How Kefir Effects Your Mood & Mental Health

The gut-brain connection explained

Often, the gut is referred to as the ‘second brain’. Ninety-five percent of your serotonin, or ‘happy hormone,’ is produced inside your gut by specialised cells called enterochromaffin cells. The vagus nerve runs between the gut and the brain, carrying information in both directions.

Damage to this delicate system can result in improper amounts of serotonin being produced and distributed through the brain, resulting in anxiety and depression.

How does gut bacteria affect the brain?

The bacteria which line our intestines are known to be vital for health – but they may influence mental health, too. The latest research suggests that healthy gut flora, the microorganisms which form your microbiome, is necessary for normal behaviour.

Your microbiome interacts with your central nervous system to regulate your brain chemistry, stress response, anxiety level and memory function. This works through a connection called the gut-brain axis, or ‘GABA’. Gut bacteria within your microbiome also produce other chemicals which act on the brain, according to scientists, who think the finding may help explain why chronic gut conditions in people are often linked to mood disorders.

Interestingly, skin appears to be part of this connection as well. Patients with skin condition acne rosacea have a higher incidence of depression than the general population, and some evidence suggests that swallowing certain types of bacteria may improve both acne and depression.

How kefir can contribute to mental health

As kefir contains significant levels of calcium and vitamin A alongside trillions of good living bacteria, it contributes to normal neurotransmission and the normal functioning of the nervous system.