Day: 10/03/2018

Can Sandalwood Oil Treat Baldness?

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Story at-a-glance

  • A small body of European research cosponsored by an Italian pharmaceutical company indicates a synthetic derivative of sandalwood oil can help regrow scalp hair
  • The man-made solution was applied successfully in lab tests and later to a pilot group of 20 women, resulting in an increase in growth hormone and keratin levels, which signaled skin regeneration and hair growth
  • Although the preliminary results sound promising, I recommend you avoid chemical-based hair growth solutions like this one due to the potential toxicity and side effects involved
  • I’ll take this opportunity to remind you of the benefits of sandalwood essential oil, as well as share some of the most common reasons for hair loss

By Dr. Mercola

If you struggle with hair loss, at first glance, research out of Europe demonstrating the effectiveness of a sandalwood preparation to support hair growth may seem promising. After all, the smell of natural sandalwood is a pleasing woody scent to which you have very likely been exposed.

Before you get too excited though, be advised the research was cosponsored by an Italian pharmaceutical company and was completed using a synthetic derivative of sandalwood oil that is used in the company’s haircare products.

While I cannot recommend you try a chemical-based hair growth solution like Sandalore®, I will comment on the research. I’ll also take this opportunity to remind you of the benefits of sandalwood essential oil, as well as share some of the most common reasons for hair loss.

Synthetic Sandalwood Chemical Shown to Promote Hair Growth

A 2018 study published in the journal Nature Communications1 suggests the woody, floral scent of a synthetic sandalwood-containing product has been shown to stimulate hair growth in both lab tests and a small pilot study involving 20 females. The product — Sandalore® — is associated with Giuliani Pharma, the pharmaceutical company that cosponsored the research.2,3

Lead researcher Ralf Paus, professor of cutaneous medicine at the U.K.’s University of Manchester and director of research and deputy of the university’s center for dermatology research, and his team sought to uncover the role of cutaneous olfactory receptor OR2AT4 in the process of growing new hair.4 One source notes Paus acts as a consultant for Giuliani Pharma.5

As noted in the video above, some of the same scientists previously showed that the OR2AT4 receptor plays a positive role in wound healing.6 In the current body of work, Paus and company bathed patches of human scalp tissue (taken from people getting facelifts) for six days in Sandalore® to see if the OR2AT4 receptors might possibly affect hair formation. Notably, the group observed:7,8

  • A 25 to 30 percent increase in a growth hormone released in the Sandalore®-infused scalps
  • The delay of natural death in cells linked to hair production
  • An increase in keratin levels, which signaled skin regeneration and hair growth9

Along with the synthetic sandalwood chemical, the researchers coadministered an OR2AT4 antagonist called Phenirat®, which was shown to silence OR2AT4 and inhibit hair growth. About the results, the researchers stated:10

“Here, we show the epithelium of human hair follicles, particularly the outer root sheath, expresses OR2AT4, and specific stimulation of OR2AT4 by a synthetic sandalwood odorant (Sandalore®) prolongs human hair growth ex vivo by decreasing apoptosis and increasing production of the anagen-prolonging growth factor IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1).

[O]ur study identifies that human hair follicles can engage in olfactory receptor-dependent chemosensation and require OR2AT4-mediated signaling to sustain their growth, suggesting olfactory receptors may serve as a target in hair-loss therapy.”

“This is actually a rather amazing finding,” Paus told The Independent.11 “This is the first time ever it has been shown that the remodeling of a normal human miniorgan [a hair] can be regulated by a simple, cosmetically, widely used odorant.”

What Are Odorants and Olfactory Receptors and How Do They Work?

If you’re not familiar with “odorants,” Newsweek defines them as “an ingredient used to give a particular smell to a product.”12 While you may not realize it, your body is covered with olfactory receptors, which work to boost your sense of smell. Besides the ones found in your nose, your body has a few hundred of these “chemoreceptors” scattered throughout its tissues.

In fact, a review of more than 200 studies, published by the American Physiological Society (APS),13 asserts olfactory receptors, which can be described as “proteins that bind to odors that aid the sense of smell,”14 perform a variety of functions outside the nose. Many of these functions are still being identified.

