The Most Helpful Article I've Read Yet

This article explains so much!

If your brain fog is a little high today, though, it may not be a good read. It's somewhat deep, but if you hang with it, it begins to explain the importance of a low carb diet for Lyme, how the glutamate/GABA cycle is affected by toxins, heavy metals, and MSG's (thus causing magnesium deficiency, depression, trouble focusing, anxiety, manic-like symptoms, host of other things.)

For me, it helped shed some light on a recent "bipolar" diagnosis, and how certain lifestyle factors that I was missing could have contributed to a depression/manic cycle. If you're curious after reading this article and would like things explained in an easier form, email me. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on this topic now.

Hope it helps! http://www.holistichelp.net/blog/how-to-increase-gaba-and-balance-glutamate/

Oh. That's weird. I can figure out the GABA/glutamate cycle, but I can't figure out how to share a link. Lol. Must be Lyme.

MA10-you posted the link correctly. For some weird reason when pasting that specific link it adds in htttp:// making it a dead link. When I was posting the corrected link it did the same thing to me. I just happened to notice and knew that wouldn't work. Really bizarre.

Okay. Here's my attempt to explain this. Since I'm wide awake and feeling sick, I'll pass the time with this.

So in your brain you have GABA receptors and glutamate receptors. GABA is responsible for calming you, helps in sleep, mood, etc. Glutamate is a excitatory chemical. It's mainly helps to send nerve signals throughout the brain. If GABA is low, you can experience insomnia, depression, anxiety, etc. If glutamate is high, you can experience anxiety, manic-like symptoms, restlessness, insomnia, racing thoughts, etc. "An excess of glutamate is a primary contributing factor to a wide variety of neurological disorders like autism, ALS, Parkinson’s schizophrenia, migraines, restless leg syndrome, tourettes, pandas, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s chorea, and seizures. As well as atrial fibrillation, insomnia, bedwetting, hyperactivity, OCD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and STIMS."

High glutamate levels can also lead to a decrease of glutathione--one of the most powerful detoxers of the body, and especially important for Lyme patients. It can also cause inflammation and endorphin depletion. High levels can also make it more favorable for microbes to survive in the body.

The relations between these two neurotransmitters directly correlate. If one is high, the other is low and vice versa. Glutamate is actually the precursor to GABA. Folate --> glutamate --> GABA. So people with Lyme disease or other chronic illness, especially MTHR mutations, cannot absorb folate correctly, thus leading to less overall GABA. Low GABA even plays a role in addiction. "Depletion of GABA can be a major contributing factor to autonomic nervous system disorders of all kinds like adrenal fatigue, insomnia, chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue, panic attacks, etc. Maintaining sufficient levels is crucial in the recovery of these conditions."

What causes the balance between GABA and glutamate to be "off?" Glad you asked. There are several things that can cause high glutamate levels within the brain.
1) Problems with methylation. Can't break down folate, then no glutamate and no GABA. "may be impaired due to nutritional deficiencies, toxins, genetic mutations, or Candida overgrowth."

2) problems with the Kreb's cycle. "The Krebs cycle can become impaired in a variety of ways like deficiency in B vitamins or the presence of heavy metals, and toxins from bacteria or Candida."

3) food: gluten, MSG's, aspartame, citric acid, anything with "gum" as ingredient

4) calcium/magnesium imbalance.
There is a connection between the magnesium/calcium balance. Magnesium is able to bind to GABA receptors, allowing more glutamate to be formed. Take calcium and magnesium in the citrate forms.

5) Diet: Low carb, Paleo is best for Lyme because of this. "A diet that does not contain enough of the nutrients needed to make inhibitory neurotransmitters like animal protein and fat plays a vital role in an imbalance between glutamate and GABA. Furthermore, proper transmission of any neurotransmitters can’t happen without adequate levels of fat and most people are not consuming enough fat in their diet. Additionally, many foods and substances like sugar, whole grains, any high starch food, caffeine, chocolate, artificial sweeteners and flavorings, food additives and dyes can deplete GABA levels or disrupt transmission, so they should be removed from the diet. Grains (including whole grains) can bring about an excitoxic effect by causing excessive glutamate formation in some people. A ketogenic diet has been found to favor GABA production and be exceptionally beneficial in the treatment of many conditions associated with excess glutamate like seizures and epilepsy. Therefore, following a low-carb Paleo diet would be the ideal diet for maintaining balance between gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate. You may want to note, that some fish like mackerel have high levels of naturally occurring GABA."

6) low serotonin levels can also keep GABA from doing its job. They kind of play hand in hand.

7) "Environmental toxins like pesticides, herbicides, air pollution, heavy metals, and chemicals found in your common every day household cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes and colognes, air fresheners, personal care products, dish soap, laundry soap and fabric softeners, all deplete and disrupt normal production and function of all neurotransmitters. Therefore, another critical component for maintaining sufficient levels of GABA is reduce your exposure to these toxins by living an environmentally friendly lifestyle and eating organic."

8) glutathione. Glutathione can actually convert to glutamate. If you're someone who is prone to high glutamate levels, you may not benefit from increased supplementation. You would just have to see how you felt.

9) those pesky toxins can cause an imbalance themselves. "The toxins created by Candida can stimulate surges of glutamate production. Hundreds of other toxins can produce this same surge in glutamate activity, including mold toxins, bacterial toxins, Lyme, and organic solvents."

10) unstable blood sugar.

How do you increase GABA levels?
By eating the right diet, avoiding excitotoxins, managing stress, avoiding environmental toxins, addressing nutritional deficiencies and/or genetic polymorphisms, getting adequate sleep, supporting a healthy gut and possible supplementation.

I hope that at least makes a little bit more sense. Let me know if you have any questions.