Why better gut health means better brain chemistry and mental health

Photo by Jackson David  

Introduction

If you’ve ever experienced a bout of anxiety or depression, then you may have wondered if there’s any connection between those feelings and your gut health. Experts say yes — in fact, they believe that improving your gut health could help relieve some symptoms of mental illness. 

Gut health refers to the state of your digestive tract, which includes the mouth, esophagus, and stomach as well as the small and large intestines. If you’re not familiar with this part of your body, it’s time to get acquainted.

The digestive tract is home to trillions of bacteria (also known as microbiota or microbiome) that can have a profound effect on how you feel mentally and physically. Your gut communicates with your brain through nerve signals called “the gut-brain axis.” As such, everything from stress management skills to certain medications can affect both systems simultaneously. But first, what is this two-way street between our digestive system and our mental well-being?

The gut is a lot like a microscopic metropolis — it’s home to millions of bacteria that can have an impact on our overall health.

If you’re someone who likes to learn about your body, you may have heard that the gut is a lot like a microscopic metropolis — it’s home to millions of bacteria that can have an impact on our overall health. But what do those bacteria do? And how exactly are they linked to mental health?

In this guide, we’ll explore the science behind your microbiome (the population of all the microorganisms living inside and on you), how it affects mood and behavior, and how changing up your diet can help keep your gut happy.

Yes, bacteria are responsible for all those stomach bugs and annoying colds we’ve had in the past, but some of them also play an important role in keeping us healthy.

But there’s more to gut bacteria than just keeping our immune systems healthy. They also help with the absorption of nutrients and vitamins, which is why a bad diet can cause mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Unhealthy gut bacteria can also lead to inflammation in the brain and increase your risk of developing diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

In fact, some researchers believe that our modern diets have caused an epidemic of mental illness by contributing to an imbalance in our gut bacteria. In other words: we may be able to blame our bad moods on things like processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages as much as we do on alcohol or stress!

One way they do this is by helping to keep your body balanced — for example by producing chemicals that boost your mood and help you fight off diseases.

The gut is one of the body’s most important organs. It’s where food goes after it passes through your mouth, stomach, and small intestine. The gut is also home to trillions of bacteria that help you digest food and keep your immune system strong.

It might be surprising that a lot of people don’t know the part their gut plays in their psychological well-being (and vice versa).

If you’ve ever been told that your gut is a second brain, then you’re already well aware of the strong connection between your mind and stomach. But it might be surprising that a lot of people aren’t aware of this important relationship—and what they may be missing out on by not taking steps to improve their gut health.

In fact:

• the average person spends more time on social media than they do eating meals or sleeping
• people eat more unhealthy foods than healthy ones

people eat more than they need to and don’t get proper nutrition people are not getting enough sleep we have stressful lives that often lead us to eat unhealthy foods as a way to cope

The gut has its own nervous system and it uses different neurotransmitters to communicate with the brain, and there is evidence they play a role in mental illnesses.

The gut has its own nervous system, called the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS is made up of millions of nerve cells that run from your stomach through to the end of your small intestine. The ENS communicates with the brain using serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters — which are chemicals that send signals between cells in the body.

There’s also evidence to suggest that these chemicals play a role in mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

The ENS is essential for your body to function properly. It controls digestion, regulates blood flow, and releases hormones such as serotonin, which affects mood and sleep.

We now know that there’s a two-way communication between the gut and the brain, which means there could be a wealth of potential treatments for anxiety and depression.

We now know that there’s a two-way communication between the gut and the brain, which means there could be a wealth of potential treatments for anxiety and depression.

To better understand this relationship, we’ll need to look at how each part of our nervous system functions separately.

The gut is often referred to as the second brain. It’s estimated that 70% of our serotonin (a chemical that helps regulate mood) is produced in our stomachs, and 90% of our serotonin receptors are found there.

We’ve known for generations that stress can cause or exacerbate gastrointestinal issues, like indigestion or diarrhea.

We’ve known for generations that stress can cause or exacerbate gastrointestinal issues, like indigestion or diarrhea. But what’s been less well understood is how the stress response can also impact our mental health. It’s true!

In short, it’s all about your gut. Your gut contains 100 million neurons and is often referred to as “the second brain” because they have a direct connection to your central nervous system (CNS). This neural connection allows your gut to communicate with the rest of your body via hormones and neurotransmitters—including serotonin and dopamine—and thus influence your overall health.

When your gut is out of balance, it can affect how you feel, think and react. If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, for example, it could be because a lot is going on in your intestines.

Now scientists think they know at least part of the reason why.

Though researchers aren’t sure what causes this chemical change, they think it’s linked to a nutrient called choline. A recent study found that people with higher levels of the nutrient had more positive moods and better memory than those with lower amounts.

Choline is found in foods like eggs, beef liver, chicken breast, fish like salmon and sardines—and it can be taken as a supplement (though you should talk to your doctor about how much you should take).

If you want to take choline, be sure to talk with your doctor first. You should also take it for at least two weeks before you expect results. Choline has not been studied in pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding.

