According to a recent paper, “The number of individuals experiencing mental disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression) has significantly risen in recent years. Therefore, it is essential to seek prevention and treatment strategies for mental disorders. Several gut microbiota, especially Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, are demonstrated to affect mental health through microbiota–gut–brain axis, and the gut microbiota dysbiosis can be related to mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. On the other hand, dietary components, including probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium), prebiotics (e.g., dietary fiber and alpha-lactalbumin), synbiotics, postbiotics (e.g., short-chain fatty acids), dairy products, spices (e.g., Zanthoxylum bungeanum, curcumin, and capsaicin), fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and so on, could exert protective effects against mental disorders by enhancing beneficial gut microbiota while suppressing harmful ones.”
So what do we do about this? The folks over at the blog “Well+Good” recommend 9 areas you can focus on, perhaps one area per week over the next few months, to attend to the importance of guy health. Full details are at https://www.wellandgood.com/how-to-improve-gut-health/, but the list boils down to this: Eat more plants, add fiber wherever you can, try fermented foods like miso or sauerkraut, reduce processed food intake, drink plenty of water, and avoid unnecessary antibiotics. Check the article above for specific tips on how, or consult with your doctors at your next appointment.