Can Bacteria Cause Anxiety?

Can bacteria cause anxiety? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. Answer by Keck Medicine of USC, 500+ internationally renowned doctors at a leading academic medical center, on Quora: These Bacteria Could Be The Leading Cause Of Your Anxiety -- And Other Issues Your gut feeling could be causing your anxiety. For some time, doctors have observed that patients who have gastrointestinal diseases such as GERD and irritable bowel syndrome also suffer from depression and anxiety. This link was confirmed in a recent study. Scientists found that strains of two bacteria in the gut, Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum, reduce anxiety-like behavior in rats. A complementary study noted that these "good" bacteria, when taken as a probiotic formula, decrease stress-induced gastrointestinal discomfort in humans. There is a connection between anxiety and an upset gut. In a normal digestive tract, trillions of bacteria are constantly at work to keep your body healthy. They protect against infection, provide nutrition to cells in the digestive system and convert food to energy. However, when the bacteria's normal functions are disrupted, it can also disrupt your mood and behavior, both of which can lead to anxiety. In the study, when the bacteria's healthy functions were restored, mood and behavior leveled out, reducing or eliminating anxious feelings. "Leaky gut" leads to depressi...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news