Better gut health can promote better mental health.
Have you ever had a gut feeling about something?
Your gut houses trillions of bacteria and millions of nerve cells that manage your digestive processes.
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These bacteria and nerve cells might also affect how you feel.
Which means when you feel happy, anxious, or depressed, your gut may be involved.
Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly are known physical ways tocare for your mental health.
These time-tested methods prove that taking care of your physical health can affect your mind.
It turns out that taking care of your gut may also help improve your mood.
Gut Health and Inflammation
Theres evidence that gut bacteria influence inflammation throughout your body.
Inflammation has been linked to numerous conditions including depression in several studies.
The Role of Serotonin
Serotonin is a key chemical messengerconnected to your mood.
In fact, certain gut bacteria may secrete serotonin.
Your gut microbiome also interacts with your bodys stress-response system, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
There are many ways in which your gut can potentially influence your mood.
The gut-brain axis refers to the connection between your gut and brain.
Inflammation itself leads to the production of substances such as cytokines that influence mental functioning, including mood.
Anxiety
Studies have found a link between the balance of bacteria in your gut and anxiety.
This difference in gut bacteria may affect brain function and anxiety levels.
A diverse and balanced gut microbiome doesnt just help with digestionit can make you more resilient to stress.
Cognition
Your gut bacteria can also influence your memory and decision-making skills.
There is increasing evidence of the association between your gut bacteria and cognitive functioning.
What Influences Your Gut Bacteria?
Your gut bacteria are affected by numerous factors.
Understanding what influences them can help you better care for your mental and physical health through your gut.
When it comes down to it,what you eat matters.
Landau recommends turning to an anti-inflammatory and gut-friendly diet to support mood and anxiety health.
Managing stress through meditation, exercise, and getting enough sleep can help maintain a healthier gut microbiota.
Other medications, like antacids and anti-inflammatories, can also affect your microbiome.
If you have to use any of these medications, its crucial to consult with your healthcare provider first.
Healthy gut bacteria ensure the optimal production of serotonin, potentially improving mood and impacting depression.
Increasing studies have explored how dietary changes and probiotics can impact mental health.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health influencing your digestive system.
She recommends being clear on which strains you are taking in regard to which health condition.
A higher dose of probiotics is not necessarily better for you, but rather the specificity may be important.
As research evolves, the gut-brain axis could become a key target for developing novel psychiatric treatments.
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