The Secret To Happiness!

The food-gut-mood connection—and the key nutrients that can make a big difference in your state of mind and emotional well-being.

- Isaac Eliaz, MD, LAc

If there were a magic pill that could make you happier, would you take it? You might wonder if the pill caused side effects—pills often do. But in this case, there are no side effects. There’s actually the side benefit of becoming healthier. That’s a slam-dunk, right? People would line up around the block for that pill. The crazy part is, that drug exists, just not in pill form. The technical name for it is diet. We often think of healthy eating for the metabolic benefits. But there’s a growing body of evidence that this simple approach can support positive mood.

THE BIOLOGY OF HAPPY

Your digestive tract does a lot more than digest. It’s the first line of defense for the immune system, protecting your body from harmful invaders. It also has a major impact on neurological health. The gut secretes hormones that influence the brain. In fact, there’s a steady feedback loop between the brain and the GI system. The gut also contains a number of neurotransmitters, like serotonin, that influence mood.

Some of the most exciting new research centers around the role that the many microbes in the digestive tract play in promoting mental health. Some researchers are calling it the “microbiotagut-brain axis.” Hundreds of different species of bacteria, fungi, and viruses are the body’s constant companions, and everyone has their own unique microbial forest, or microbiome. These microbes help digest food, produce necessary vitamins, and work in concert with your immune system to protect against pathogens. The good bugs aren’t necessarily altruistic, though—they’re definitely looking out for their own best interests. It’s just that humans have co-adapted in a way that makes their interests align with ours.