
inflammation and protects the gut
from nasty bugs. The microbes are
primarily made of bacteria, along
with a small number of yeasts,
viruses and parasites that all tend
to live in harmony in a healthy gut.
Restore the microbiome
Our microbiome has been living
with us for millions of years. But in
recent times it has taken a battering
We need every
colour of the
rainbow on our plate
as often as possible”
through poor diets, excessive
medication, intensive farming and
environmental pollutants. Many gut
species have vanished or diminished
to a very small number. It is
becoming well established that the
health of the host depends on the
diversity of its microbiome. So how
can we get our old friends back?
The good news is that the entire
gut microbiome can change in a
matter of days and a robust
ecosystem can be established in a
matter of just a few weeks.
We are what our bugs eat
There are more than 250,000 plant
species in the world, yet we eat
fewer than 200 of them. The bulk of
the world’s food (75 per cent) is
derived from only 12 plants and
five animal species. This means
that many of the gut species that
have protected us for millions of
years have simply disappeared.
One of the most fundamental
steps we can take to improve gut
health is to increase the variety of
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 Diet and nutrition

Get Total
Digestive Foods containing inulin
spices regularly in cooking, as they
contribute to developing diversity.
but traditional diets contained
between 15 and 30g per day.

Support *
Based on mid-point levels Many studies siting health benefits
Food item Inulin (g) per 100g Inulin have used 15-30g per day. The
Jerusalem artichoke 18 For the gut microbiome to flourish it lower table on the left outlines
needs a good fertilizer. Fibre is a foods containing the highest levels
Chicory root 17.5
prebiotic, in other words a non- of resistant starch.
Garlic 12.5 digestible ingredient that promotes
Other sources of fibre
Discover Enzymes For Leeks 6.5 the growth of beneficial
microorganisms, and is the fertilizer Beta-glucans can help promote
Artichoke 6.5
Gluten Carbohydrates
of choice for our gut bugs. The friendly bacteria in our gut. They
Onions 4.3 best-known prebiotic is inulin, which are found in abundance in foods
Dairy Polyphenols Wheat bran 2.5 is found in garlic, onions, leeks and such as oats and barley, certain
in very high levels in Jerusalem mushrooms such as reishi and
Proteins Fats Asparagus 2.5
artichokes. It can also be taken as shitake, and seaweed. In fact,
Wheat flour 2.4 a supplement, but it’s important to seaweed is an amazing prebiotic,
Barley 0.8 start with a tiny sprinkle as it can loaded with vitamins and minerals,
Rye 0.7 cause a lot of gas and bloating, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. A
www.houston-enzymes.com especially in a depleted gut. study has shown that after just a
Banana 0.5
Most of the studies showing the
benefits of inulin are based on
natural, unprocessed foods we eat. daily amounts of 10-30g per day. If Fibre … is the
We need every colour of the your body is new to inulin then start
© Houston Enzymes 2019 *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to rainbow on our plate as often as with no more than 2-3g per day
fertilizer of
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
possible. Each variety of food will and build up slowly, especially if choice for gut bugs”
help cultivate a specific member of you decide to supplement. See the
the microbiome. We need to eat table on the left for a list of the top
more polyphenols, found in foods containing inulin. few weeks of using seaweed fibre
Stella Chadwick is colourful fruit and vegetables. supplements as many as 15 new
the founder of They are also found in Resistant starch groups of good bacteria colonise

Hericor-MRL
Brainstorm Health abundance in extra virgin olive oil, Resistant starch is found in grains the colon.
and a nutritional and which bypasses the small intestine and seeds and legumes and is Other ‘gut superfoods’ are
biomedical consultant and provides direct food for the exceptional at supporting and linseeds or flaxseeds, which
who specialises in microbes in the colon, so is one of growing a healthy microbiome. provide anti-inflammatory omega-3

Enzyme Nutrition to Maintain

working with adults the most powerful foods we can It’s fascinating that cooking and fatty acids, as well as cellulose to
and young children consume. Polyphenols found in then cooling foods containing feed our microbiome. Foods

a Healthy Digestive System

on the autism colourful foods such as blueberries, resistant starch such as rice can containing pectin, such as apples,
spectrum. www. blackberries, apples, raisins, plums increase the resistant starch level not only improve microbiome
brainstormhealth. and cocoa can also have a big by 15 times. This level is diversity but also help to control
Hericor-MRL promotes a healthy digestive system co.uk impact in helping the microbiome maintained even if the food is inflammation. Apples also happen
flourish. Another powerful re-heated. Modern diets contain to be loaded with polyphenols.
by providing important enzyme groups:
intervention is using herbs and 2-4g of resistant starch per day,
Enzymes that prevent oxidative stress: Probiotics
l Laccase Foods containing resistant starch Probiotics are the ‘seeds’ that help
populate the microbiome directly. It
l Superoxide dismutase Food item Serving amount Resistant Starch (g) per serving is best to consume probiotics
Enzymes that prevent cellular growth: Green banana 1 medium 4.7 through yoghurt and fermented
l Protease Oats, rolled ¼ cup uncooked 4.4 foods such as sauerkraut, milk or
coconut water kefir, kombucha,
l Glucose amylase White Beans ½ cup cooked 3.7
and beet kvass. You will find many
Enzymes that promote detoxification: Lentils ½ cup cooked 3.4 of the recipes for these foods at
l Peroxidase Yams ½ cup cooked 2.5 www.brainstormhealth.co.uk.
If you have problems tolerating
l Cytochrome P-450 Chickpeas ½ cup cooked 2.0
fermented foods because of
For more information please contact:
l Cytochrome P-450 reductase Pearl Barley ½ cup cooked 1.9 histamine issues, then consider
Aneid UK Ltd
The constituents of Hericor-MRL have been found to Rice, brown ½ cup cooked 1.6 probiotic supplements.
Spires, Suite 8, Adelaide Street, However, you should avoid
increase lipoxin A4 and neurogenic reserve in animal Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 5BB, UK.
Kidney beans ½ cup cooked 1.4
those that can increase histamine
studies as well as exhibiting prebiotic properties in in vitro Tel. + 44 (0)1582 485 209 White rice ½ cup cooked 1.1 levels, including lactobacillus
studies. Hericor - MRL should be taken one week prior email: info@aneiduk.com Quinoa ½ cup cooked 1.0 casei, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus,
Streptococcus thermophilus,
(and during) supplementation with an Omega-3 complex. www.speechnutrients.eu Potato ½ cup cooked 0.7
Lactobacillus delbrueckii and
Oats 1 cup, cooked 0.5
Lactobacillus helveticus.
Aneid 2019 V1.indd 1 20/02/2019 19:58
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 Diet and nutrition

