Bacteria in your gut can improve your mood − new research in mice tries to zero in on the crucial strains

Probiotics have been getting a lot of attention recently. These bacteria, which you can consume from fermented foods, yogurt or even pills, are linked to a number of health and wellness benefits, including reducing gastrointestinal distress, urinary tract infections and eczema. But can they improve your mood, too?

Behavior and mental health are complicated. But the short answer, according to my team’s recently published research, is likely yes.

The beneficial bacteria in probiotics become part of a community of other microscopic organisms living in your digestive system called the gut microbiome. Your gut microbiome contains trillions of a diverse range of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Hundreds of species of bacteria are native to the intestinal tract. Each species can be broken down into hundreds of strains that can also be dramatically different from each other in their metabolism, byproducts and environmental preferences.

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