🌱 How Your Gut Health Affects Your Mental Health (And What You Can Do About It)
If you’ve ever had a "gut feeling," science says you're not imagining things. Researchers now refer to the gut as the "second brain" due to the dense network of neurons and neurotransmitters in the digestive tract (Mayer et al., 2015).
Surprisingly, about 90-95% of your body’s serotonin — the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation, sleep, and appetite — is produced in the gastrointestinal system, not the brain (Gershon, 1998; Yano et al., 2015). When your gut microbiome is balanced and healthy, serotonin production flourishes. When the gut is out of balance, symptoms like anxiety, depression, and brain fog can follow.
One often overlooked culprit of gut imbalance is Candida, a naturally occurring yeast. In small amounts, Candida is harmless, but factors like antibiotic use, high-sugar diets, chronic stress, and hormonal changes can cause Candida overgrowth. This imbalance can lead to systemic inflammation, disruption of serotonin pathways, and worsened mood symptoms (Kourelis et al., 2020).
A typical Candida Reduction Protocol might include:
✔️ Eliminating sugars, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol — all of which feed Candida (Pappas et al., 2018)
✔️ Supporting gut flora with probiotic supplements or fermented foods
✔️ Incorporating antifungal foods and supplements like garlic, oregano oil, caprylic acid, or pau d’arco (under professional supervision)
✔️ Strengthening the intestinal barrier with nutrients like L-glutamine and fiber-rich foods
You can find specific protocols online that include a list of foods you can eat starting with the first 2 weeks, usually vegetables and lean meats, then adding in fruit and grains, and adding more foods as in the following weeks.
Gut health isn't just about digestion — it's a foundation for emotional resilience, clearer thinking, and a calmer nervous system. Always consult your physician before starting an eating plan or taking supplements.