A protein called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) acts as an alarm in the body when we are stressed; it signals for more cortisol to be produced.

A protein called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) acts as an alarm in the body when we are stressed; it signals for more cortisol to be produced. This means that when you’re under stress, your gut health suffers.

One study found that people who have a history of childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tend to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is a chronic condition that causes recurring abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea and constipation. 

Another study found that veterans with PTSD had higher levels of IBS symptoms than those without PTSD. And still another study showed that people with PTSD are three times more likely to develop IBS than those without it.

The reason why stress can cause IBS is that it causes the brain to release CRF. This in turn tells our bodies to increase the production of cortisol, which then causes inflammation in the gut. Inflammation is one of the main causes of most chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

The good news is that there are several things you can do to reduce stress and improve gut health. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet are all important for gut health.

Healthy gut bacteria may help lessen anxiety, depression, and mental decline.

• According to a study in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, gut bacteria may play an important role in both anxiety and depression.
• The researchers found that one type of bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG), reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in mice by encouraging serotonin production. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate moods. A similar study found that another strain of Lactobacillus helveticus (LH11) also appeared to reduce stress-induced behavior. In addition to regulating serotonin levels, both strains of bacteria were shown to inhibit the production of GABA, which can help reduce anxiety as well.

Gut bacteria may also play a role in depression. A recent study in Psychiatry Research showed that people with major depressive disorder had different gut microbiota than those without the condition. The researchers noted that this difference was especially pronounced in patients who experienced recurrent episodes of depression.

This suggests that gut microbiota may play a role in the development of depression and that changes to gut bacteria could be used as a treatment for depression.

Gut bacteria could play a role in preventing or treating mental illness.

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem that consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in our digestive systems. In recent years, research has shown the gut microbiome to be an important part of brain health and mental well-being.

The gut-brain axis is a two-way system where the central nervous system (CNS) and enteric nervous system (ENS) communicate with each other through afferent nerves that connect the brain to the gastrointestinal tract. This connection allows for information to flow from one organ system to another through neural, endocrine, or immune pathways.

Many researchers are exploring how different components within this axis may contribute to mental illness by affecting things like:

• Neurotransmitters such as serotonin; dopamine; norepinephrine; acetylcholine; histamine; glutamate; GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid); noradrenaline (norepinephrine). These neurotransmitters regulate moods while also being involved in sleep cycles among many other functions. Neuropeptides such as enkephalin which affect pain perception along with other bodily functions such as satiety signals. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor which promotes neuron growth/survival and is thought to be involved in depression. And many more. These are just a few examples of how the gut-brain axis may affect mental illness and how it should be considered when treating conditions like depression or anxiety.

The cause of the connection between gut bacteria and mental health is still unknown.

The connection between gut bacteria and mental health is still a mystery. The exact cause of the association is unknown, but experts hypothesize that it may have something to do with the production of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain).

One hypothesis about how this works comes from Dr. John Cryan, who suggests that “the communication between these two systems [the brain and the gut] might be more important than we think,” he told BBC News Online. “Psychological stress can alter our microbiome and its metabolic products can then adversely affect our moods.”

Another hypothesis is that the gut microbiome may play a role in the regulation of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that send signals between nerve cells. Dr. Cryan’s research found specific types of bacteria can produce molecules called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have anti-inflammatory and mood-boosting properties.

Dr. Cryan and his team also found that mice bred without any bacteria in their guts were more anxious than normal mice. Mice with a healthy microbiome were less anxious than those who lacked gut bacteria, he said.

Our gut bacteria (microbiome) may start to develop before we’re born.

It’s believed that our gut bacteria (microbiome) may start to develop before we’re born. In addition to the health benefits of breast milk, it contains a variety of “good” bacteria that can help build your child’s immune system and establish good gut health.

The right balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive system is important for mental health because they help us digest food properly, absorb nutrients from food and fight off harmful bacteria. Some research suggests that imbalances between good and bad bacteria could be responsible for symptoms such as depression or anxiety. Researchers are also investigating whether the gut microbiome could be a target for new treatments for mental health conditions.

Probiotics are not without side effects.

Probiotics are not without side effects. Some people experience bloating, gas and diarrhea in the first few weeks of taking a probiotic supplement. If you find that this happens to you, be sure to talk to your doctor about other ways to improve your gut health.

There are also some rare but serious risks associated with consuming too many probiotics at one time or taking certain antibiotics at the same time as taking a probiotic supplement.

Lastly, it’s important to note that not all products labeled “probiotic” contain live cultures of beneficial bacteria—and FDA regulations do not require manufacturers to test their products for potency or purity before they go on sale.

More research is needed to understand the potential of gut bacteria to treat or prevent mental illness.

It’s important to note that more research is needed to understand the potential of gut bacteria to treat or prevent mental illness. In addition, researchers have yet to identify all the ways in which gut bacteria can impact brain function. For example, it’s possible that some types of bacteria might help with anxiety while others might worsen it; there are also many factors other than bacteria that influence how our brains work.

Still, this growing body of research suggests an intriguing possibility: There may be simple ways you can improve your brain health by improving your gut health—and vice versa!

