Understanding the gut-brain axis: Can a probiotic help reduce stress levels?

( Natural News ) Scientists have long believed that bidirectional communication exists between the gut and the brain. In fact, evidence suggesting that the gut microbiota — the diverse community of microbes living in the human gut — interacts with the central nervous system (CNS) and influences brain function has increased over the years. Recent studies even propose that this happens via several pathways , which include neural pathways, endocrine pathways, and immune pathways. Because of its link to the CNS, researchers nowadays try to modulate the human gut microbiota in the hopes of improving human behavior and other aspects of mental health. In a new study that appeared in The American Journal of Gastroenterology , researchers from Germany, Ireland, and Italy investigated the effect of a probiotic strain known as Bifidobacterium longum 1714™ on human brain function in response to social stress. B. longum 1714™ is a food supplement that’s currently being marketed under the brand Zenflore . The researchers reported that this probiotic strain can not only reduce mental fatigue, it can also regulate neural responses during social stress that help suppress negative emotions. A probiotic that helps modulate the gut-brain axis Previous investigations have shown that the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium can not only reduce anxiety in mice , it can also improve cognition and stress responses by modulating brain processes. In humans, the effects of probiotics consumption on brain activity have been a subject of scientific interest for quite some time. Discover how to prevent and reverse heart disease (and other cardio related events) with this free ebook : Written by popular Natural News writer Vicki Batt, this book includes everything you need to know about preventing heart disease, reversing hypertension, and nurturing your cardiac health without medication. Learn More. The earliest studies involved the use […]

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