Your Gut and Your Moods: How They are Linked
People refer to something they feel but cannot explain as their “gut feeling” and this is true in some ways. The gut has millions of bacteria that help in digestion, metabolism, and even immune response.
But how can these bacteria affect the way we feel?
Your Gut Health
Your gut has a community of bacteria and microorganisms that help you absorb nutrients, improve brain function, and defend the body against infections. However, they also send signals to the brain that affect mood and behavior.
Since these microorganisms send these signals to the brain, anytime that there is an imbalance in the microbiota of your gut, it can disrupt the brain signals and result in mood disorders. These include increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and sometimes even cause learning disabilities in younger children.
In adults, these disruptions can manifest as other things too, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, ulcers, and colitis. Studies have shown that people with these conditions often have depression or higher anxiety levels.
What to Do to for Gut Health
However, there are ways that you can manage gut heath. These strategies could improve your gut microbiota and can improve your mental health.
Take a balanced diet.
When it comes to gut health, the best way to manage it is to take a balanced diet. Consuming different kinds of vegetables, grains, fruits, proteins, fiber, prebiotic and probiotic food can significantly improve your gut health. If for some reason you cannot eat such food, you can take a microflora probiotic supplement which can help your gut microflora.
Probiotics are fermented food like yogurt, pickles, and kimchi. These contain live microorganisms that can increase the good bacteria in your gut. Prebiotic foods, such as onions, banana, garlic, and wheat serve as food for gut microflora. They can promote the growth of these good bacteria in the gut.
Limit the use of antibiotics.
Antibiotics are needed to treat bacterial infections, but they can also have a negative effect on your gut bacteria. Use antibiotics as prescribed by a medical professional, and don’t overuse them as they can have a negative effect on the body.
If you need to take antibiotics, make sure to eat probiotic foods and microflora probiotic supplements to improve your gut health.
Reduce stress.
Stress reduction can help improve gut health. However, you need to choose activities that can lessen stress and induce calm. One way to do this is to start an activity that helps you focus such as walking, meditation, or yoga.
Another way is to increase the quality of your sleep. Sleeping can significantly increase the body’s ability to self-heal, and the more you sleep, the more your body and mind can improve gut health.
Stop taking substances that can disrupt mood.
The best way to manage your mood and your gut health at the same time is to stop taking substances such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other more addictive substances. These can affect your gut health too, as they can irritate the environment in your intestines and can lead to a gut bacterial imbalance.
If you find it hard to stop drinking alcohol or caffeine, it;s best to control the amount of your intake. Do it slowly and find a balance to maintain gut health.
It’s More Than a Feeling
Sometimes your gut tells you something is wrong with your body, and it can sometimes come as depression, anxiety, and the inability to cope with pain and trauma. If you want to manage your moods, start it with your guts. Eat a balanced diet and do activities that can lessen stress. And if you want to make sure that your gut microbiome is healthy, why not see a doctor and ask which supplements can help your gut bacteria stay in optimal health.
