Roughly 95% of your serotonin (the “feel good” or “happy” hormone) is stored in your gut as well.
More and more scientists, doctors and researchers are discovering the incredible link between your GUT HEALTH and your MENTAL WELLBEING.
Turns out that, in some cases, “chronic” diseases such as depression, anxiety and even schizophrenia may be linked to severe imbalances and inflammation in the GUT.
Researchers at Oxford University have found that “prebiotic” supplements (literally the nourishment for the good bacteria in your gut) may have an anti-anxiety effect, as they alter the way people process emotions. The participants of this study not only experienced less anxiety when faced with negative stimuli, but also showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol (the stress hormone – “fight or flight”).
For more information on the link between gut and mental health, I would highly encourage you to read the book, A Mind Of Your Own by Dr. Kelly Brogan, M.D.
Symptoms Of Gut Imbalance
So how do you know if you have a good healthy bacteria-balanced gut or not?
Symptoms of an imbalance in your microbiome include:
- Acne
- Food allergies
- Food sensitivity
- Erratic sleep patterns
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Leaky Gut Syndrome
- Chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia
- Mental fogginess
- Learning and behavioral disorders
- Depression
- Irregular mood
- Lactose Intolerance
- Skin issues, like: Eczema, Psoriasis, Rashes
- Autoimmune Diseases (lupus, MS, arthritis, etc.)
- Crazy food cravings
- Bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea
- Cramping after meals
There are an awful lot of symptoms that can be traced back to a gut that is in poor shape. Another great clue as to the health of your gut would be…
Poop.
Poop is the byproduct of either a healthy or a struggling gut. How it comes out, when it comes out and what it look/smells like have great implications as to the wellbeing of your digestive system!
That’s right. As “poopy” as it sounds, your poop is a great indicator of whether or not you are getting enough probiotics on a daily basis.
Good poop: Like a sausage, smooth and soft, or soft blobs with clear-cut edges that pass easily.
Not-so-good poop: Separate hard lumps, a lumpy sausage, cracked and dry, mushy, watery or non-existent.
If you are experiencing the not-so-good poop more than the good poop than it is time to take action and give some serious love to your gut!
Why are probiotics important?
I cannot emphasize enough how important your gut health is to your overall wellbeing. And one of the very best things you can do for your gut is consistently supply it with foods rich in probiotics.
Dr. Mercola states, in this article about probiotics:
“Your body contains about 100 trillion bacteria — more than 10 times the number of cells you have in your entire body. It’s now quite clear that the type and quantity of microorganisms in your gut interact with your body in ways that can either prevent or encourage the development of many diseases.”
Green Med has gathered a list of over 200 studies that point to the amazing abilities of probiotics and how they can help hundreds of diseases and ailments. Here is just a short list of what they can do for you.
...[ Continue to next page ]
Share This Post