According to Medical News Today, in the APS study researchers used DNA tools to determine each type of bodily tissue has five to 80 olfactory receptors. They also noted distinct types of olfactory receptors — different from the ones housed in healthy cells — are found in abundance in cancer cells.15 The study authors stated:16

“Olfactory receptors (ORs) are not exclusively expressed in the olfactory sensory neurons; they are also observed outside of the olfactory system in all other human tissues tested to date, including the testis, lung, intestine, skin, heart and blood.

Within these tissues, certain ORs have been determined to be exclusively expressed in only one tissue, whereas other ORs are more widely distributed in many different tissues throughout the human body.

For most of the ectopically expressed ORs, limited data are available for their functional roles. They have been shown to be involved in the modulation of cell-cell recognition, migration, proliferation, the apoptotic cycle, exocytosis and pathfinding processes.”

Identifying the olfactory receptors is just one part of the equation, says study author Dr. Hanns Hatt, head of the department of cell physiology at Germany’s Ruhr University Bochum. He suggests scientists also must identify and analyze the large number of odorants that trigger them, which is a huge undertaking.

“Unfortunately, the activating odorants of only about 50 of the 350 human olfactory receptors have been identified to date,” says Hatt.17

Why You Don’t Want to Put Toxic Chemicals on Your Face, Hair or Skin

With respect to the current study, Paus and his team indicated the scalp tissue needed to be continuously stimulated by OR2AT4 olfactory receptors to achieve maximum hair growth. They suggest their technique, which is likely to move on to clinical trials, may one day emerge as a complementary treatment for baldness.18

In my opinion, unless you want to slather your skin with toxic chemicals, you’d be wise to look elsewhere for hair growth solutions. After all, the PubChem website suggests Sandalore® is, at the least, a potential irritant and also an environmental concern related to “aquatic toxicity.”19

For certain, it contains neither natural sandalwood nor sandalwood essential oil. In fact, Paus says a natural sandalwood product would not have the same effect on hair loss because “it does not bind to OR2AT4.”20

Unfortunately, just because a product is sold over-the-counter does not make it safe for use. Of the nearly 13,000 chemicals used in American cosmetics, only 10 percent have been tested for safety. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products, they often do not exercise it.

The reality is, personal care products are allowed to reach store shelves without prior approval by a regulating agency. Only after a product has demonstrated harm, has been misbranded or adulterated, may the FDA take action. According to the FDA’s description of their authority over cosmetics:21

“The law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval before they go on the market, but there are laws and regulations that apply to cosmetics on the market in interstate commerce.

FDA’s legal authority over cosmetics is different from our authority over other products we regulate, such as drugs, biologics and medical devices. Under the law, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval, with the exception of color additives.

However, FDA can pursue enforcement action against products on the market that are not in compliance with the law, or against firms or individuals who violate the law.”

For more information on how to keep yourself safe with respect to the products you use on your face, hair and skin, check out my Hidden Dangers in Personal Care Products Infographic. For now, let’s turn our attention to a natural product you can use without hesitation, although not necessarily for hair loss: sandalwood essential oil.

What Is Sandalwood Oil?

Sandalwood essential oil is derived from the heartwood of the East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album), a hemiparasitic evergreen that grows by joining the root system of other trees. The sandalwood tree belongs to the Santalaceae family.

Sandalwood oil has been around for millennia and factors prominently in many cosmetics, fragrances and personal care products. It also is used for meditative and spiritual practices, particularly in India.

India and Indonesia are the largest producers and exporters of sandalwood oil.22 The oil is extracted through steam distillation using pieces of wood from mature sandalwood trees. Some suggest trees at least 80 years old are preferred because, the older the tree, the more oil available and the stronger the aroma.23

The oil has a woody, exotic smell that’s subtle and lingering. Its color ranges from pale yellow to pale gold. Although expensive, it has many wonderful characteristics that make it useful and beneficial for health and wellness, making it worth every penny.

Some of the Uses of Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood oil is well-known for the calming, harmonizing effect it has on your mind. Simply inhaling it will help you reduce confusion and tension. Sandalwood oil has long been used in Ayurveda, India’s holistic health practice, for the treatment of mental and somatic disorders.24 About this oil, one group of researchers stated:25

“Compared to either an odorless placebo or alpha-santalol (the main active compound in sandalwood oil), sandalwood oil elevated pulse rate, skin conductance level and systolic blood pressure. Alpha-santalol, however, elicited higher ratings of attentiveness and mood than did sandalwood oil or the placebo.

