Today’s Solutions: December 22, 2024

We at The Optimist Daily write a lot about the numerous health benefits of probiotics. While these healthy bacteria are immensely beneficial for your microbiome and gut health, it turns out they can be good for your brain and even improve your mental health too!

Probiotics are “life-promoting” organisms that work primarily in the gut to reduce harmful conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, dermatitis, high cholesterol levels, and liver disease. Most probiotics belong to one of two bacteria groups: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.

So where does the brain come in? The intestines and the brain are connected through the central nervous system which helps facilitate communication between the two, but the systems also communicate through gut microbes which are aided by probiotic function. These gut microbes produce molecules that signal messages to the brain. The entire microbiome made up of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi also work to influence the brain by controlling inflammation and hormone production.

Many researchers have studied the connection between mental health and gut health. Probiotics that benefit mental health have been called psychobiotics and, although there are no concrete conclusions about their effects, they have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. 

The human body has over 40 trillion bacteria. These bacteria have been proven to reduce diseased gut, otherwise known as “gut dysbiosis,” which is found in people with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. In addition to promoting physical health, bacteria-boosting probiotics could also promote brain health by improving the body’s communication signals, reducing inflammation, and stabilizing hormone levels. All the more reason to incorporate probiotics like yogurt and fermented foods into your diet!

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

This simple Blue Zone habit can improve your longevity

How often do you find yourself sitting on the floor in your day-to-day life? It turns out, sitting on the floor, while it may ...

Read More

Seven tips for cooling your home without AC

Many of us can already feel the heated start of Summer, along with the urge to crank up the air-conditioning. While heatstroke is a ...

Read More

Exposing the hidden threat: skin absorption of indoor air pollutants

Indoor spaces, where many of us spend the majority of our lives, conceal a hidden threat: contaminants that enter not only through the air ...

Read More

Gamers revolutionize biomedical research via DNA analysis

In a remarkable study published in Nature Biotechnology, researchers discovered gaming's transformative potential in biomedical research. Borderlands Science, an interactive mini-game included in Borderlands ...

Read More