What Are Psychobiotics?

The idea that  bacteria can generate all kinds of health benefits  is popular knowledge. We estimate that more than 48 billion of these microorganisms live in our bodies, playing a fundamental role in all kinds of physical processes, such as digestion.

However, did you know that bacteria  can also cause significant changes in our mood  ? The latest research seems to indicate that the intestinal flora influences the functioning of our brain. This is why we recently started talking about psychobiotics. In other words, substances that  promote the growth of beneficial bacteria for our mind. We will tell you in this article what we know about them.

The discovery of psychobiotics

Empirical support for the idea that certain bacteria in our bodies can positively influence our brains is recent. Ted Dinan, professor of psychiatry at the University of Cork (Ireland), first used the term in 2013. Several experiments conducted by this researcher have shown that  fermented dairy products can alter behavior in animals.

The results suggested that consuming yogurt was able to change the functioning of parts of the brain related to emotional control. These investigations  paved the way for further studies on the relationship between the gut and the mind.

For example, it has been discovered that certain types of intestinal bacteria (such as  Lactobacillus , present in dairy products) are able to modulate the production of certain neurotransmitters. Some of them, such as serotonin or GABA,  are directly related to our mood. In addition, they are also involved in the onset of mental disorders, such as depression or anxiety.

Based on this data,  studies have been conducted to investigate which types of bacteria have a more positive impact on our brains. Scientists are also trying to find out which probiotics we can consume in order to better regulate their development.

What are the most effective psychobiotics?

While there are hundreds of substances we can take to improve our gut flora, research has shown that  not all of them are as effective as psychobiotics. On the contrary, some have been shown to be much more effective in improving the functioning of our brain, as well as our mood.

Some of the psychobiotics that help our mind the most are:

• Kefir
• Bananas and apples.
• Fermented foods

1- Kefir

Despite being a relatively unknown food, this psychobiotic has grown in popularity in recent years. It is a kind of yogurt of Bulgarian origin, which is produced by the action of a set of yeasts and bacteria which are  very beneficial for our health.

The main difference of this type of dairy product from conventional yogurt is that there is a bacteria known as  Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens  among its components. One of its most positive effects is increased levels of serotonin and tryptophan,  two of the neurotransmitters that most influence our emotional well-being.

2- Bananas and apples

We all know the benefits of fruits and vegetables on our physical health. However, a team of microbiologists from Yale University in the United States recently discovered another benefit of these foods. Indeed,  certain types of vegetables can improve the health of certain bacteria essential to our emotional well-being.

Two of the most beneficial fruits in this regard are bananas and apples. Their consumption  may improve the levels of acid-lactic acid bacteria (LAB)  which we previously thought could only be found in milk. Again, these microorganisms play a fundamental role in the release of certain neurotransmitters that fight anxiety and depression.

3- Fermented foods

Finally, one of the classic remedies for digestive problems is the consumption of fermented foods. Despite the fact that they are not very popular in our country, the consumption of sauerkraut, kombucha or vinegar is a common practice in other places to  improve the health of our intestinal flora.

It was also recently discovered that  these foods also play a very important role in our mood. These probiotics have several functions such as regulating the absorption of nutrients and the release of serotonin. They can therefore be one of our best allies in the fight to optimize our well-being.

While we tend to see the mind and body as two separate parts, the two are actually closely related. Consume  the power supply probiotics ents can be one of the best ways to have a more positive mood  and make more agile the functioning of our brain.

Our thoughts

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