Correlation analyses revealed these effects are mainly due to perceived odor quality. The results suggest a relation[ship] between differences in perceived odor quality and differences in arousal level.”

Sandalwood also is in demand as incense, often being used in various types of yoga and a number of Hindu ceremonies and rituals. Regardless of your religious affiliation, you may find sandalwood oil useful during periods of anxiety, chronic illness, depression, fear and stress.

Beyond that, sandalwood oil is beneficial in skincare given its ability to relieve inflammation and itching, as well as soothe dehydrated skin. Furthermore, sandalwood oil is well-known as a remedy for acne, dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, rashes and scar tissue. Sandalwood oil can be found in consumer products such as creams, deodorants, incense, lotions, perfumes and soaps.

Be advised you should not apply sandalwood oil directly to your skin. For topical application, be sure to mix sandalwood essential oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. Also, for your safety, I recommend you perform a skin test on the underside of your arm to ensure you are not allergic before applying this oil over a large area.

Health Benefits of Sandalwood Oil

According to Organic Facts, the many health benefits of sandalwood essential oil can be attributed to “its properties as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, astringent, cicatrizant, carminative, diuretic, disinfectant, emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, memory booster, sedative and a tonic substance.”26

A 2017 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology validated its “biological activity as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiproliferative agent.”27 The study authors asserted:28

“Sandalwood album oil has also shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, common warts and [the skin infection] molluscum contagiosum.

The favorable safety profile, ease of topical use and recent availability of pharmaceutical-grade sandalwood album oil support its broader use as the basis of novel therapies in dermatology.”

For aromatherapy, you might try blending sandalwood oil with bergamot, geranium, lavender, myrrh, rose, vetiver or ylang-ylang.29 Below is a summary of the top health benefits associated with sandalwood essential oil:30

Anti-inflammatory — While beneficial for all types of inflammation, sandalwood oil is known to be particularly beneficial with respect to circulatory and nervous system-based inflammation31
Antiseptic — Soothes boils, pimples, sores and wounds, ensuring the affected areas remain infection free32,33
Antispasmodic — Given its nature as a relaxant and sedative, you may find sandalwood oil to be useful to counteract spasms by relaxing your blood vessels, muscles and nerves; apply it when you have aches, coughs or cramps34
Astringent — While mild compared to other natural compounds, sandalwood oil is said to possess astringent properties beneficial for tightening your skin; for this reason, it is commonly found in aftershaves and facial toners35
Disinfectant — The distinctive fragrance of sandalwood oil has been shown to repel insects and resist germs, which is why it is a popular ingredient in disinfectants, fumigants, incense sticks and sprays36
Expectorant — It is specifically effective in treating coughs, but it also helps fight the infections that cause coughs, colds, the flu or mumps37
Memory booster — Sandalwood oil has been noted for its ability to boost your memory and support concentration, thereby reducing anxiety and stress38
Sedative effect — This oil is well-known for inducing calmness, positivity and relaxation, driving away anxiety, fear, restlessness and stress39

Possible Reasons for Hair Loss and Steps You Can Take to Troubleshoot the Issue

If you are losing your hair, be assured I am someone who understands what that is like. Hair loss is a common condition that affects most people — including me — at some time in their lives. Regardless of your age and health, hair loss can be an embarrassing, emotional and psychologically damaging ordeal that can affect your mood, self-esteem and relationships.

In many cases, hair loss has genetic ties, but that is just one of the possible causes. You may be losing your hair due to:40

An autoimmune condition such as alopecia areata Medication side effects
Chemotherapy Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) if you are a woman
Chronic illness such as anemia or thyroid disease Stress
Hormone imbalance, such as producing too much testosterone if you are a woman Vitamin or mineral deficiency, including a lack of B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, magnesium and zinc, to name a few

While there are many commercially available medications and treatment options for hair loss, I advise you to consider the natural remedies first. As a first step, work with your doctor to rule out an underlying illness, hormone imbalance, medication issue or vitamin or mineral deficiency. If it’s been awhile since your last physical and complete blood count, schedule it as soon as possible.

