Benefits of Probiotics for your
Mood, Gut, &
Immune System †
By David Perlmutter, M.D.
One of the most exciting developments in lifestyle science over the last decade has been the sharpening focus
on the central role that our resident microbes (bacteria) play in regulating overall health. These microbes,
together with their genetic material and metabolic byproducts make up what is collectively known as the
microbiome. It is becoming readily apparent that the trillions of microbes living on and within us play a
fundamental role in almost all of the systems of the body. Even as recently as 10-20 years ago, we did not
understand the extent to which the gut microbiome can influence a person’s mood, regulate appetite,
produce essential vitamins, regulate the immune system, and influence systemic inflammation.
There is even evidence to suggest that the microbiome
affects us on such a fundamental level that it can regulate
the expression of our DNA!
This growing body of science has helped inform an even more
exciting scientific prospect: the idea that intentionally altering
an individual’s microbiome could have significant impacts
on overall health, resistance to disease, and longevity. It is
increasingly evident that our lifestyle choices—what we eat,
how much and how well we sleep, and the amount of exercise
we get—can change the composition of our microbiome and
impact the state of our health. It’s a beautiful, commensal
relationship: our lifestyle choices affect the health and
resilience of our resident bacteria and those bacteria, in
turn, affect our own health and resilience. The influence of
the microbiome is driven not only by the gross quantity of
microbes present, but also the composition and diversity of
the bacteria.
It’s an awe-inspiring concept when you take a moment to let it
sink in!
I’ve written before about the importance of the microbiome,
the best ways to consume probiotics, and which species to
hone in on when developing a microbiome-friendly diet and
supplementation program. However, I’d like to take a few
moments to highlight just how beneficial a probiotic-rich diet
can be in four key areas of health: your mood, gut health, brain
health, and immune system.
24 Vol 39 • Extraordinary Health ™
Mood
The idea that microbes living within the
digestive track can impact an individual’s
temperament may seem far-fetched, but there
is compelling science to suggest that this is
precisely the case. One study linking the microbiome to mood
was published by a group of researchers in April 2015 in the
peer-reviewed journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Study
participants were broken into two groups, with one group
receiving a probiotic food-supplement and the other a placebo.
At the end of four weeks, study participants that received the
probiotic intervention demonstrated reduced reactivity to sad
mood, lending credence to the idea that probiotics can help
improve a negative mood.
Another study, conducted by researchers at UCLA and published
in Gastroenterology, arrived at a similar conclusion. This study
found that consuming fermented milk, which is rich in probiotic
bacteria, actually changes the brain’s emotional response to
stimuli on a structural level. Participants who drank the probioticrich
drink responded differently to emotional faces in comparison
to controls, differences that were highlighted in functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) testing. Consuming a
probiotic-friendly diet clearly has the potential to change how
we view, and respond to, the world around us.
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.