In the human body there are two main types of bacteria, the ones that help maintain health, which are called probiotics, and those that are responsible for causing infections and diseases. Psychobiotics are a type of these good bacteria that have an action that helps maintain mental health, protecting the mind against diseases like depression, bipolar disorder or panic and anxiety disorders, for example.
These bacteria are present in the intestine and so can be regulated through a richer diet in pre and probiotics like yogurts, fruits and vegetables.
In addition to protecting against diseases, psychobiotics also appear to have a positive effect on how you think, feel, and respond throughout the day.
Benefits of psychobiotics
The presence of psychobiotics in the gut helps to dramatically reduce stress levels, which may end up having benefits like:
- Helping to relax : Psychobiotics lower cortisol levels and increase the amount of serotonin, which promotes relaxation and avoids the negativity created by stress;
- Improve cognitive health : they increase the connectivity between the neurons of the areas responsible for cognition, allowing faster problems to be solved;
- Decrease irritability : because they decrease brain activity in regions of the brain related to bad emotions and negative thoughts;
- Improve mood : because they increase the production of glutathione, an amino acid responsible for mood and that helps prevent depression.
Because of their benefits, psychobiotics can thus help prevent or treat mental disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder or bipolar disorder, for example.
In addition, by improving mental health and avoiding excessive stress, psychobiotics have a positive effect on the immune system and digestive tract, improving the body's defenses and avoiding problems and diseases of the stomach.
How They Work
According to several studies, good gut bacteria can send messages from the gut to the brain through the vagus nerve, which extends from the abdomen to the brain.
Of all good bacteria, psychobiotics are those that appear to have a stronger effect on the brain by sending important neurotransmitters like GABA or seretonin, which slow down cortisol levels and relieve temporary symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression.
Understand the harm of high levels of cortisol in the body.
How to increase psychobiotics
Since psychobiotics are part of the good bacteria that live in the gut, the best way to increase your concentration is through feeding. For this, it is very important to increase the intake of prebiotic foods, which are primarily responsible for the development of good bacteria. Some of these foods include:
- Yogurt;
- Kefir;
- Banana;
- Apple;
- Onion;
- Artichoke;
- Garlic.
To potentiate the effect of feeding, it is still possible to take Acidophilus probiotic supplements, for example, which are small capsules that contain good bacteria and which will help increase the amount of these bacteria in the gut.
Learn more about probiotics and how to increase your concentration in the gut.
