Dr. Ron Najafi explains how tight junction proteins seal gaps between intestinal cells, forming a second barrier. When these proteins break down, food particles can leak through, and the same dysfunction in the brain may contribute to mental health problems.
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The second barrier in the intestine is called tight junctions. Tight junctions, these are proteins that basically cross link and hold the intestinal epithelial cells together so that they don't separate, so that stuff can't get through the pores in between the cells to enter the bloodstream. So these tight junctions are really important. It turns out the tight junctions are not just in the intestine, they're in the brain, too. Same tight junctions. Same. So often when you have a problem with your intestine, you have a problem with your brain too. One reason why, for diet related mental health issues, by the way. All right. But in any case, you basically want to keep those tight junctions tight. Well, there are things in your food that will basically undo those tight junctions.