We have all felt “butterflies in our stomach” when nervous. This is a great example of what it’s like to get signals from our second brain. This “brain in our gut” is helping medical experts shine a light on a link between between digestion, mood, health and even the way we think. Scientists call this other brain the enteric nervous system (ENS).
“These new findings may explain why a higher-than-normal percentage of people with IBS and functional bowel problems develop depression and anxiety,” Pasricha says. “That’s important, because up to 30 to 40 percent of the population has functional bowel problems at some point.” Find out more about this fascinating link between our two brains here.
Per this information many people are linking probiotic use with mood, but according to John Hopkins Medicine more research is needed. Currently, more research is needed to prove taking probiotics is going to change depression or anxiety.
Probiotics have many positive effects on the body, including:
- Shaping the body’s immune system.
- Producing antimicrobial substances.
- Fermenting fiber in the diet to generate nutrients for the cells that line our intestines.
Find out more about pro-biotics and mood here
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I am a Parent Health Coach. I support parents of children working through eating disorders, disordered eating, body image & nutrition challenges. With 30 years as a clinical health educator as well as 17 years as a health, nutrition, and women’s health professor, author, researcher, and family member of eating disorder survivors, I am here to help.