WHEN BACTERIA BOOST MENTAL HEALTH

Today, an entire industry has emerged around probiotics that aims to restore the necessary balance of bacteria in the human body. Different formulations are available in the market but not all of them produce the desired result. Read the labels carefully to check for storage temperature and see if it is stable throughout the shelf life. One cannot rule out cases where there are not enough bacteria present, or they may fail to reach the gut where they need to act.

M. Ratna Sudha, Founder of Hyderabadbased probiotics firm Unique Biotech, says now the focus is on psychobiotics. It is all about dealing with psychological conditions with the help of bacteria functions. Researchers are studying the bacteria that bring about biochemical signalling and produce neuroactive substances. These can act on the gut-brain axis and dispel anxiety and depression. In the long run, advanced psychobiotics may even cure autism and dementia.