That's a big question "Can The Billions Of Creatures Inside Your Gut Boost Mental Health?

It's a subject that's fascinated me for many years now ever since I began researching mental wellness and looking for ways to help my Mum who had Alzheimers and myself and my husband who had familial high cholesterol

Let's start here

We know that the gut microbiome — the collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that reside inside us — influences our mental state through a powerful connection known as the gut-brain axis. So the big question is: Can we positively influence the gut

“Many studies support gut-brain axis impacting brain function,” says Atsushi Kamiya, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Thus, [a] healthy gut may positively affect our brain function and potentially keep our mental condition healthy.”

We've done a fair bit  of research into this and from the articles we've read and working with a company who have built it's reputation on natural supplements that work on the gut-brain-axis here are some of the best ways to help your gut help your brain.

PROBIOTICS

There have been and continue to be studies on the effect of different types of probiotics and in particular those that may be a positive effect on our mental wellness

Recent research published in Nature Immunology highlights a connection between having more Lactobacillus johnsonii in the gut and lower odds of depression and anxiety. Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria with a known anti-inflammatory effect.  The study’s lead author, tells says that it’s too soon to say that Lactobacillus supplements will definitely help people with depression and anxiety but it's exciting about the possibility probiotics could help bolster mental health

Certainly at Amare they are very focused on this topic

You can read more here and watch a video from our Chief Scientific Officer and product formulator Dr Shawn Talbott About the work we're doing and how our range of probiotics are already having a profound impact on the those taking our supplements

Amare's Probiotics provides a broad spectrum of high-potency probiotics that you need on a daily basis.

There are numerous testimonials from real people who say it's made a difference to their lives

My husband and I take our probiotics in a daily drink called Happy Juice which contains a product called MentaBiotics

We take this because it contains specific specific strains of probiotics and prebiotics designed to target mental wellness issues versus our probiotic which is targeted towards overall health

DIET

Diet is the gut-augmenting tool scientists can endorse with the most confidence. It’s well-established that fermented foods benefit gut health, as do foods high in fiber. Also food containing polyphenols — compounds found in fruits and vegetables — is also good for the gut.

Whilst a plant-based diet is endorsed it's not the idea for most of us but if you can try to eat 30 plants a week it can make a big difference. It’s easier than you think — whether or not you’re dining on blueberries, carrots, or lettuce, those plants add up.

And needless to say you hear it all the time - drinking lots of water. 

EXERCISE

You can also support your gut and mental wellness through exercise - it can help reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health.  It can be something as simple as walking outside (5,000 steps is not difficult to achieve even doing the chores around the house (yes really) as well as doing the shopping etc.

Some research also suggests that exercise can increase the number of “good bacteria” in the gut and enrich the diversity of the microbiome. In part, this may be because exercise increases how often you need to do go to the toilet (well known to most ofus as 'number two'). Exercise also increases lactic acid bacteria, which helps the gastrointestinal tract kick out pathogens.

Studies suggest that certain gut microbes can actually boost motivation to exercise. They found that the bacterial species Eubacterium rectale and Coprococus eutactus corresponded to greater athleticism more so than genetics. This may be because these bacterial species produce metabolites that kickstart a process that results in dopamine levels rising — a process that connects back to the gut-brain axis

It's why Chris and I take Happy Juice every day as it provides us the motivation to tackle the day (and especially going to the gym!)

Personally we've both upped our exercise, going to the gym for half an hour three times a week and we do have a personal trainer to help us do the right kind of exercise for our personal metabolism

But seriously you can exercise at home even with limited space and most social media are always advertising courses from chair yoga to wall exercises

I really like this one designed for the 55 year old and above and by qualified physiotherapists

I grabbed you the link to their free exercise class here  I have it and it's great

I also have the wall exercise course

So there you have it

There's definitely a connection between mental wellness and the gut microbiome