It is well known that brain levels of serotonin (also called the “happy hormone” as it is the major chemical involved in the regulation of mood and emotion) are altered in times of anxiety, depression, stress or excitement. However, a recent study has shown that early gut bacteria can be linked to happiness in adulthood. In other words, the presence and composition of gut microbiota during development stages influence adult brain function.
As researchers believe, taking antibiotics, your diet, an infection or any kind of manipulation of the microbiota might have profound knock-on effects on adult brain function. Actually, lead author Dr. Gerard Clarke says that “although we always believed that the gut microbiota was essential for our general health, our results also highlight how important our tiny friends are for our mental wellbeing”.
Without doubt these findings are very important for us, as we are now more aware about how important our gut microbiota is since we are young. Are you keen to read more? You can find more information here or read the full article in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
So trust (and take care of) your gut microbiota, as it plays a key role in our happiness.
