When I first started struggling with anxiety as a teenager, I didn’t notice any major digestive issues at first. As time went on and my anxiety began to rule my “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system, I started to feel every pang of anxiety and unnecessary adrenaline rush punch me right in the gut. After a few years, my entire GI tract was a total wreck and every time I had the slightest feeling of anxiousness, it went straight to my stomach. One day I could eat something and be fine, the next day I’d eat the same thing and be running to the bathroom cursing my stomach. Based on the 200+ clients I’ve worked with in the last three years, I know many people struggle with these challenges daily.

The gut-brain connection has been extremely prevalent in recent research, and it’s no surprise the health of our gut greatly affects the health of our brain.* Since Hippocrates time, it has been speculated that “It all begins in the gut”. In regards to mental health, the gut is often referred to as our “second brain” because our enteric nervous system (nervous system of the GI tract) utilizes over 30 different neurotransmitters, just like our brain, and houses up to 95% of our body’s serotonin levels (source).

According to this study, “Dysbiosis and inflammation of the gut have been linked to causing anxiety and depression, which are prevalent in society today. Probiotics have the ability to restore normal microbial balance, and therefore have a potential role in the treatment and prevention of anxiety and depression.”*

The importance of healing the digestive tract, eliminating pathogens, restoring digestive function, and optimizing the micro-biome is paramount to optimal mental health.*  I’ve experienced this first hand in my own struggles with anxiety: when my digestion is optimal and my GI Map test comes back with no pathogens, no inflammation, and a balanced microbiome, my mental health and anxiety are in tip-top shape with little to no symptoms.

While my own research and experience have validated the importance of probiotics in regards to supporting optimal health, it should be noted that anxiety is considered by the FDA to be a disease condition. Probiotics and supplements are not drugs and are not designed to treat or prevent disease. If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder or other disease condition, you should consult with a qualified health practitioner for one-on-one guidance. With that said, you may wish to support your healthy digestive tract with a probiotic supplement and you may be wondering which are the best options to also support a healthy mood.

I’ve run the gamut with probiotics over the last six years and have found that its best to rotate probiotics every 3 months or so to ensure you’re getting a plethora of healthy bacteria strains. Because of this, I’m always looking for the next best probiotic I can throw into my 3-month rotation.

I recently started looking for mood-specific probiotics and came across MegaFood’s Mood* Shelf-Stable Probiotics, which helps support gut health and reduce stress and fatigue.* The uniquely curated probiotic strains help build your foundation to good health. The product is also shelf stable so you don’t have to refrigerate it! It contains a hearty dose of SOD B Extramel® Melon Juice Concentrate, including the antioxidant SOD, which helps support the reduction of stress and fatigue, while the microflora in the product also promotes gut health to support you through your busiest days.*

I’ve been really impressed with this brand. Many of their vitamin and mineral products are made with real whole foods from trusted farm partners who support organic and regenerative agriculture, plus added nutrients. There are SO many seemingly “healthy” supplements that are full of junk and unnecessary additives, just like packaged health foods. It’s super important to read ingredients lists even on your supplements! In my digging around, I also discovered MegaFood is the first supplement brand to have its ENTIRE line certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project, an independent research and certification organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the public by testing consumer goods and food products for toxic chemicals- which makes me love them even more!! Glyphosate is the number one herbicide used in the world and has been classified by the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer as “probably carcinogenic in humans.” Why this product is commonly in our food is absolutely beyond me!

I’d like to invite you to support this call to the EPA by signing MegaFood’s public petition aimed at joining consumers together under one common goal – to protect our families and our food: https://www.megafood.com/category/activism/glyphosate-free-what-about-food.html

To learn more about MegaFood, visit https://www.megafood.com/

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This post is sponsored and paid for by MegaFood©, a supplement company I use and truly love! All opinions are my own.