Introduction
A new study has found that certain foods, known as ‘psychobiotics’, can help to reduce stress and improve sleep. Psychobiotics are foods that contain probiotics, which are live bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial for our health. These foods have been found to have a positive effect on our mental health, and this new study has shown that they can help to reduce stress and improve sleep. The study looked at the effects of psychobiotics on a group of people who were experiencing stress and sleep problems. The results showed that those who ate psychobiotic foods had lower levels of stress and improved sleep quality. This is an exciting finding, as it suggests that these foods may be a useful tool for managing stress and improving sleep.
New Study Finds ‘Psychobiotic’ Foods Lower Stress and Improve Sleep
A new study has found that certain ‘psychobiotic’ foods can help reduce stress and improve sleep. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, looked at the effects of probiotics on the brain and found that certain bacteria can have a positive effect on mental health.
The study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, looked at the effects of probiotics on the brain and found that certain bacteria can have a positive effect on mental health. The researchers found that certain probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, can reduce stress and improve sleep quality. The study also found that these bacteria can help reduce inflammation in the brain, which can lead to improved mental health.
The researchers believe that the findings could lead to new treatments for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. They suggest that probiotics could be used as a supplement to existing treatments, or even as a stand-alone treatment. The study also suggests that probiotics could be used to help people who are struggling with stress and sleep problems.
The findings of the study are encouraging, and suggest that probiotics could be a useful tool in treating mental health conditions. However, more research is needed to understand the full effects of probiotics on the brain and how they can be used to improve mental health.
You might be aware of the fact that there are foods that can ruin your sleep. There are also foods that you should avoid when you’re stressed. On the other hand, a new study has found that eating a “psychobiotic diet” may not only lower stress but may also help you get a better night’s sleep.
The October 2022 study that was published in Molecular Psychiatry involved 45 adults between the ages of 18 and 59 years old who normally consumed a diet that was low in fiber. While all participants met with a registered dietitian for counseling, researchers from APC Microbiome Ireland at the University College Cork also split the participants into two groups who were instructed to eat different diets. The first switched to a diet that followed the food pyramid. The second group was asked to eat a “psychobiotic diet” which includes a large amount of prebiotic and fermented foods. Dr. John Cryan, the lead author of this study, told Medical News Today that his research team coined the phrase “psychobiotic diet” to refer to “microbiota-targeted interventions that support mental health.”
The second group was specifically instructed to stick to a daily menu that included 2 to 3 servings of fermented foods (such as sauerkraut, kefir, or kombucha), 5 to 8 servings of grains, and 6 to 8 servings of fruits and vegetables that are rich in prebiotic fibers (including apples, bananas, cabbage, leeks, and onions). They were also asked to eat 3 to 4 servings of legumes each week.
The resulting findings showed that while both groups noted an improvement in their sleep, the participants who had been eating a psychobiotic diet also experienced a decrease in the amount and intensity of the stress they may have been under at the time. Beyond that, the level of perceived stress went further down the more closely a participant followed the psychobiotic diet.
“The study provides promising benefits of what a psychobiotic diet can do in relation to digestion and stress,” Catherine Gervacio, RD, a registered dietitian and contributor at Living Fit, tells Eat This, Not That! “Stress affects digestive health and can hinder the efficient absorption of nutrients needed to combat stress and other potential risk associated with it. Further study is needed, but it does give further evidence of how big diet and nutrition is in managing stress and sleep.”
While Gervacio says that “this type of diet still walks through the path of healthy eating and abides by the recommended intake of food,” she notes that “people need to know, however, that all diets have to be thoroughly reviewed first if a person can better benefit from it—or there may be other diets that fit their health data and fitness goals.”
Gervacio offers an example, pointing out that “a person who needs a low histamine diet may not benefit from psychobiotic food and can do well with Mediterranean instead.” That’s why she says that “it is best to talk to an expert before starting a diet.”
Beyond that, Gervacio adds, “Further studies are yet to be conducted in order to prove that probiotics do contribute significantly to stress and sleep. Until then, everyone should focus on healthy eating, and practice ways to combat stress and sleep.”
Desirée O