Lifts mood
What we eat can have a huge impact on our mood, this is because of the two-way communication between the gut and brain via the vagus nerve.
According to a study in the Trends of Neurosciences, psychobiotics can benefit our mood by influencing the part of our brain associated with emotional attention. In fact, the results of the study showed that participants who included probiotic supplements with the bacteria Lactobacillus casei Shirota in their diet were more likely to rate themselves as happy rather than depressed.
Keen to reap these benefits? Lactobacillus casei Shirota is a bacteria commonly found in fermented milk drinks such as kefir but is also present in sauerkraut and yoghurt.
Better focus and concentration
When our brain is happy and healthy, we often find it easier to concentrate and focus. A key component of a healthy brain is a well-functioning digestive system. We can ensure that our brain stays sharp by including gut-friendly foods in our diet.
While there is no evidence of psychobiotic-induced cognitive enhancements in humans just yet, this could be because we don’t have the tools just yet to detect any subtle changes. Current research shows that improving our gut bacteria has an overall positive cognitive effect, so it’s probably safe to assume that if you look after your gut, you’ll probably find that you have more energy and focus to power through your daily to-do list.
Reduced stress response
When we’re stressed, it can impact our gut negatively. However, research on psychobiotics shows that by improving the health of our gut, we can actually improve our body’s response to stress.
One particular study showed that when given a supplement containing Bifidobacterium longum (strain 1714), participants who took the probiotic had lower levels of cortisol during a stress test in which they submerged their hands in an ice-water bath.
Improves anxiety
Perhaps one of the most exciting benefits of psychobiotics is the impact that they can have on our mental health. In a study by the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, the psychobiotics used to help improve the gut microbiome of patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, also resulted in an improvement in patients suffering from anxiety and depression.
Researchers from the study believe that this is because the psychobiotic strains used in the study offer a number of different protective mechanisms.
Among the probiotics evaluated, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus all displayed the ability to improve anxiety and depression symptoms. You can find these bacteria in a range of different foods like kefir, yoghurt, pickled vegetables, tempeh, kombucha, kimchi, and miso. Just note that the quantities and quality of the bacteria will vary depending on the product.
