Did you ever feel like that you knew in your gut (gut feeling) that something was not quite right? Were you aware that your gut bacteria (microbiome) might influence your mood? It is common for depression and anxiety to be present in people with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Inflammation in the gut can cause inflammation in the entire body.
Actually you have an “enteric (gut) nervous system” that helps control your emotions and mood. And it works the other way around – your mental health has an impact on your gut health. Sometimes simply changing your diet and adding a probiotic to your supplement regime can have a tremendous impact on whether you experience depression.
The bacteria in your gut produce many neurotransmitters and metabolites that directly impact your brain. Serotonin (the happy neurotransmitter) can be impacted by tryptophan metabolism if there is a pathogenic bacteria infection in your gut.
Before you ask for a prescription for an anti-depressant, it might benefit you to have a functional medicine consultation to assess your gut health.
Call today 303.986.0492 for a free 10-minute phone consultation with our medical director, Wanda J. Bedinghaus, MD
