Gut-Brain Axis 101: Can Gut Health Improve Mental Health?

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, what if I told you that the way to his mental health is also through his stomach? Have you ever heard of the gut-brain axis? Probably not, right? And it’s a shame that this topic isn’t covered more often as it can help many people.

Lately, there seems to be a lot of focus on gut health in terms of immunity and boosting the immune system but zero mention of the gut’s role concerning the brain and mental health.

In this article, we will look at precisely what the gut-brain axis is, how it affects mental health, and how you can be proactive to improve your gut health. 

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition or disease. Use this article for informational purposes only. The information provided should not substitute a medical professional’s advice. If you feel you are suffering from gut or mental health issues, seek the help of a professional.

What is the Gut-Brain Axis? 

The gut-brain axis is the ability of the central and enteric nervous systems to communicate together. This communication plays a role in how you think, how you feel (your mood), your digestion, and your overall health. When not optimized, each of those areas can be negatively impacted — causing many different issues. Your enteric nervous system is also referred to as your “second brain” due to the role it plays.

The gut-brain axis can be altered and improved by consuming certain foods, nutrients, and supplements. For instance, fermented foods, probiotics, and healthy fats containing omega-3 fatty acids can all help improve gut health, which, in turn, helps improve mental health. 

Researchers have stated that the gut-brain axis “regulates human behavior and cognition, similar to the brain.”

3 Ways the Gut Affects Mental Health 

Inflammation in the body can do a lot of nasty things. That said, a poor gut microbiome combined with or without inflammation can cause several mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression. 

Below are a few of the ways that the gut can affect mental health.

1. Keeps Inflammation in Check 

Your body is under attack all day long by inflammation. This can be due to exercise, environmental factors, and changes to the gut microbiome. When this happens, the immune system overreacts, leading to an increase in inflammation. If this inflammation is not controlled properly, it can affect the gut-brain axis as well as lead to cognitive diseases that alter your mental health.

By focusing on gut health, you can improve the microbiome, fight free radicals and inflammation, and boost the immune system so that this precise combination of benefits can prevent mental health issues as well as cognitive diseases.

2. Produces Butyrate

The food and supplements you consume and use on a daily basis play a role in the overall health of your gut. On top of the micronutrient profile, consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds in your diet also support gut health and feed the good bacteria. To add to the benefits, those same foods also help produce butyrate — an essential fatty acid created by the healthy bacteria in your gut. 

What’s so great about butyrate? For starters, it helps minimize damaging inflammation, which can affect mental health and alter your mood. Butyrate is also a great source of energy for the cells in your gut lining. Possibly the most beneficial benefit of good bacteria producing butyrate is that it can help form new brain cells.

3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Putting a greater focus on your nutrition and the food you put in your body can positively affect and improve mental health. By adding more foods that are high in fiber and that contain probiotics can help enhance gut flora — supporting your physical and mental health.

Similar to what was said about butyrate in #2, converting food into short-chain fatty acids in the gut can also help produce the hormone serotonin, which is often referred to as one of the “happy hormones.” The production of serotonin helps regulate your mood. 

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When your gut microbiome is healthy, the bacteria can also produce the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), which helps improve mood and relieve stress, ultimately improving mental health and providing you with a sense of calmness.

The Easy Way to Help Improve Gut Health 

Your gut health needs to be prioritized. If you want to maintain your health and immunity, reach your fitness goals, and improve mental health, focus on your gut microbiome and the gut-brain axis. 

To simplify this process and fast-track your results, Evogen Nutrition has two supplements that, when combined, have a compounding effect when it comes to helping protect the gut and mental health — Probiotic D.R. 30 and Evogreens.

Evogen Nutrition Probiotic D.R. 30 contains 30 Bil CFU probiotics and patented DE111^® to support gut health, digestion, and immunity. Not only can the dietary fiber found in Probiotic D.R. 30 improve the gut microbiome, but it can also help you stay satiated throughout the day. This delayed-release gut flora optimizer is a supplement everyone should include in their supplement regimen to boost many aspects of their physical and mental health. 

Adding Evogen Nutrition Evogreens into the fold takes things to a whole new level. The problem many people face is that they lack certain nutrients in their diet due to not consuming enough vegetables (more specifically, greens). Compiling on top of that is the fact that people also don’t focus enough on adding foods containing probiotics into their diet. That’s where Evogreens shines. This premium performance greens formula contains six servings of fruits and vegetables as well as 2 Bil CFU probiotics to help maintain and improve the overall health of the gut and GI tract.

Life can be incredibly stressful at times and can take its toll on you mentally. Combat those feelings and prevent them from negatively affecting your mental health and the gut-brain axis by focusing more on your gut health and what you put in your body. Add Evogen Nutrition Probiotic D.R. 30 and Evogreens to simplify the process and provide you with the key ingredients and nutrients your mind and body demand!