If stress might be a factor in your hair loss, you might consider using the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to reduce your stress level, as demonstrated in the video above.

Only as a last resort should you consider applying a synthetic chemical compound, like the one mentioned earlier, to your scalp. As disappointing as it may seem, the potential adverse side effects of Sandalore® and other conventional hair-loss treatments almost always outweigh any potential benefits.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry Is Awarded to 3 Scientists for Using Evolution in Design of Molecules

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The 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter for their work in evolutionary science.

 

Three scientists shared this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry for tapping the power of evolutionary biology to design molecules with a range of practical uses. Those include new drugs, more efficient and less toxic reactions in the manufacture of chemicals and plant-derived fuels to replace oil, gas and coal extracted from the ground.

Half of the prize and the accompanying $1 million went to Frances H. Arnold, a professor of chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology. She is only the fifth woman to win a chemistry Nobel and the first since 2009.

The other half of the prize is shared by George P. Smith, an emeritus professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri, and Gregory P. Winter, a biochemist at the M.R.C. Laboratory of Molecular Biology in England.

Dr. Arnold conducted the first directed evolution of enzymes, proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. Dr. Smith developed a method, known as phage display, in which a virus that infects bacteria can be used to evolve new proteins. Dr. Winter has used phage display to produce new pharmaceuticals.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the scientists had managed to harness the power of evolution in test tubes. Enzymes produced through directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from biofuels to medical treatments. Phage display has produced antibodies that can neutralize toxins, counteract autoimmune diseases and even cure metastatic cancer.

“This year’s Nobel Laureates in chemistry have been inspired by the power of evolution and used the same principles — genetic change and selection — to develop proteins that solve mankind’s chemical problems,” the academy said in documents explaining the prizes.

Dr. Arnold’s work, which has been utilized to create sustainable biofuels, is “contributing to a greener world,” the academy added.

Dr. Smith’s development of phage display to link proteins to genes was described by the academy as “brilliant in its simplicity.” Dr. Winter was one of the leaders in using phage display to develop new biomolecules, including disease-blocking antibodies.

Fiber Reduces Inflammation and Preserves Brain Function

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Story at-a-glance

  • Fiber consumption on a regular basis is known to help you maintain your weight, improve your blood sugar profile, support your immune system and control gut problems, but now it’s shown to control brain inflammation
  • Eating plenty of the foods that supply you with dietary fiber is often at the heart of maintaining the best working order of many of your body’s most important bodily functions, including those of your gut and brain
  • Dietary fiber promotes beneficial bacteria in your gut, which, when digested, produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), along with the byproduct butyrate, which reduces inflammation in the brain’s microglia
  • Microglia are a major type of immune cell in your brain that can become chronically inflamed and, as a result, cause memory and cognitive function problems as you age
  • A high-fiber diet can help lower your risk of premature death from any cause, a serendipitous perk linked to a reduced risk of chronic disease

By Dr. Mercola

Dietary fiber has been noted as a remarkable nutrient because of the many functions it can perform in your body. Getting the ideal amounts of dietary fiber can help you maintain your weight, improve your blood sugar profile, support your immune system, control gut problems that can cause both hemorrhoids and chronic constipation and even positively impact your brain health.

But new research in the journal Frontiers in Immunology reveals another benefit: Consuming optimal amounts of fiber on a regular basis (pun intended) diminishes inflammation, which is at the heart of numerous bodily dysfunctions.

Researchers from the University of Illinois (U of I) showed dietary fiber may help delay what many people, both medical experts and the general public, believe to be inevitable: the decline not only of motor function but of cognitive health. NEWS.am reports:

“As mammals age, immune cells in the brain, known as microglia, become chronically inflamed. In this state, they produce chemicals known to impair cognitive and motor function. That’s one explanation for why memory fades and other brain functions decline during old age … But, according to a new study from the University of Illinois, there may be a remedy to delay the inevitable: dietary fiber.”1

Not only does dietary fiber promote beneficial bacteria in your gut but, when digested, the bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). One of these byproducts is butyrate, which Rodney Johnson, head of the department of animal sciences at U of I, explains reduces inflammation in the microglia.

