Research Reveals Miso And Kimchi Consumption Routinely Effectively Reduce Depression

Illustration of Goodminton that helps reduce depression (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Bacteria in the intestines can actually cause anxiety and other mental health problems. Scientists in Singapore found that probiotics might be a solution.

According to researchers from the Duke-NUS Medical School and Singapore's National Neuroscience Institute, research on mice shows a close relationship between gut microbes and behavior related to anxiety and even depression.

The results of a study published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine say molecules named indoles, produced by gut microbes during metabolic processes (decomposition of food, drugs, or chemicals to produce energy), play a direct role in regulating anxiety-related brain activity.

Probiotics are living bacteria and yeast that provide health benefits. Consuming more food or probiotic supplements can increase the number of bacteria both in the body and help restore the natural balance of gut microbes that may be disturbed by disease or treatment.

Some foods that are rich in probiotics include kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut (fermented quotients), bailur, miso, tempeh, mariju, and suurdough bread. According to the research team, this discovery opens up great opportunities for developing probiotic-based therapy to improve mental health. They also plan to conduct further clinical trials.

"The results of this study show a relationship between microbes, nutrients, and brain function. This finding has great potential to help people who experience stress-related disorders, such as sleep disorders or those who cannot tolerate drugs." said Patrick Tan, Deputy Dean of Senior for Research at Duke-NUS, quoted from the South China Morning Post page.

This study is in line with recent studies from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital which found a link between certain types of intestinal bacteria and depression.

In addition, in January, a team of scientists from France and Italy discovered that X-rays could provide clues about how intestinal nerves communicate with the brain, which may play a role in triggering Alzheimer's disease.