Gut bacteria, mood and behavior

Gut bacteria, mood and behavior

Gut bacteria does affect the mood and behavior. Depression is currently one of the leading causes of disease. New research established connection between diet quality and depression. Gut bacteria is partially responsible for this. A poor diet leads to changes in the gut micro-flora which worsens the depression. On the contrary, an improvement in the diet quality has been shown to prevent depression.

Moreover, scientists are finding that the gut bacteria is not only responsible for digesting the food, fighting infections and boosting metabolism. They also affect the mental health. This is because 90% of the serotonin is made in the digestive tract, and serotonin is responsible for the feeling of well-being and happiness.

The gut bacteria starts to establish itself at birth. This can vary depending on the infant delivery method and feeding. Although it stabilizes itself in the first years of life, a lot of factors, like age, genetics, geography and the use of medication, and mostly by diet continue to influence it. Therefore, food choices affect mood behavior. 

To balance the gut flora:

1. Use antibiotics cautiously!! They can kill the beneficial flora. They are also present in the farm animal products.

2. Go organic when choosing meat, fish and poultry.

3. Filter drinking and shower water: they may contain chlorine that kills the gut bacteria.

4. Avoid antibacterial soap: some bacteria living on our skin is beneficial, and skin oils have a protective effect.

5. Avoid sugar: it fertilizes the disease-causing bacteria and lowers the immune response. 

6. Use bone broth: it repairs the gut.

7. Eat fermented foods: they include beneficial microbes, like yogurt, pickles, and others. 

Finally, it should be acknowledged that it is not enough to just watch what you eat. A healthy lifestyle that includes healthy habits is very important in promoting microbial health.