How your gut affects your mental health

In a lab in Ireland, a group of scientists stand around a stainless steel table. One of them is holding a device, not unlike a small turkey baster. His free hand plunges into a box on the table and retrieves a mouse.  

Using his device, he administers the brown solution within…rectally. 

This unfortunate soul has just received a fecal microbiota transplant. The donor was not another mouse but a human being. And the person in question had symptoms of severe depression. 

Jonathan speaks to John Cryan, author of the study that showed a relationship between gut and brain. In this episode, we learn more about his fascinating research, how microbes may affect our brain, and to eat to appease your gut bugs. 

• John Cryan is a professor at University College Cork and a world-leading researcher into the relationship between our brain and our gut microbiome.

Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide

Timecodes:

00:00- Introduction

02:05- Quickfire questions

03:26- Are there links between the gut and the brain?

06:31- The gut-brain axis

09:17- How do gut bacteria affect our brains?

11:12- Why does John call the microbiome “the chamber of secrets”?

14:20- Does the microbiome explain drug side effects?

15:51- Are there links between our microbiomes and mental health?

20:40- If we improve our microbiome health can we improve our mental health?

24:58- Can food help improve the microbiome and thus improve mental health?

28:33- Microbiome’s effect on behavior

29:54- Actionable advice

34:43- Microbiome in adolescence

37:18- Summary

38:26- Goodbyes

38:48- Outro

Episode transcripts are available here.

Follow John: https://twitter.com/jfcryan

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This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.