Dr. Sylvie Shuttleworth, PhD, & Dr. Baljit Khamba, ND, MPH - Probiotics and Mood: Optimizing the Gut-Brain Connection
Society has often focused on the brain as being the sole influencer of our mood. More recent research has been exploring the added connection of our gut as an important contributor to emotions. This gut-brain duality has confirmed that the gut acts as a ‘second brain’ creating similar biochemical properties that can affect our mental health. Thus, what we eat communicates to our brain and impacts our mood. Specifically, the gut has the ability to create messaging signals that can communicate with the brain. Those messaging signals are created not just by the foods consumed, but also by the environment of the digestive system itself.
Sylvie P. Shuttleworth, PhD
Dr. Shuttleworth received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, CA. She has served as a therapist at San Diego State University, University of San Diego, and also the Preuss School at the University of California San Diego campus. She has worked with autistic children and their families in a home-based intervention program, in an inpatient setting for adults in psychiatric crisis, and at a specialized school setting for children and adolescents with social and emotional struggles. Dr. Shuttleworth has been teaching graduate and undergraduate psychology courses since 1999. Dr. Shuttleworth is currently a Full Professor within Health Psychology for the School of Naturopathic Medicine and also the Department Chair for Counseling and Health Psychology Department at Bastyr University. She has researched and published in the area of attachment style, coping strategies, healthy relationships, ethical and legal issues, motivational interviewing, and supervisory experience. Dr. Shuttleworth also has a private practice. Dr. Shuttleworth’s family are immigrants to the United States from Portugal and Portuguese is her first language.
Baljit Khamba, ND, MPH
Dr. Baljit Khamba teaches within various programs at Bastyr, including within Naturopathic Medicine and Master of Counselling Psychology. Dr. Khamba teaches students the clinical applications of evidence-based practices within integrative medicine. Dr. Khamba completed her honours Bachelor of Science degree at York University, Toronto, Canada, majoring in Psychology, as well as a Master in Public Health at Lakehead University, in Thunder Bay, Canada. She received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) also in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Khamba is licensed as a naturopathic doctor in California as well as Ontario, Canada. Dr. Khamba has an avid interest in research, particularly as it relates to mental wellness and nutrition. She enjoys collaborating with other researchers learning and discovering the role of micro and macro nutrition and its influence on mood.
