Gut Feeling

Do you get butterflies in your stomach when you’re excited? Feel
nauseated when you’re nervous? Get a knot in your gut when you're
worried something bad is going to happen? Then you’ve experienced
what’s called the gut-brain axis: a powerful connection between
your brain and your stomach. And, if you’ve been on wellness social
media over the last few years, you’ve probably heard that you can
hijack this connection to help heal a whole host of mental
illnesses, from taking probiotics for PTSD to treating depression
with diet. But how much of this is science, and how much is
modern-day snake oil? With the help of gastroenterologists,
psychologists, and yes, the U.S. military, Gastropod is here to
investigate! The answer involves prescription kefir, a trip to an
Army base to play video games, and the trials and tribulations of
some very melancholy mice—not to mention lots and LOTS of microbes.
Listen in for the scoop on how tweaking your gut microbes can
change your mind. (But, for your own health, please don’t drink
every time we mention our favorite topic during this episode!)
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