Mind the Roots Brainforest

In pursuit of mechanisms and evidence-based approaches, gut health has been revealed as a critical cornerstone of neurological health.

In this episode, we're going into detail on what the gut layers are. I hope this video will help someone else who's trying to understand how the gut works for purposes of biohacking with functional medicine, nutrition, supplements, etc. For any intervention, is there evidence of a relationship, and is there data that it worked in other humans?

We talk about:


what the gut mucus is made out of


elements of the gut barrier - the many ways the body keeps microbes and partially digested food away


kinds of intestinal epithelial cells (Goblet cells, Paneth cells, M cells, etc.) and their functions


types of gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and their distinctions - lamina propria, Peyer's patches, lymph nodes


the enteric nervous system and enteroendocrine cells


different types of CD4+ T cells: Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg, what they respond to, and their major outputs


the mechanism of nutrient absorption


the mechanism of leaky gut (paracellular transport through tight junctions)



Here's the video: https://youtu.be/sIn_VxH6zDA

Transcript of the video, for those who are pressed for time: https://www.brainforest.org/post/leaky-gut-anatomy

I hope this helps someone understand their gut a little better on the path to health. Stay tuned for our next podcast on the relationship between leaky gut and aging. Share this resource with others who are studying gut anatomy on the path to health!

In this episode, Melissa and I talk about some of the most pressing topics in women's health, including depression, anxiety, trauma, the pill, the gut microbiome, adrenal burnout, brain fog, and the thyroid gland.
Bringing a holistic approach, Melissa weaves together her knowledge on the gut-brain link between PTSD and stress resilience; the fine line between restrictive eating and disordered eating; how our gut microbiome is seeded throughout birth, breastfeeding, and early childhood; the hormone shifts of menopause; why hormone replacements like the birth control pill and Synthroid fail to address the root cause of hormone imbalances; how the gut microbiota are under attack by excessive hygiene; and whether supplementation is needed.
Melissa Bloom is an AFAA Certified Fitness Instructor, a Registered Yoga teacher, and holds a Masters in Molecular Biology. From her early career in genetics, biology and neurology to her later experience teaching wellness disciplines, Melissa has been in awe of the intelligence of the human body. A mom to three young sons, her passion is to help people find balance - to feel like the best version of themselves.

This episode shares natural ways to strengthen immunity with nutrition. It will teach you about foods that are rich in nutrients that support immunity, reducing the risk of infection and disease complications. For resources and bonus content, visit https://www.brainforest.org/post/sars-cov-2-nutrition .

This episode is for informative purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

What's your story? Does it contain any nots, can'ts, shoulds, or what ifs? Documenting her story on how she rid herself of panic attacks without medication, Coach Karissa discusses the ways in which we may be beating ourselves down without even realizing it. She analyzes the role of the "I am" ego identity in repression, upholding cultural norms, dream symbols, and spiritual bypassing. Finally, she helps you rewire your thoughts and feelings about your abilities, provides clarity into biohacking flow, and offers practical tips for effective goal and affirmation setting with the power of language and neuroscience.

Karissa Wessel is an emotional and behavioral expert specializing in fear on the brain. She is a neurolinguistic programming practitioner helping people rewire their minds with better habits and emotions. She is the author of a book on overcoming depression and anxiety, titled "You Are More Than Your Fear," documenting an epiphany that cured her. The book studies the neuroscience of mindfulness and philosophy showing that depression and anxiety can be cured.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatingyourultimatelife

Website: https://www.coachkarissa.com/

Song: Octilary – Chill Trap Beat. Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/octilary YouTube: https://youtu.be/J3VrtjFIy7U

In this vulnerable, stigma-busting episode, Chris and I talk about skydiving, public speaking, selective mutism, self-image, pickup artistry, sacred circles, and Wim Hof breathing.
Chris Sha has a B.S. in Marketing from Rutgers Business School. He's the creator of Magic Clicks, a marketing company specializing in the financial sector.
Psycho-Cybernetics - Dr. Maxwell Maltz https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Cybernetics-Updated-Expanded-Maxwell-Maltz/dp/039917613 Song: Octilary – Chill Trap Beat


Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/octilary Song: https://youtu.be/J3VrtjFIy7U

What is ecological psychology? Are there parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Plague era that precipitated the Renaissance? What can people do to help themselves and their families in chaotic and uncertain times? This week, Dorian and I discuss these topics and more.

Dorian is an ecological psychology student who designs ecological applications around performance-enhancing environments that reintroduces individuals to their inner nature and homeostasis. He resides in San Antonio, Texas and is also a world jazz musician known as Dorian the Explorer.

IG: @natureofournature https://www.instagram.com/natureofournature/?hl=en @doriantheexplorer_ https://www.instagram.com/doriantheexplorer_/?hl=en

Song: Octilary – Chill Trap Beat

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/octilary Song: https://youtu.be/J3VrtjFIy7U