Category: Mental health
Probiotics and Prebiotics for Mental Health: A Guide for Families
Did you know that your gut health is directly linked to your mental health? It’s true!
Over the past few years, researchers have been studying the gut-brain connection, and the results are fascinating. Not only does a healthy gut lead to a better functioning brain, but it also boosts your mood and helps reduce stress levels.
So let’s explore how probiotics and prebiotics can help keep your family’s mental health in check!
The gut-brain connection is an important concept when it comes to mental health.
Our bodies are made up of two nervous systems: the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. Those two systems are connected through the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the abdomen.
Information travels in a bi-directional loop back and forth and has a profound influence on our mental health through the absorption of vitamins and minerals broken down by our gut flora.
Additionally, the gut is home to trillions of bacteria which produce neurotransmitters like serotonin that affect our moods. An imbalance in these bacteria can lead to an increase in inflammation which can interfere with our emotional processing centers in the brain leading to poor mental health.