The Link Between Gut Health and Depression: How Probiotics Can Help For far too long, depression has been seen as purely a mental health issue, with a focus on the brain and neurotransmitters. But recent research has shown that the gut-brain axis, the connection between the gut and the brain, plays a critical role in depression. In this blog post, we will explore the link between gut health and depression, and how probiotics and especially the Progurt probiotic can benefit depression by improving gut health. What is Gut Health? First, let's define what we mean by "gut health." The gut, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, is the long tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and it also plays a critical role in the immune system. Gut health refers to the state of the gut, including the microbiome, which is the collection of microorganisms that inhabit the gut. The Link Between Gut Health and Depression The gut and the brain are connected via the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system. The microbiome in the gut plays a role in shaping the brain's development and function, and it can affect mood and behaviour. In fact, the gut microbiome produces 95% of the body's serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in regulating mood. Studies have shown that people with depression often have an imbalanced gut microbiome, with too many harmful bacteria and too few beneficial bacteria. This imbalance can lead to increased inflammation, which is linked to depression. Additionally, an unhealthy gut can lead to nutrient deficiencies, which can also contribute to depression. How Probiotics Can Benefit Depression Probiotics can help improve gut health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut, crowding out harmful bacteria, and reducing inflammation. Several studies have shown that probiotics can benefit depression. For example, a 2017 study in the UK of 1.4 million people suffering with mental health disorders and published in MJ Nutrition Prevention & Health found that probiotics may help direct the action of tryptophan, a chemical thought to be important in the gut-brain axis in psychiatric disorders. When choosing a probiotic supplement, it’s important to look for one that contains human strains of bacteria and has a high CFU (colony-forming units) count. Progurt contains strains of human-derived bacteria (HPI). Progurt’s human probiotic isolates (HPI) withstand stomach acids, which destroy most probiotics, to enter and be absorbed by the human gastrointestinal tract. Progurt creates gut homeostatis, strengthens the gut microbial lining and positively affect our emotions and neurological disorders via the gut-brain axis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531716301154