The gut has been dubbed “the second brain” because the communication between the brain and the gut is ongoing from birth and plays a significant role in shaping how the brain is wired. A new study in the journal General Psychiatry shows that addressing one’s gut health might be an effective treatment for anxiety!
The study found that 52% of participants experienced a positive effect on their anxiety symptoms with the regulation of intestinal microbiota – further proving that there is a deep connection between the gut and the brain.
Cocoa is good for your gut!
Scientists from the University of Reading found that cocoa promotes good gut bacteria, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while reducing the bad, Clostridium histolyticum bacteria – found in patients with IBD.
Add a handful of spinach to your smoothie for a gut-healthy snack!
This leafy green boosts gut health because it’s high in fiber and contains sugar sulfoquinovose (SQ) – which feeds the good bacteria in our guts.
Gut health is linked to how well your prescription drugs might work.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine found that 64.9% of drugs can be metabolized by certain gut bacteria, and become less concentrated – helping explain why drugs affect patients differently.
The number of children diagnosed with a food allergy has increased by 50 percent over the last two decades.
A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that children with food allergies are often missing certain gut bacteria. Further research will be done to identify a blend of probiotics that may be able to help replenish the missing bacteria.
We suggest eating probiotic rich foods to help populate the gut regularly, like those on this list from our friends at Healthline.