Can Your Gut Health Affect Your Mental Health? [Poll]

You’ve heard the saying trust your gut, and you may even know a little about the anatomy of your gut. But have you ever considered if your gut can affect your mental health? Tell us what you think.

Gut Bacteria – Mental Health Connection

If the thought of a gut bacteria – mental health connection gives you pause, you are not alone. In fact, in the scientific community, there had been some skepticism about this possibility until now. Recent research has shown that this connection could be a real possibility.

The link between the gut and the brain, called the gut-brain axis, has gotten a lot of attention in the medical research community lately. The gut-brain axis, also called the enteric nervous system (ENS) connections, consists of two thin layers of more than a million nerve cells that line your gastrointestinal tract.

New Understanding May Lead to New Treatments

In addition to controlling digestion, the ENS may trigger big emotional shifts that people who are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) experience. For years, doctors thought that depression and anxiety contributed to issues such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and upset stomach. Now the thinking is that it may be the other way around.

With our increased awareness of the gut-brain connection, it’s easy to understand why you may get butterflies before giving a presentation, or you might have an upset stomach when you get stressed. We’ve even covered how balancing your gut can help with anxiety. Although not as the total solution but as a way to relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety.

There’s More to Learn about the Gut-Brain Axis

Since the two brains communicate with each other, treating one may help the other. Since anxiety and depression are rising issues, the development of more effective and accessible treatments will be a benefit for many people worldwide. More research is needed to determine what these new treatments will look like.