Is there a connection between IBS and depression, anxiety and stress?

This really is the million dollar question and research is showing that there is, in fact, a link between IBS and psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety and stress.

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as spastic colitis, mucus colitis and nervous colon is a long-term gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine.

It causes abdominal pain, swelling or bloating of the abdomen, excess gas, mucous in stools, irregular bowel habits and alternating diarrhoea and constipation.

The symptoms of IBS are caused by a dysfunctional digestive system, therefore it is considered to be a functional disorder.

This dysfunction interrupts the normal movement of food through the GI tract, causing various symptoms, both physical and psychological.

Your brain might be affecting your gut

The brain-gut axis is the line of communication that exists between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. When there is a disturbance in the brain-gut axis, disruptions occur in the microbiome and the immune system.

IBS may be triggered by the immune system, which is aggravated by stress.

People with IBS may be more sensitive to emotional troubles and stress and anxiety may make the mind more aware of spasms in the colon.

A 12 year study found that people who had IBS at the beginning of the study showed higher levels of anxiety and depression at the end of the study and people who had higher levels of anxiety and depression at the beginning of the study were at greater risk of developing IBS at the end of the study.

The conclusion to this study was that dysfunction behind both disorders can be from the brain to the gut or from the gut to the brain.

The human microbiome consists of a diverse population of bacteria, both good and bad. If the balance of the bacteria is disrupted and there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria, the imbalance can have profound negative effects on both mental and physical health.

Finally, a solution…

Altering gut bacteria by providing more good bacteria and suppressing the bad bacteria can be done with specific probiotics.

Specific Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, key ingredients in MiBiotix Mood, are now being referred to as “psychobiotics” for their potential therapeutic benefits.

Experimental evidence shows that these strains of probiotics positively influence cognitive functions, such as spatial memory and problem-solving abilities as well as having an influence on mood, anxiety and depression. They are key to replenishing the gut with good bacteria and restoring a healthy balance to the microbiota.

Probiotics have the ability to produce active compounds, such as neurotransmitters. When these neurotransmitters are secreted within the gut, they may trigger cells within the gut’s lining to release molecules that signal brain function and affect behavior.

Probiotics also act on the brain through their anti-inflammatory actions. This inflammation can stem from the gut and the probiotics have their effects in the brain by lowering inflammation.

High levels of inflammation in the body and brain are known to be one of the major underlying causes of depression and other mood and cognitive disorders.

MIBIOTIX MOOD MD

MiBiotix Mood, taken once a day, is made up of Lactobacillus acidophilus Howaru, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Howaru, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium lactis Howaru, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum.

MiBiotix Mood enhances the gut-brain connection, boosting mood, decreasing anxiety and easing depression and alleviating the symptoms of IBSand is safe to take every day.

MiBiotix Mood promotes a healthy mood balance, helps with memory andcontributes to a natural healthy gut flora.

  • MiBiotix MOOD
    R396.91 — available on subscription

Remember to “Always start with your gut”.