Did you know that 90% of serotonin in the human body is produced in the gut? That means that your happiness is effected by state of bacteria in your digestive tract. Having an imbalance of bacteria can lead to low levels of serotonin, making you sad and sluggish. A great way to affect your overall health and mental attitude is to keep the bacteria in your gut balanced, because the gut will send signals to your brain and the rest of your body based on the status of good bacteria.
CalTech Researches Serotonin in the Gut
The digestive tract is the birthplace of the majority of serotonin found in the body. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells produce the serotonin. Researchers at California Institute of Technology are trying to identify if there are specific microbes in the gut that are influencing EC cells in the production of serotonin. In the study, they were able to find a group of 20 species of bacteria that promoted serotonin levels. Even more specifically, they found metabolites that were regulated by the bacteria. They concluded that the interaction between EC cells and these bacteria is the reason for serotonin production in the gut.
If you are feel constantly low on energy, it might be time to look to your gut. Probiotics can help you balance the bacteria in your system help to regulate your digestive tract. This increase in good bacteria will help your body produce the serotonin that it needs to function happily. When the gut is balanced and healthy, it sends these positive signals to the rest of the body and improves the immune system to fight off serious medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoporosis and more.
The human body is a holistic organism that counts on the gut to regulate chemicals and neurotransmitters. An imbalance in the gut can lead to an imbalance in the brain, effecting physical health and mental health. Taking probiotics is easy and it’s positive results have been proven time and time again.
