We tend to think more about how the gut and brain create diseases—but what about how they work together for our benefit? That’s what researchers wanted to know in a new study that examined stress resiliency.
Published in Nature Mental Health, the research reveals a unique gut microbiome signature related to those who can better adapt to stress. Those people tend to have “good bugs” that help mitigate inflammation and are often more kind, easy-going, extroverted, non-judgmental, and mindful.
The findings merely indicate a gut-brain “association,” so causality remains elusive. However, experts who work closely with gut health note there’s often a corresponding benefit to mental health when people improve their gut health.
Considering stress is virtually inescapable, this is the kind of research that can challenge all of us to tap into gut and brain healing pathways to handle the hardships that go hand-in-hand with everyday life.
This week’s gut spotlight story is filled with tips to mitigate stress using both the brain and diet.
