May is Mental Health Awareness Month
“The Gut Brain Connection” Here is a good read from Mental Health America: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/fitness-4mind4body-gut-brain-connection
The gut-wrenching feeling in the pit of your stomach is all too real – your gut is sensitive to emotions like anger, anxiety, sadness, and joy…food for thought.
How is the Gut Microbiome Related to Mental Health?
There is a strong relationship between having mental health problems and having gastrointestinal symptoms 1
Having anxiety and depression can cause changes in the gut microbiome because of what happens in the body when it has a stress response.2
Sources:
1Mussell, M, et al. Gastrointestinal symptoms in primary care: prevalence and association with depression and anxiety. (2008). Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 64(6): 605-612.
2Posserud I, Agerforz P, Ekman R, Björnsson ES, Abrahamsson H, Simrén M. Altered visceral perceptual and neuroendocrine response in patients with irritable bowel syndrome during mental stress. (2004). Gut. Aug 1;53(8):1102-8.