Probiotics change brain activity. DID YOU KNOW that 90% of our SEROTONIN (the neurotransmitter that makes us happy) is located in our gut?! Many of our neurotransmitters are in fact located in the digestive tract.

UCLA researchers divided 36 healthy women into three groups and did pre-test brain MRIs. One group was given milk fermented with probiotics 2x daily. Another group had milk with no probiotics, and the control group had no milk at all. After four weeks, women who drank the probiotic milk had significantly different brain changes. Their task-related responses increased, and their activity within the sensory cortex regions changed, which was dramatically illustrated during rest periods. Their midbrain connectivity even increased, which explains their heightened ability to complete tasks. The brains also showed changes in pathways for emotional responses! Source

Each of the species of bacteria contained in the milk they drank had also been shown in other clinical studies to improve health among other organs and tissue regions of the body.

Probiotics are one “supplement” I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT! They change everything, in my opinion, from my digestion to my mood to my focus. It’s incredibly important to have a good probiotic and keep up with it daily – our gut bacteria has been destroyed from years of SUGAR, GMOs, prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, antibiotics, and even antibiotics in our meat. Eating meat that has been raised with antibiotics creates antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in our bodies that are incredibly hard to kill.

There are 100 trillion bacteria, or about three pounds worth, that line your intestines. This system protects your body from invaders, pathogens, etc. Most importantly, this system is responsible for delivering nutrients for the rest of the body, specifically to your brain! It has been proven that children with autism ALWAYS have an imbalance of gut flora.

Ancient cultures have always eaten fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles. Somewhere along the way, we lost that knowledge, and many people would shudder at the idea of eating cultured vegetables that have been stinking up a mason jar for weeks. In reality, fermented food should be a staple of every diet.

Every morning upon waking, I not only take a probiotic, but drink Kombucha, a yeast/bacteria fermented drink that has fizz and a kick. It’s actually my #1 cure for a stomach ache, virus, or nausea. I woke up the other morning at 6am about to hurl, drank one of these babies and was good to go.

What else do probiotics do?

• Increase bioavailability and production of minerals, neurochemicals, and fatty acids.
• They produce methylfolate, an activated form of folate required for the brain to complete methylation, a process that allows the brain to synthesize chemicals, detox, and express genes.
• Improve glycemic control.
• Stimulate bowel movements.
• Limit small intestine bacterial overgrowth.
• Reduce toxic burden.
• Have analgesic properties.
• Activate neural pathways between the gut and brain.

Source: Selhub et al.