SINGAPORE — Late last year, I stumbled across a website with the outlandish promise of receiving a reward of US$500 (S$670) for every poop donation.
This website promotes fecal microbiota transplantation, a procedure in which fecal matter from a healthy donor is transferred to the recipient’s intestine, restoring the “balance” of microorganisms living within the gastrointestinal tract and improving immunity and digestion. I was there.
However, there was a catch. It is estimated that only 0.1 percent of the population is considered healthy enough to qualify as a high-quality stool donor.
As expected, there were some physical factors. The donor must be young (preferably under 30 years old), athletic, have a specific stool type, and have minimal use of antibiotics that affect the microbiome in the intestine.
But surprisingly, there was also a psychological requirement. Successful donors are usually happy and relatively stress-free, in other words, they have good mental health.
That got me wondering. What is the relationship between mental health and gut health? Also, does eating foods that are beneficial to your gut affect your mood?
Stress and anxiety can worsen your gut health, which can lead to poor mental health as well.
I asked Dr. Ganesh Ramalingam, medical director and general surgery specialist at G&L Surgical Clinic, a few questions.
He said psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression can certainly affect gut health through the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
“These stress hormones can affect how our gut works by changing the rate of food digestion, weakening the intestinal wall, and disrupting the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut,” says the top. said Dr. Ganesh, who specializes in gastrointestinal surgery.
This connection between the gut and the brain made sense to me. When I felt anxious before giving a public speech, or nervous about the results of a job interview or exam, I would feel sick to my stomach and lose my appetite for hours on end.
Similarly, gut health can also affect your mental health.
“Our gut contains microorganisms called the microbiome that help produce chemicals that affect our mood, such as serotonin and dopamine,” Dr. Ganesh said.
“When these microbes become imbalanced due to factors such as diet or medications, they can contribute to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.”
In fact, a 2019 study of more than 1,000 participants found that two “beneficial bacteria” for the gut, Coprococcus and Dialister, were less common in people with depression. These bacteria can grow by eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fermented foods.
Another study conducted in Spain in 2009 found that people who ate a traditional Mediterranean diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, beans, and nuts were less likely to be diagnosed with depression within four years. was shown to be about half. .
The first step to managing your gut health: our diet
If you’re looking to improve your eating habits and live a healthier life, it may be reassuring to know that it can also improve your mental health.
“What we eat can affect both our gut and mental health,” Dr. Ganesh said.
“A diet rich in fibre, fruits, vegetables and probiotics supports gut health, which in turn can have a positive impact on mental health.”
The opposite is also true.
“However, eating too much processed food and unhealthy fats can disrupt the balance of your gut bacteria and make you more susceptible to mental health problems,” Dr. Ganesh says.
He added that if left unchecked, this could become a vicious cycle. Stress and anxiety caused by poor eating habits can cause further gastrointestinal problems, which can lead to poor mental health.
How can you take care of both your mental and gut health?
It is recognized that sport and exercise play a huge role when it comes to improving mental health. Perhaps it’s time for other factors, such as gut health, to be taken more seriously, Dr. Ganesh said.
He believes there is a link between gut health and mental health, which requires a “multidisciplinary approach”.
“In my opinion, mental health professionals can incorporate gut health assessment into treatment, taking into account factors such as diet, stress, and gastrointestinal symptoms,” he said.
They can then suggest dietary changes alongside other stress management treatments or refer patients to a gastroenterologist if they suspect gut issues are affecting their mental health. Sometimes.
Similarly, gastroenterologists can ask about a patient’s mental health during a consultation and coordinate with a mental health professional if necessary.
“We can also educate patients about the gut-brain relationship and suggest lifestyle and dietary changes,” Dr. Ganesh said.
