Mental Health-o-pedia

How Gut Bacteria Affects your Mental Health

DISCLAIMER: 'Gut Feeling' could be real

Written By: Bonoshree Dutta 

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MEET THE PSYCHOBIOME : 

Our colon is home to innumerable bacterial cells which make up a unique ecosystem called the 'gut microbiome'. As well as creating a passage between nutrients and our body and keeping opportunistic pathogens locked out, the activities of gut bacteria also influence our brain. "We know, people who are depressed and anxious have very different microbiomes than people who are not depressed," says psychiatrist Dr. Tracey Marks. The gut bacterial population that influences our brain and mental health is termed psychobiome. 

IT TAKES GUTS: 

If you've said or heard things like “Gone with my gut” to make a decision or felt “butterflies in my stomach” when nervous, you may have gotten signals from an unexpected source - the psychobiome or the gut bacteria. 

Meet the psychobiome: 

Our gut or colon contains bacteria that influence our brain and mental health, which is termed psychobiome. This bacterial ecosystem varies and is visibly different from the gut of a mentally healthy than that of a depressed person. The unique gut microbiome actually plays a role in influencing how you feel. Dr. Tracy quotes: ---- 

GUT AND GUSTO: 

Gut bacteria regulate different hormones and neurotransmitters and thus regulate our mood.

 

Let’s start giving our ‘gut’ some credit for saving us a lot of time 

Turns out “you are what you eat” has been true all along. What you put into your stomach can affect how your mind feels. Some foods that help you maintain a healthy gut are:

● Probiotic: Fermented food like sour cheese, yogurt, etc., pickles, some organic fruits, and vegetables, etc. 

● Prebiotics: Banana, oatmeal, apple, garlic, onion, mango, etc. 

● Phenolic food: Potato, yam, tomato, broccoli, cherries, legumes, etc.

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