The drug form, known as sodium butyrate, improved memory in mice in other studies, but until the featured study2 it wasn’t clear how.

MedicalNewsToday3 explains that microglia are a major type of immune cell in your brain that, as you age, can become hyperactive and chronically inflamed. This is likely one culpable factor in the decline of memory and cognitive function in older people. Significantly, microglia are said to account for about 15 percent of all the cells in your brain.

In old mice (aged 22 to 25 months versus young mice at 3 to 6 months), butyrate inhibits harmful chemicals from being produced by inflamed microglia. One chemical in particular — interleukin-1β — had been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Forbes called the discovery a “chemical cascade” for lowered brain inflammation.4

Researchers conducted the study to determine whether they could produce the same inhibitory effect by giving the mice fiber. In this way, they could make the most of the natural “gut” conversion of fiber into butyrate without people having to eat it, as sodium butyrate, Johnson says, has a “noxious odor.”

‘Diet Has a Major Influence On the Function of Gut Microbes’

While your diet has a major influence on both the composition and function of the microbes in your gut, scientists point out that when you eat a lot of fiber, it benefits the good bacteria, while diets containing high amounts of unhealthy fat and protein can take the composition and function of those bacteria in the wrong direction; it has a negative influence, says Jeff Woods, a professor in the department of kinesiology and community health at U of I and coauthor of the study.

While the scientists supposed that butyrate from fiber would affect brain health in the same way as the drug form (sodium butyrate), it hadn’t been clinically proven. Their hypothesis was tested by feeding both low- and high-fiber foods to young and old mice, then measuring the amount of butyrate and other SCFAs in their blood, also keeping track of inflammatory chemicals in their intestines. Johnson notes:

“The high-fiber diet elevated butyrate and other SCFAs in the blood both for young and old mice. But only the old mice showed intestinal inflammation on the low-fiber diet. It’s interesting that young adults didn’t have that inflammatory response on the same diet. It clearly highlights the vulnerability of being old.”5

Interestingly, the intestinal inflammation in the mice eating the high-fiber diet was dramatically reduced, and in fact was demonstrably on par with those of the younger mice, prompting Johnson to conclude, “Dietary fiber can really manipulate the inflammatory environment in the gut.”6

Even more significantly, evidence that dietary fiber also impacts brain inflammation was found when the researchers scrutinized about 50 unique genes in microglia and confirmed that the high-fiber diet reduced levels of brain inflammation in the older mice. Further, eating high amounts of fiber reduced the intestinal inflammation of aging mice so much that it looked no different from that of young mice.

Although the researchers didn’t look at how different amounts of fiber affect “cognition and behavior or the precise mechanisms in the gut-brain axis,” Johnson says, the answer to that will be sought through a nearly $2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Johnson says he’s confident that the positive effects found in the brain profiles of mice will easily translate to humans and lists the negatives of humans not getting enough fiber in their everyday diets:

“What you eat matters. We know that older adults consume 40 percent less dietary fiber than is recommended. Not getting enough fiber could have negative consequences for things you don’t even think about, such as connections to brain health and inflammation in general.”7

How Dietary Fiber Consumption Impacts Your Gut

As referenced earlier, one of the easiest and most effective ways to optimize your gut microbiome — not to mention least expensive — is to eat foods that provide plenty of fiber, and include traditionally fermented foods, as well. But one important differentiation is the difference between the three types of fiber:

  • Soluble fiber can be easily dissolved in water and attains a gel-like consistency in your large intestine to essentially slow your digestion process and, in the process, slows the rate at which nutrients are utilized and makes you feel fuller longer.
  • Insoluble fiber, which stays intact as it moves throughout your colon rather than dissolving, absorbs fluid and byproducts to help “clean out” your colon by being disposed of as waste.
  • Digestive-resistant starch is a naturally occurring resistant starch that doesn’t break down as it moves through your digestive tract, so it adds bulk to waste, which moves it through faster, and also serves as a prebiotic.

One way fiber benefits you overall is through its ability to help prevent leaky gut, which Food Integrity Now8 asserts has impacted around 80 percent of the U.S. population. It causes numerous and sometimes seemingly unrelated problems, from brain fog to joint pain; hives to anxiety; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to depression.