Extra help from enzymes

Many parents report that digestive enzymes have
helped children with autism. Dr Devin Houston, an
enzyme biochemist with more than 30 years of
research experience, explains how and why they
work and highlights research that backs this up

Gastrointestinal issues are common

among those on the autism
spectrum1. Constipation, diarrhea,
bloating, cramping and pain are
prominent symptoms2,3. Food
allergies and dietary intolerances
are linked to many gut problems,
Dr Houston is the although they are not confined to
founder and chief just those with ASD.
executive of Houston In recent years, the use of
Enzymes, www. special diets, probiotics and
houston-enzymes. digestive enzymes has gained
com popularity as a means of
addressing some of these dietary
concerns1,2. So popular have they
become that the market for enzyme
supplements is expected to reach
$1.6 billion by 20254.
Most over-the-counter enzyme
supplements are derived from
sources such as papaya,
pineapple, friendly fungi and some
bacteria. Plant and fungal-derived
enzymes are active through a broad
range of acid or alkaline conditions,
unlike pancreatic enzymes.
The ability to digest food while
still in the stomach may prevent
certain food intolerances. Milk
lactose can be converted to simple
sugars by the enzyme lactase, which
prevents the cramping and bloating
observed in lactose intolerance.
Recent studies have focused on
using enzymes to prevent the
formation of smaller protein
fragments, known as peptides,
from wheat and dairy5,6. Food
remains in the stomach for several
hours, giving oral enzyme
supplements ample time to break
Food allergies
and dietary
intolerances are linked
to many gut problems”
down food proteins more completely.
Enzymes alter the structure of
peptides. Changing the food protein
structure destroys the peptide’s
activity. Different foods require
different enzymes to break them
down. The best enzyme products
for enhancing food protein
digestion will have several different
types of enzymes listed on the label.
Polyphenols, sometimes referred
to as ‘phenolics’, are compounds
present in vegetables and fruits.
They provide antioxidant and other
health benefits. They also inactivate
certain digestive enzymes,
especially those involved in
carbohydrate and starch digestion7.
Complex carbohydrates found
in plants, if not broken down into
simple sugars, can become a food
for gas-producing bacteria – as
experienced in the excessive gas
associated with foods such as
broccoli, cauliflower and legumes.
Fortunately, taking enzyme
supplements overcomes phenolic
inactivation. Products containing
amylase, glucoamylase, xylanase
and alpha-galactosidase enzymes
help break down starchy carbs.
This allows polyphenolic compounds
to do their job without upsetting the
gut bacterial environment.
All individuals are different, as
are their diets and environment.
The many types of enzymes provide
an array of combinations of enzyme
products. Try matching problem
foods to the enzymes that work on
those food types, whether proteins,
fats, starches or carbohydrates. It’s
a good idea to experiment with
enzyme dosing because of their
high degree of safety and non-
toxicity. Best results are obtained
with consistent dosing. Enzymes
stay with the foods in which they
were consumed, so the enzyme
taken for breakfast won’t be around
to help with lunch.

REFERENCES
l 1 McElhanon BO, McCracken C, Karpen S, Sharp WG: ‘Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis’, Pediatrics
(2014) 133:872-83.
l 2 Buie T, Campbell DB, Fuchs G. J. I. I. I., Furuta GT, et al: ‘Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with
ASDs: a consensus report’, Pediatrics (2010) 125(Suppl. 1):S1-18.
l 3 Wang L, Christophersen CT, Sorich MJ, et al: ‘Low relative abundances of the mucolytic bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila and
Bifidobacterium spp. in feces of children with autism’, Appl. Environ Microbiol. (2011) 77:6718-21.
l 4 Nutraceuticals World. ‘Enzymes: moving beyond digestion’, March 2018.
l 5 Ido H, Matsubara H, Kuroda M, et al: ‘Combination of gluten-digesting enzymes improves symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: a
randomized single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study’, Clin. Transl. Gastroenterol. (2018) 9(9):181-9.
l 6 Plugis NM, Khosla C: ‘Therapeutic approaches for celiac disease’, Best Pract. Res. Clin. Gastroenterol. (2015) 29(3):503-21.
l 7 Zhang X, Jia Y, Ma Y, Cheng G, and Cai S: ‘Phenolic composition, antioxidant properties, and inhibition toward digestive enzymes with
molecular docking analysis of different fractions from Prinsepia utilis royle fruits’, Molecules (2018) 23:3373-94.

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