Supplements and functional ingredients 3in 4
People experiencing few symptoms after following a low FODMAP diet.
www.gastroconsa.com
The microbiome plays a crucial role in our bodies, from helping the gut digest food to destroying harmful bacteria.
down this particular subset of carbohydrates, which consists of starches, sugars and fibres in food. Instead of breaking them down, the bacteria in our gut ferment them, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms in some people. Following a low FODMAP diet may, therefore, be beneficial for those with gastrointestinal problems. As researchers in San Antonio, Texas, uncovered, three out of four people reportedly experiencing fewer symptoms after following this diet.
“The primary reason gut bacteria have such a profound effect on mental health is that they are responsible for making many brain chemicals. If normal gut bacteria are not present, production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid – all critically important for the regulation of mood, memory, and attention – is impacted.”
Dr Uma Naidoo
Another option is probiotics, something a growing number of consumers are aware of. According to the IFIC’s 2021 Food and Health Survey, for instance, a third of survey respondents actively try to consume probiotics. So-called psychobiotics are lesser-known – but the term is used to signify a probiotic being studied or used to improve mental health, and could
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be a game changer if they’re proved to work. There are already a few psychobiotics on the market, such as Bened Life’s Neuralli Mood, which combines strains of probiotics and postbiotics from healthy guts, with some research suggesting certain probiotic strains can affect serotonin and dopamine while regulating gut health.
Despite the growing field of psychobiotics, however, the jury is still out on whether probiotics actually work. Certainly, more human trials are needed to determine whether they can promote healthy gut bacteria for mental health. Lawley, for his part, is also sceptical of the benefits that current probiotics can offer: “I think the whole probiotic industry is going to come under increased scrutiny in the next few years because it’s not really strong science that underpins a lot to the probiotic industry.”
“Supplements can potentially alleviate nutrient deficiencies,” stresses Naidoo. “However, they cannot act as a proper substitute for a healthy diet. As a nutritional psychiatrist, I am a proponent of ‘food first’.” All the same, neither a healthy diet nor probiotics should replace medical or psychiatric treatment if necessary; healthy eating to encourage good bacteria in the microbiome should dovetail with medical help where appropriate. In short, while it’s clear that diet and mental health are inextricably linked, it’s similarly true that food is just one tactic to cultivate a healthy microbiome and improve mental health – though importantly, it’s one within the consumer’s control.
Ingredients Insight /
www.ingredients-insight.com
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