Leaky gut means things that shouldn’t are allowed to enter your bloodstream (like toxins) while blocking entrance of things that should (like nutrients).

Good and Bad Aspects of Fiber Sources

A high-fiber diet can help lower your risk of premature death from any cause, a serendipitous perk linked to a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Organic whole husk psyllium, chia seeds, sunflower sprouts, mushrooms and fermented veggies are excellent sources of high-quality fiber, but some of the most beneficial day-to-day sources are crucifers like broccoli and cauliflower, root vegetables and tubers such as sweet potatoes (including the peel), jicama and onions.

Pears, stewed prunes, dried figs or dates, raspberries, pumpkin, almonds, apples with the skin intact, bananas and oranges also contain fiber. However, figs, dates, prunes and bananas are examples of foods that should be eaten in moderation due to their high sugar content.

Another way to get the fiber you need is to take organic psyllium husk (the nonorganic option is usually heavily treated with pesticides) in capsule or powder form. That said, it’s important to understand that while a number of different foods supply dietary fiber, not all of them are constructive, especially due to the way many of them are processed in this modern age.

One clue to this truth is that fiber must be unprocessed. Kidney beans, black beans, lima beans, lentils and other legumes also contain lots of dietary fiber, but besides being loaded with carbs, they also contain lectins. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that attach to specific biological structures that allow them to do harm, as part of a plant’s self-defense mechanism.

They can also cause trouble in humans. Lectins can cause gut problems because they act as damaging “antinutrients” that change the balance of bacteria in your intestines.

In addition, grains are often tapped as a good source of fiber, but grains promote both insulin resistance (which has been identified as a main driver of chronic disease) and leptin resistance (not to be confused with lectins). Leptin is a hormone that helps your body recognize when you’re full. When this ability goes by the wayside, it’s no surprise that it’s associated with obesity and related problems.

Perhaps worse is the problem of glyphosate contamination, a carcinogen and active ingredient in Roundup herbicide that’s been linked to a staggering number of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases.9 NHL is described by Cancer Treatment Centers of America as “cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from cells called lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections.”10

How Dietary Fiber Consumption Impacts Your Brain

Quite often, eating plenty of the foods that supply you with fiber is at the heart of maintaining the best working order of many of your body’s most important bodily functions. In fact, one study11 showed you can figure a 10 percent reduced risk for all-cause mortality for every 10 grams of fiber you add to your overall fiber intake.

Your brain health is included in the list of those bodily functions. There have been other studies showing what fiber consumption can do for better brain function.

One study12 in 2015 concluded that the quality of what children eat — specifically their dietary fiber intake — is the hinge that cognitive control and performance hinges on, especially because “[t]he human brain continues to undergo extensive changes in structure and functional connectivity throughout childhood and adolescence.”13

Another study from 2007 indicated that older women who ate at least a half-cup of blueberries or at least one cup of strawberries per week had slower rates of cognitive decline — in some cases by as much as 2.5 years.14 Besides the fiber, researchers believe such benefits as antioxidants and anthocyanidins, which can cross the blood-brain barrier, contribute to the results.

One interesting research project involved the hypothesis that a product of fiber fermentation may be its ability to directly affect the hypothalamus, an area of the brain involved in regulating appetite. In relation to how fiber helps fight obesity, scientists looked at the SCFA acetate, which is plentiful and also circulates throughout your bloodstream. Nature notes:

“The fiber was fermented as usual into acetate, which turned up not only in the gut, but also in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain known to be involved in regulating appetite. There, the researchers found, it was metabolized through the glutamine-glutamate cycle, which is involved in controlling the release of neurotransmitters associated with appetite control.”15

One of the most interesting aspects of all these studies is that your brain is connected to your gut, as well as your immune system. In fact, the interconnectedness between all your most vital function depends on what you eat, and fiber is one of the most crucial nutrients for so many reasons.

How much fiber should you be ingesting each day? I advise an ideal fiber intake of 25 to 50 grams per 1,000 calories consumed daily, with a focus on consuming plenty of fiber-rich foods. However, don’t forget to add water to help it do what it’s designed to do: boost your overall health and well-being.