3 Ways Your Anxiety May Be Rooted In Your Gut
As a gut health nutritionist who supports clients with burnout, stress, and anxiety, you might be surprised how much focus must be placed in gut health when working to get to the root of that anxiety.
I am someone who has suffered with anxiety most of my life, and while I have it under control now, looking back, I was a perfect storm of everything that would contribute to anxiety, most of which was rooted in my gut!
Over the past 20 years, we have started to recognize that the microbes living inside us outnumber our own cells (yeah thats right), with THOUSANDS of species of microbes (this includes not only bacteria, but also fungi, viruses and yeasts) living in the gut. Our microbiome can weigh up to a whopping 2 kg which sounds insane, but its no surprise that it is now being referred to as our “forgotten organ”.
Our microbiome plays many important roles in the body, including;
vitamin production
help with food digestion
immune system regulation
nervous system function and mood regulation
cravings for certain foods
promoting “good” HDL cholesterol and triglycerides
controlling blood sugar
hormone blance
It’s no surprise that we are beginning to pay closer attention to the gut microbiome and how we can support it.
Would you have EVER connected your anxious thoughts to the tiny world of microbes living in your gut?
If you are anything like me, the answer to that question is probably, not in a million years! But the reality is that there are a few ways that this can be connected! Let’s chat about it!
Ways Your Anxiety May Be Rooted in Your Gut
Before you look at me like I’m crazy, it’s true, getting to the ROOT of your anxiety may mean taking a closer look at your gut! Here’s why;
Your gut microbes produce chemical messengers that influence your mind and mood balance
Substances secreted by microbes can travel through our blood vessels and have direct effects on the brain. Our mind-gut connection is a bi-directional communication system where signals from the brain can have physiological effects on the gut, and messages from the gut can influence brain function.
Gut microbes can secrete a number of neurotransmitters, like
GABA
Acetylcholine
Serotonin
Dopamine
Histamine
Interestingly, 90% of our serotonin (a chemical messenger important for mood stabilization) is produced in the gut.
This can be a major connection between anxiety and our gut microbiota if we have gut imbalances that are not producing necessary substances for mood, energy and mental health [1].
Gut microbes can influence immune cells and inflammation which can have effects on the brain
Inflammation in the gut places stress on the microbiome through the release of cytokines and neurotransmitters. When this is combined with the increased intestinal permeability, these molecules can travel systemically. Elevated blood cytokines can alter the permeability of the blood brain barrier, enhancing the effects of these molecules from a permeable gut.
There is a well established and documented role that pro-inflammatory cytokines play in the development of anxiety and depression! There are even studies exploring the use of probiotics in people with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The connection between the gut and the mind is powerful. If you're not eating well, there is a good chance you're not thinking or feeling well either.
Dysbiosis in the form of excess candida
Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in our gut, favouring the “bad guys”. When this dysbiosis is in the form of excess candida, we may be left with feelings of anxiety!
Candida albicans is a parasitic yeast-like fungus that lives in the intestinal tract but can spread to other mucous membranes like the genital tract, mouth, throat, skin and nails. Candida is commonly found in the digestive tract, but only poses an issue when they begin to outweigh the good guys (those beneficial microbes).
This symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth are attributed to the toxins produced by these pesky fungi, which are absorbed into the blood stream and carried throughout the body, contributing to neurological symptoms.
Candida can wreak havoc on our hormone balance as well, further influencing neurotransmitters in the brain.
If you would like to learn more about Candida, check out my BLOG post: 5 Signs of Candida Overgrowth
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6389720/
Learn more about eating to ease anxiety on The Balance with Britt Podcast.
In this episode, we have Meg De Jong from Meg De Jong Nutrition, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who helps individuals eat to ease anxiety! She is passionate about gut health, hormones, self love and gardening. If you are ready to say goodbye to chronically high anxiety levels and want to learn how to nourish yourself , you're going to want to listen to this episode!
If you would like some personalized support to get to the root of your anxiety, let’s chat! Book a FREE discovery call today to chat with me about your health goals and see if you would be a good fit for one of my programs!