We often see stress and anxiety as purely mental health challenges, but the latest science tells a different story.

Your gut health plays a crucial role in how you feel. 

Did you know, the gut and brain are in constant communication through the gut-brain axis? This gut-brain communication influences everything from mood, to digestion, sleep and even energy levels. 

Can you imagine being able to improve your mood just by changing what you eat and drink?

 

In this article, we will cover:

The Gut-Brain Axis: How Your Gut Affects Your Mood

Signs Your Gut Health is Impacting Your Mental Well-Being

3 Simple Stress-Reducing Foods that Nourish Your Microbiome

5 Lifestyle Shifts that Nourish Your Microbiome

The Power of Breathwork and Movement for Gut Balance

How We Designed BioMe+ to Support a Calm and Resilient Body

The Bottom Line

 

The Gut-Brain Axis: How Your Gut Affects Your Mood

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that help regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine—key players in mood regulation. When your microbiome is balanced, these chemical messengers support a calm and stable mood. But if gut bacteria are out of balance, you may start to feel a bit more anxious and you may not be able to handle stress as well as you used to.

 

Signs Your Gut Health is Impacting Your Mental Well-Being

Your body gives clues when your gut health is out of sync.

Here are a several things you may experience if your microbiome is out of balance. 

• Frequent bloating, gas, or indigestion
• Irregular bowel movements (too often or not enough)
• Food sensitivities
• Sweet cravings
• Poor sleep
• Feeling exhausted
• Increased feelings of anxiety
• Some skin irritation
• Low mood
• Autoimmune flare

Remember to talk things over with your doctor or health professional as well, just in case it might be more serious.

 

3 Simple Stress-Reducing Foods that Nourish Your Microbiome

Start shifting your eating habits slowly, so your body can get used to this way of eating.

1. Eat more fiber-rich foods to feed beneficial bacteria.
   1. whole grains
   2. legumes
   3. vegetables
   4. fruit
      
      
2. Add in bits of fermented foods to help replenish your gut flora.
   1. yogurt
   2. kefir
   3. kimchi
   4. sauerkraut
   5. miso
   6. apple cider vinegar
   7. fermented cheeses (like blue cheese)
      
      
3. Limit ultra-processed foods, because they upset the microbiome balance.
   1. refined sugars
   2. emulfifiers
   3. preservatives
   4. artificial sweeteners

 

5 Lifestyle Shifts that Nourish Your Microbiome

1. Stay hydrated: Water supports digestion and nutrient absorption.
2. Prioritize sleep: Quality rest lets your gut microbiome reset overnight.
3. Move your body: As you move, your circulation flows through nourishing all parts of your body and it massages your gut. This helps to keep your digestion regular.
4. Chew your food well: Your food starts to breakdown in the mouth with saliva. This helps food to be fully digested and avoid stomach issues.
5. Slow down: Easier said than done, actively reducing your stress by scheduling less appointments and leaving space and time to just be.

 

The Power of Breathwork and Movement for Gut Balance

• Your gut and nervous system are deeply connected!
• Practices like yoga, deep breathing, and mindful movement stimulate the vagus nerve, which calms the nervous system and promotes digestive health.
• Gentle movement also helps regulate bowel function and reduce stress-related gut symptoms.

Why not add in a little breathwork or gentle belly movements for 5 minutes every day? I promise it works!

 

How We Designed BioMe+ to Support a Calm and Resilient Body

We had an intense curiosity about how to support the microbiome in order to create a more resilient and overall happy human being. This started with researching the specific strains of probiotics that support the gut-brain axis.

Then we wanted to ensure the bacteria stays in the gut and continues to live there. So we added prebiotics, which are essentially the food that feeds the bacteria and keep them alive in the gut.

But we didn’t stop there.

We researched ingredients that could give an overall sense of wellbeing, relaxation and support better quality sleep. We landed on magnesium.

And in this specific formulation, BioMe+ restores balance and strengthen the gut-brain connection and creates an overall sense of well-being.

 

The Bottom Line

By prioritizing gut health, you’re not just supporting digestion—you’re building a more resilient body and mind and increasing your chance for a good mood. I’d say, it’s worth it!

 

Sources

Effects of ultra-processed foods on the microbiota-gut-brain axis: The bread-and-butter issue, Food Research International, Volume 167, 2023.