Can Gut Flora Influence Your Emotions?

‘ Mens sana in corpore sano ‘: a healthy mind is a healthy body. This saying has been used for centuries. Although the meaning now given to this is quite different from the original definition, studies show that a healthy body is the establishment of a healthy mind in several ways. An important study that supports this assumption is a study from the past few years. The study looked at the relationship between gut flora, the brain and emotions.

Relatively recently, researchers stumbled upon a surprising link between emotions and gut flora. In fact, the gut flora has been extensively researched by researchers over the past few years.

The intimate relationship between the belly and the brain

Having butterflies in your stomach, everyone knows it. Recent research shows that there is a certain truth in this metaphor. Since the early 21st century, researchers have looked at the relationship between the bacteria in our gut and our mental health.

However, this is not a new field of research. As early as the early 20th century, doctors and scientists were already investigating this topic.  They debated how rectal contents could contribute to fatigue, depression and neuroses. This mainly concerned the ‘bad’ pathogenic bacteria.

Scientists initially rejected this type of research and the associated hypotheses about the influences of gut flora on the brain. They regarded this as pseudoscience. About 15 years ago, however, they came back to the relationship between the abdomen and the brain. As researchers continue to explore this topic, they find that the communication between the brain and the abdomen is in fact a two-way street.

The brain influences both the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract. Its functions influence the composition of the intestinal flora. Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract also produce neuroactive substances, neurotransmitters and other metabolites. These, in turn, have an effect on the brain.

Gut flora and mood

A few years ago, the scientific community began researching the exact effect of gut flora on emotions. It was discovered that micro-organisms in our abdomen secrete a large amount of chemical substances.

These include the same substances that our neurons use to communicate and regulate our mood. These include dopamine, serotonin and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, or GABA. These substances, also called neurotransmitters, seem to play a role in gastrointestinal disorders that coincide with major depression and anxiety.

Moreover  , we have known for a long time that a large part of our neurochemical stock comes from our gut. That’s where these chemical signals regulate our appetite, digestion and the ‘full stomach’ feeling, among other things. However, it was only a few years ago that these studies took into account the role of microbes in the production of these special chemicals.

The role of the interplay between brain and gut microbes

Recently, researchers at UCLA (University of California – Los Angeles) were able to pinpoint the exact microbes in the gut that are linked to mood and behavior. This may be the first time scientists have identified the fluctuations in behavior and neurobiology in relation to microbial composition in healthy people. Previously, all this research was done using animal tests.

This research confirms that the interplay between brain and gut microbes can play an important role in our health and behavior. Previous studies imply that the microbes (all microorganisms in the gut) can influence behavior and emotion.

But can the gut affect the brain, or can the brain affect the gut? It is not clear whether the gut has a direct influence on the brain and its development, or vice versa. Researchers warn that it is difficult to draw causal conclusions because not enough research has been done on this association. Most studies of a larger scale on this subject have not yet been completed.

The importance of intestinal flora

Research on the influence of gut flora on the brain is still ongoing.  We still have a lot to discover and clarify. So far, several studies explain the following:

• The microbes of the abdomen comprise a huge population that is vital for healthy metabolism and proper functioning of the brain.
• Communication between the gut and the brain is through neuronal connections.
• Gut microbes are important during early development. They can influence the creation of connections between stress circuits in the brain.
• Probiotics, or “good bacteria,” can have a positive effect on mood-related disease symptoms.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that the microbes play an important role in our health and our moods. We can best think of them as part of a complex, multifaceted communication system in our body. These microbes are necessary to maintain a healthy balance in the brain. So while we wait for more research on this, it’s best to take good care of our bodies and listen to the signals they send us.