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midterm 2 and examen 2

What is the ECS

the body’s balancing system (homeostasis)

What does the ECS do

Regulates, mood, pain, digestion, stress, and immunity and uses retrograde signaling to control neurotransmitters

What is retrograde signaling

messages go backward
ECs travel from the post-synaptic neuron —> presynaptic neuron

helps fine-tune brain communication

What are the two main Endocannabinoids

AEA and 2-AG

What is AEA

anandamide

“bliss molecule” (mood, appetite, stress relief)

what is 2-AG

helps form new brain connections (neuroplasticity)

CB1

found in the brain —> mood, memory, pain

CB2

found in the immune system —> inflammation, immunity

underactive ECS

chronic pain

anxiety/depression

autoimmune depression

overactive ECS

obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer

ECS and gut-brain axis: Digestion

digestion: ECS controls gut movement, inflammation, and barrier function

ECS and gut-brain axis: mood

Mood: gut bacteria talk to the brain via CB1, Cb2, and the vagus nerve

ECS and brain plasticity:

fix and adapt

AEA = removes weak connections (pruning)

2-AG = builds new connections (growth)

Enzymes = clean up crew

ECS makes endocannabinoids on demand and breaks them down after use:

FAAH destroys AEA

MAGL destroys 2-AG

Medical Uses of ECS Therapy

Pain relief —> sativex (cannabis spray)

Epilepsy —> epidiolex (CBD)

appetite issues —> marino

Neuroprotection —> Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

Cancer support —> slows tumor growth, helps chemo side effects

Phytocannabinoids in Cannabis

THC: Psychoactive, pain relief, appetite boost

CBD: anti-anxiety, pain relief, anti-inflammatory

CBG: anti-inflammatory, brain protection

CBC: mood booster

CBN: sleep aid

How to Support your ECS naturally

exercise—> boosts AEA (‘runner’s high’-3s)

healthy fats —> omega-3s (fish, nuts, seeds, olive oil)

stress control —> yoga, meditation, nature walk

what is cellular respiration

the process where cells break down sugar (glucose) to make ATP (energy)

what are the stages of cellular respiration

glycolysis (anaerobic - no oxygen)
Krebs cycle (aerobic - needs oxygen)

electron transport chain (ETC) (happens in the mitochondria)

what is Glycolysis

first step of energy production

Is glycolysis anaerobic or aerobic?

anaerobic (no oxygen needed)

what does glycolysis do

breaks down glucose (6C) —> 2 pyruvate (3C)

uses 2 ATP but produces 4 ATP —> Net 2 ATP

where does glycolysis happen

in cytoplasm of all cells

what happens if there is no oxygen available for glycolysis

pyruvate —> lactic acid/lactate (causes muscle fatigue)

what happens if there is oxygen in glycolysis

pyruvate enters the kreb cycle

what is the Krebs cycle

citric acid cycle

TCA cycle

where does the Krebs cycle take place

mitochondria

is the Krebs cycle aerobic or anaerobic

aerobic (needs oxygen)

what happens in the Krebs cycle

pyruvate (3C) —> Acetyl CoA (2C) —> CO2 + ATP + Electrons
fat metabolism joins at Acetyl CoA

what is the final goal of the Krebs cycle

transfers elections + hydrogen to ETC

what is the electron transport chain (ETC)

ATP powerhouse

where does ETC happen

mitochondria

what does the ETC do

uses oxygen to make ATP (oxidative phosphorylation)

electrons from Krebs cycle moves through ETC—> ATP is produced

how much ATP is made through ETC

28 ATP per glucose molecule

what do hormones do

hormones regulate blood sugar
the hormones are insulin,, glucagon, and epinephrine

what does insulin do

produces beta cells

lowers blood sugar

what does glucagon

produces alpha cells

increases blood sugar

what does epinephrine do

produces adrenal glands

increases glucose in stress

what happens to excess glucose

it is stored as glycogen in muscles and liver

what is Type 1 Diabetes

genetic, insulin-dependent

common in children

frequent urination

what is type 2 diabetes

linked to obesity and inactivity

non-insulin dependent

usually develops after age 50

what is fat metabolism

lipid breakdown for energy

where does fat metabolism happen

mitochondria

what does fat metabolism need

oxygen

what happens during fat metabolism

fats —> Acetyl CoA —>Krebs cycle —> ATP

what’s important about fat metabolism

fat cannot be converted into glucose

what happens if someone has high blood sugar

insulin is released to store it as glycogen or fat

what happens if someone has low blood sugar

glucagon is released to break down glycogen into glucose

Is there a connection between nutrition and mental health

Yes! what you eat impacts your brain and emotions

What is nutritional psychiatry

a field of research that uses Whole Foods and nutrients to improve mental well-being

Does nutritional psychiatry replace medication?

no! it complements medication and therapy—it’s not “10mg of Prozac or 10 blueberries”

What connects your gut and brain

the vagus nerve sends signals between them

what important neurotransmitters are made in the gut

GABA (calming) and serotonin (mood booster)

what percentage of serotonin is made in the gut

up to 90%

how does gut health affect mental health?

it influences mood, stress response, sleep, and appetite

what is the gut microbiome

trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in your intestines that impact health

How many bacterial cells vs. human cells do we have

40 trillion bacterial cells vs. 30 trillion human cells—you’re more bacteria than human

what foods nurture mental health

probiotics: yogurt, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut

prebiotics: bananas, oats, beans, berries

fats and spices: olive oil, avocado, almonds, turmeric

omega-3s and vitamin B/folate: (supports brain health!)

what foods harm the gut-brain connection

processed foods, sugar, fried foods, artificial sweeteners, bad fats

how does exercise help mental health

it boosts serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—> improving mood, energy, stress, and self-esteem

what does FITT stand for

frequency (How often?)

Intensity (how hard?)

Type (what kind?)

time (how long?)

why should we exercise and eat well for mental health

it helps us flourish—boosting mood, resilience, overall well-being

what is the keto diet

a diet high in fats, moderate in proteins, and very low in carbohydrates

what is the primary fuel source in keto

fatty acids and ketones (instead of glucose)