What if this diet let you to reduce your stress?
What are the impacts of food on mental health? Irish researchers from University College Cork have developed a psychobiotic diet, namely rich in prebiotic and fermented foods. The results are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
To carry out their research, the specialists selected 45 healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 59. Their usual diet included little fibre.
Among this panel, 24 followed a “psychobiotic” diet for four weeks. Each day, these volunteers had to include between 6 and 8 servings of fruits and vegetables rich in prebiotic fiber (onions, leeks, apples, cabbage), 5 to 8 servings of cereals and 2 to 3 servings of fermented foods (kombucha, kefir , Sauerkraut). On a weekly basis, the participants had to consume 3 to 4 servings of legumes. The other volunteers followed a diet based on classic dietary recommendations for healthy eating.
During the study, specialists collected data on stress levels and mental health using questionnaires. In addition, they analyzed stool to observe changes in certain chemicals produced by gut microbes.
Results ? The psychobiotic diet resulted in a 32% reduction in perceived stress in participants. In addition, specialists have noted an improvement in the quality of sleep. Differences were also noted in gut microbiota.
Its positive effects for mental health are found in particular on the gut-brain axis. “Using microbiota-targeted diets to positively modulate gut-brain communication offers potential for reducing stress and stress-related disorders, but further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms, including the role of the microbiota ”conclude the researchers.
