How Diet Affects the Brain

Over the past decade, studies have demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between our diet and brain function (formally referred to as the microbiota-gut-brain axis). Take a close look at these high resolution MRIs of the brain and gastro-intestinal tract. Notice the organs, vasculature and musculature in their entirety. When we eat a meal, our body literally uses and influences every aspect of what we are peering into! Our gut microbiota (which contains trillions of microorganisms, including at least 1,000 different species of known bacteria, and three million unique genes – outnumbering the number of human genes 150 to 1) are thought to communicate with the central nervous system (CNS) through neural, endocrine and immune pathways. These microorganisms are capable of producing and delivering neuro-active substances such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which act on the gut-brain axis and may help to explain why our diet can be associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autistic disorders, anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders! Our friends at Medscape published an article two days ago that touched on how recent studies on the use of probiotics are promising for mild to moderate depression! Investigators found that symptoms of mood, anhedonia (loss of the capacity to experience pleasure), and sleep disturbance were significantly reduced with probiotic therapy after just four weeks, with results maintained at eight weeks. These findings are of particular interest because probiotics can be safely taken over long periods and may provide potential treatments and preventative measures for depressive and anxiety disorders! How cool is that?

For more, click on the link & watch our video on ‘How Diet Affects Mental Health’: https://youtu.be/qGI419mYiTo