Brain Maker

As I am struggling with gut issues, and want to care for my brain too, this was a really interesting read. The microbiome is so important to our health, and so threatened by many modern practices (modern Western diet, the overuse of antibiotics, pesticides, and more.) It seems clear this is an area that must be further researched, and hopefully where revolutionary changes can be made to improve health in body and mind.

I find Perlmutter's assurance that his diet is easy to follow for everyone unrealistic. It is time consuming and resource draining, as I am finding now trying to follow a similar protocol. Not everyone has access to all the ingredients, not everyone can afford all that organic food, not everyone has time or space to make all those homemade fermented foods. No doubt everyone can make steps in a healthier direction, but it's just advertising and a demonstration of rich-urban-person privilege to claim it's going to be easy.

Perlmutter also mentioned stress, along with diet and environmental input, as a major factor influencing the gut microbiome. However, he does not follow this up, nor take into account psychological and relational influences on mood and attention disorders, which are strongly correlated with trauma and stressful experiences. This is a gaping hole in the topic that needs to be filled.

very convincing research. I learned a lot about the ecosystem that we have in the stomach and the impacts this has both on general health and on the brain. astonishing work.