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Using Probiotics to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health

The lifestyle in today’s society is increasingly dynamic and with many more challenges than that of our grandparents and parents.

Therefore, it is quite likely that we feel more of a state of permanent fatigue or a state of apathy during periods when we are busier at work or when we have too many things to deal with.

Although there are many modern ways to relieve stress, including healthy eating, exercise and a well-established sleep schedule, the latest medical research has found that taking food supplements with probiotics can significantly reduce the amount of stress they feel and help release the so-called “happy hormones”.

How might probiotics reduce stress?

Certainly, when we hear of probiotics we think primarily of their administration during antibiotic treatments or to regulate the intestinal flora.

But a much lesser known effect of these is that they significantly contribute to stress reduction.

At the end of the last century, the scientist of Columbia University, Michael Gershon, was able to demonstrate that there is a group of neurons along the entire digestive system and they formed a separate enteric nervous system that engaged in a dialogue with the brain through three channels – neural, hormonal and by releasing specific biological substances from bacteria living in the intestines.

The gut is called the second brain and research has shown that there is a so-called “gut-brain axis” connection between the gut and the brain.

The gut is called the second brain because it has been found to produce many of the same neurotransmitters as the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine and gamma-amino-butyric acid. And all of these neurotransmitters play a key role in mood regulation.

About 95% of the neurotransmitter serotonin is produced and acted on in the abdominal area, which is responsible for a number of processes – managing the passage of food through the intestines, regulating the immune defense, and a small part of it reaches the brain, where it is responsible for feelings of happiness, satisfaction, contentment, etc.

The function of the “gut” nervous system is not limited to digestion, but has a direct effect on our mental state; moreover – in fact, digestion through the enteric nervous system actively influences and promotes the development of one of the most valuable qualities of the human thought process – intuition.

How it works probiotics in the fight against stress?

Research shows that stress increases gut inflammation and thus leads to a significant reduction in beneficial gut bacteria. In addition, this inflammation damages the sensitive intestinal lining, becomes permeable to toxins and pathogens, and thus important hormones such as the happiness hormone serotonin and the sleep hormone melatonin are depleted – it is no wonder then that mood and sleep quality suffer under stress and we are often “hardwired” to need rest after periods of stress.

Modern anti-stress measures therefore include the gut as one of the crucial factors in whether we can cope with high stress or whether it makes us ill, as there is a direct functional axis between the gut and the brain – and this is significantly influenced by our gut bacteria.

In which cases should anti-stress probiotic supplements be administered?

Short-term intake: mode of administration – 1.2 weeks

after performing a bowel examination if a person is in a stressful situation and is struggling to overcome difficult times and their consequences

Long-term intake: method of administration – minimum 2 months:

In cases associated with intestinal function disorders caused by stress In case of mental health problems caused by leaky gut syndrome Insomnia and depression caused by chronic stress Burn-out syndrome Degenerative disorders of the brain after a stroke, in senile dementia, etc. In case of problems with concentration and reaction rate

Source: Tabu.RO

2023-07-21 11:30:50
#probiotics #reduce #stress #Tabu #Tabu.ro

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