Veg gives a bellyful of cheer

THERE is mounting evidence that our gut health is linked to our mental health. Quite how this works isn’t yet clear, although it’s interesting to note that, for example, the serotonin receptors that many common antidepressants target are in our guts as well as our brains.

According to new research published this week, improving gut health can improve anxiety symptoms. Chinese researchers concluded there was a clear link between regulating intestinal bacteria and a decrease in anxiety.

What’s more, it found that while taking probiotics helped, the most successful intervention was actually the simplest — eating more fruit and vegetables. This allowed our natural gut bacteria — or ‘microbiota’ — to flourish, which in turn improved mental health.