Bacteria and the Gut: Can They

Affect The Brain?

Many people may consider bacteria a bad thing. However, you may be surprised to know that we

contain 10 times more bacterial cells than

human cells within the average human body.

The term ‘human microbiome’ refers to all the microorganisms

(and their genes) living within the human body.

Animated or Static?

The researchers of this project have reported

that these bacterial genes might contribute

more to human survival than our own genes.

Ever had a “gut feeling” or an emotion you felt in your gut? Our brain is connected to the gut by what’s called the enteric nervous system.

BEHAVIOR

It’s been shown that gut inflammation can induce anxiety-

like behavior, and change the biochemistry of the central nervous

system.

Similarly, it’s known that patients with IBS have significantly higher

levels of both anxiety and depression

This gut-brain communication is bidirectional, with change in behavior overlapping change

in the microbiome (gut bacteria) It’s estimated that 90% of serotonin is made in

the gut.

This could partly explain why certain probiotic supplements have shown to improve mood and behavior

in both humans and animals.

In fact, researchers have found that certain types of bacteria could decrease

anxiety in mice more than drug as commonly used for general anxiety

disorder, such as Lexapro.

In another study, human volunteers given a formulation that could reduced

depression and anxiety

In fact, a study in JAMA Psychiatry found brain inflammation was 30% higher in clinically depressed individuals than

controls.

What Foods Improve Gut Health and

Our Microbiome?

What’s good for us is also good for our microbiome: vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits and legumes.

It’s estimated that our hunter-gatherer ancestors consumed on average 86 grams

of fiber per day

Foods abundant in fiber/complex carbohydrates can increase the growth of beneficial bacteria

What’s empowering is that eating fiber-rich

foods can actually decrease the amount of

bad bacteria within us

Conversely, diets high in refined

carbohydrates (flour, sugar, syrups, etc.) are

found to increase the growth of pathogenic

bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile and

Clostridium perfringens

P-cresol is a human carcinogen (cancer-

causing agent), which can also affect the

central nervous system, cardiovascular

system, lungs, kidney and liver

Not only because of the impact food has on gut

bacteria, but because there are many reports of diet

affecting various psychiatric disorders, including

schizophrenia, bipolar depression, ADHD and autism.

CONTACT US

Doctor Angie

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