What are Psychobiotics?

Scientists have recently discovered the connection between our gut and our brain.

"Psychobiotics" is a term that has recently been applied to bacterial cultures , often residing in the gut, that have been shown to have an impact on the brain¹⁰. To fully understand what psychobiotics are, it is important to understand the vital connection that scientists have discovered between the two organs. The bacteria living in our gut (our microbiota) communicate directly with our brain via the nervous system, and may be integrally linked to the workings and the health of our brain. Recent reseach has shown that psychobiotics can produce and deliver neroactive substances which act on the communication pathways beteen both organs ¹⁰. This communication between the brain and the gut is referred to as the gut-brain axis¹⁰.

The term psychobiotics was coined in 2013 by clinical psychiatrist Professor Ted Dinan¹⁰ and neuroscientist Professor John Cryan. It refers to the friendly bacteria that play a role in the gut-brain axis and influence the health and activity of your brain. More recently, the definition has expanded to include prebiotics, which act as food for our good bacteria and encourage their growth¹¹.