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Is Gut Bacteria Good For Our Brain?

We all know that gut bacteria is important for our heath. But it has been found that it affects our mind function as well. Read on to know more.

By Lekhaka

It is a little known fact that bowel bacteria affect your mind function. Researchers know that the mind sends signals to the intestine, but now it has been unearthed that the signal travels the opposite way as well. Read on to know more.

We all know that gut bacteria affect our health in a certain way. These are responsible for the proper functioning of our health. Gut bacteria affect our metabolism, propensity for allergies and digestive powers. Every other day, we read about how gut bacteria is essential for optimum health.

Is Gut Bacteria Good For Our Brain?

Now let us see how gut bacteria affects our brain in certain ways. Previous studies had indicated that gut bacteria have a connection with the brain. Research conducted showed that a group of people who were given antibiotics showed behavioural change.

This was due to a disturbance in their gut bacteria. As a result they started suffering from depression and anxiety as it was found that they had a heightened quantity of a certain protein in the brain.

Is Gut Bacteria Good For Our Brain?

Researchers also found that changing the level of gut bacteria in a certain group of people caused a type of mood change as well. The level of gut bacteria influenced the nature of these people. Timid people were found to turn aggressive and aggressive people were found to turn timid with the change in gut bacteria.

Gut bacteria have also been found to regulate anxiety and stress levels. Gut bacteria have been found to lower degrees of nervousness, decrease stress hormones and have been found to even cause a rise in brain receptors for a neurotransmitter essential to curbing worry, nervousness and fear.

Is Gut Bacteria Good For Our Brain?

Another study linked mental wellness issues with microorganisms in the gastrointestinal system. A study found that the mental illnesses in old people were connected with gut bacteria. Gut bacteria have also been shown to affect patients with autism.

Story first published: Thursday, November 24, 2016, 17:03 [IST]
Read more about: brain bacteria health benefits