Healthy bacteria can mean healthy minds, too.

There’s no doubt about it: healthy gut health means better mental health.

But how does that happen?

Why is there such a strong connection between our digestive system and the state of our minds?

Healthy bacteria are thought to be an important part of this equation. The trillions of microorganisms that inhabit our guts—known collectively as the microbiome—are crucial for maintaining good health, including mental well-being. These microbes help us digest foods, produce vitamins and enzymes that aid in digestion, protect against pathogens (like bad bacteria), regulate inflammation levels in the body, and even influence hormone production. While some people have more diverse microbiomes than others (which may play into their overall well-being), recent research suggests that having too few beneficial types of bacteria can negatively impact brain function and behavior by causing changes in key neurotransmitters like serotonin or dopamine.

The idea that there is a strong connection between gut health and mental well-being has been gaining momentum in recent years. In fact, some scientists have coined the term “psychobiotics” to describe the effects of probiotic bacteria on mental health.

Gut health is all the rage right now.

You’ve probably heard about gut health, but maybe you’re not sure why it’s so important. It’s something that’s all the rage right now, and for good reason: your gut is the epicenter of your body’s immune system, so if there’s something wrong in there it can affect every other part of your life.

Gut health has been linked to everything from sleep quality and skin conditions to weight loss and mood disorders. But what exactly does it mean? And how do you improve yours?

The gut is a complex and fascinating part of the body. It’s made up of layers of tissue that line your digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus. This tissue forms a barrier between what you eat and drink and the rest of your body, which means it plays an important role in protecting you from harmful substances or bacteria.

You can’t talk about gut health without talking about bacteria

• You can’t talk about gut health without talking about bacteria
• Gut health is really all about bacteria. The gut contains a complex ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes, which does a lot more than just digest food and aid in digestion—it has an impact on your mood, behavior, energy levels and even memory. This is because the brain and the nervous system are connected to our digestive systems via the vagus nerve that links up to our brains. This helps us process what we eat through signals sent from your gut to your brain. If this connection isn’t working well then it means that messages between these two parts of your body won’t be as effective which may lead to problems like depression or anxiety disorders.

A healthy microbiome means better mental health

Gut health is linked to a variety of mental disorders

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy. They may also have trouble focusing, speaking clearly, or expressing their emotions.

Poor gut health can cause anxiety and depression

Many people have experienced the gut-brain connection in their own lives. Some of us can feel an upset stomach coming on before we actually get sick, and others have felt a surge of energy after eating something that didn’t agree with us. We’ve all had food cravings when we’re stressed, or felt like our moods are affected by what we eat, right? It turns out that these correlations are real: according to research out of UCLA and Harvard Medical School, there’s a strong link between gut health and mental health.

The study found that people with a healthy gut are more likely to have a positive mood and less likely to experience depression or anxiety. The researchers also found that probiotics can help prevent neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

The reason for this is simple: our gut bacteria have a huge amount of influence over the brain. They release neurotransmitters that can affect mood and behavior, they control inflammation which can alter our mental state, and they even regulate the way we process information and make decisions. The more diverse gut flora you have,

Improving your gut health may improve anxiety and depression symptoms

• Your gut health is linked to your brain health. This is because the gut and brain share a common network that links the two together.
• Gut bacteria influence mood. One study found that taking probiotics (good bacteria) helped reduce anxiety symptoms in healthy adults. Another study indicated that people with high levels of certain types of bad bacteria were more likely to suffer from depression than those with low levels of such bacteria, suggesting that an imbalance in gut flora might be involved with depression.
• Dietary changes can help improve your mood and mental health by affecting your gut microbiome:
• Eating more fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi may improve your mood. Some studies have shown that people who consume these types of fermented foods show lower rates of anxiety symptoms compared to those who do not eat them regularly; this may be because they contain fermentable fibers like pectin which feed good gut bacteria while inhibiting pathogenic ones (those associated with autoimmune disorders).
• A high-fiber diet has been shown to improve both physical symptoms like bloating as well as psychological problems like irritability or sadness related to IBS symptoms such as diarrhea and gas pains due to excessive sugar intake; this may be because it helps keep things moving through the gastrointestinal tract quickly enough so there’s no time for fermentation which could cause digestive issues later on down stream!

If you’re diagnosed with IBS, it might be helpful to talk with your doctor about a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes such as eating more fiber-rich foods and exercising regularly. If you find that these strategies don’t help, consider talking with a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Foods that promote mental health by improving gut health

There are a number of foods that promote mental health by improving gut health. When it comes to improving mental health through food choices such as probiotics-rich yogurt or kimchi (a Korean fermented cabbage dish), eating these foods increases the number of good bacteria in your gut while reducing bad ones like clostridium difficile (C-diff). In turn, this has been linked with a lower risk for depression according to research published in Frontiers in Psychology last year!

Conclusion

This is just the beginning of our understanding of how gut health affects mental health, and we’re excited to see where this research goes next. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find more ways to use good bacteria for treating and preventing mental illness in the future!

Author: Bliss

Dedicated to making a positive difference for people, animals, and this beautiful planet!