Okay. So I don’t think i’m alone, or even the minority, when I say that sometimes, my mood changes as often as my socks. And This quarantine isn’t making the severity or time between any better.
I’ll spend days behind a closed door cut off from my family for seemingly no apparent reason. I’ve seen psychiatrist in the past that tried me on a library of medications, but none seemed to help.
So I decided to spend some of this new found time on learning about natural ways to overcome depression. And upon my learning, I came across, what was to me, shell-shocking news..
An unhealthy gut can lead to depression or mood swings.
BINGO!
I was baking a fresh batch of cookies, EVERY DAY! I’d wake up and eat chocolate cake for breakfast! I’d stay up till 4 in the morning watching horror movies and eating sour candy & Cheetos every night! It’s no wonder everything was out of whack.. Before I tell you the remedy, let me share a little of the, why is this the case, for anyone interested…
The Human Connection of our diets to our brains:
In our gut we have billions of organisms, called gut microbiota. Gut microbiota play a major role in the development of the HPA axis, or other wise known as our bodies “stress system”. When we eat poorly, more of the bad bacteria (gut microbiota) form in the gut and overpower the good bacteria.
This imbalance throw’s off the levels off cortisol (the stress chemical) that the HPA axis releases in the body. The more stressed, the harder it is for your body to regulate the microbiome, and this excess of bad chemical to good, which research shows can lead to depression and/or mood swings in the brain.
What can be done about it:
To lessen our mood swings and lows of depression, a lifestyle change in diet is absolutely necessary. Ask yourself:
- What are you eating?
- Is your diet more processed or more plant based?
Lastly, in order to build up the good microbiome back in your belly, incorporate both prebiotic’s, and probiotics into your every day. There are hundreds of different Probiotic strains on the market, so it can be overwhelming. But remember, taking a probiotic is better than not. Little change in habits lead to big change down the road. (I will link the one I use down below ↓)
If you struggle with poor gut health and imbalance mood swings or depression, I hope some of this information helped!
Stay present. Sending vibrations of reinvention your way <3
xO
Ariana
Sources cited:
Paleo leap: Site used in learning how diet affects mood swings
Garden of life probiotic: One of the strains I use for high CFU count
Morning complete: A pre/ probiotic powder also containing greens supplement
National library of medicine study- Concluding a healthy gut keeps moods more stable
To learn: More on the benefits of prebiotic’s and probiotics
