A psychiatrist, speaking of microbiota?
Apparently,
the brain
doesn't seem to have much to do with
the gut
.
But, as is often the case, appearances are deceiving.
And, what is going on down there, conditions what happens on our roof much more than we think.
Why?
Amanda Rodríguez-Urrutia, author of 'Feel what you eat' Editorial Diana), clarifies it for us
: "
It is already known that
the brain and the digestive system are related in a bidirectional way
and one's state and well-being have an equal impact on the other".
But let's start from the most basic: what exactly is this fauna called microbiota?
"It is the
set of microorganisms that colonize our digestive system
, not only bacteria, but also viruses and fungi and maintain a permanent dialogue with the fundamental systems of the human body: the
hormonal, endocrine and immune
systems ."
How does the state of this 'microzoo' influence the way we deal with, for example, depression?
"A lot. What's more,
the microbiota has been associated with depressive states
. We know that the
microbiota
of people with depression is
altered
compared to that of healthy people"
And in our daily life?
In our personal relationships, job performance, or even in our sexual relationships?
"The state of health and of any human condition is not unique. It is due to multiple conditions that must occur at the same time for a disorder or disease to be generated.
Genetics, the environment and biological factors
interrelate with each other to generate states of greater or lesser health Until now it was not known, but the microbiota has become part of a
new actor
among those factors that confer
a greater or lesser degree of health
, both physical and mental, so it is necessary to have it in the better state."
So far, things are clear, but how can we know that we are not taking care of something as 'inside' as our microbiota as we should?
"The studies we have on the microbiota come, above all, from animal models.
Nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms
, such as bloating, flatulence, or mental symptoms such as irritability, or
problems concentrating
, for example, can indicate that there is a
poor microbial intestinal state
. What we can say is that a balanced diet, without magic formulas, based on the
Mediterranean diet,
with a lifestyle that
encourages exercise, avoids social isolation and promotes more authentic and frequent human relationships
it's a safe bet if we want to maintain a
healthy microbial state
."
This psychiatrist assures that, "regardless of the causal relationship that may exist -which is not yet known exactly-, it is clear that making
changes in the microbiota
can, therefore,
improve the mental state of these people"
.
Moreover , he continues, "although
human research is still preliminary
, there are already some studies that promote the
use of psychobiotics in conjunction with antidepressant therapy
for the treatment of depressive disorders. And, since 2005, the WHO recommends the use of probiotics for the treatment of depression in humans".
Having said that, how can we act so that this microzoo enjoys good health and, by extension, contributes to our emotional well-being?
The secret lies in psychobiotics?
"These are living substances that, when ingested, in adequate amounts, confer a
clear benefit to our mental health"
.
What are those psychobiotics?
Rodríguez-Urrutia clarifies it for us: "
Basically, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus".
Let's take note!
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