The Overlooked Cause of Stress
By
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
Posted May 25, 2022
Stress. It may as well be a four-letter word.
Chronic stress can take its toll on your health, your emotions, your work, your relationships.
You can take steps to manage your stress… like deep breathing, exercise, and meditation.
You can take supplements to help keep your stress hormone (cortisol) in check… like ashwagandha, magnesium, and B vitamins.
All of those things can—and do—help.
Here comes the “but.”
But there’s a root cause of stress that often goes completely overlooked.
Fixing it can not only help your stress levels, but your overall health in general.
Stress isn’t all in your head… it’s in your gut.
There’s a superhighway that runs between your gut and brain, and it’s aptly named the gut-brain axis.
It’s a two-way street that connects what’s going on in your brain to your gut, and vice versa. For example, it’s the reason why feeling nervous can give you butterflies in your stomach.
Adding to that highway is the microbiota-gut-brain axis—which has to do with how the bacteria in your gut impacts what’s going on in your brain.
And as you probably guessed, bacteria can directly impact your stress levels.
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 22 healthy people took either a probiotic or a placebo for four weeks.
Researchers used functional MRIs while subjects performed a stress task.
Results showed that when subjects were taking the probiotic, there was reduced activation in the regions of the brain linked to the stress response.
This shows that probiotics specifically altered the areas of the brain that help regulate emotion and the stress response.
In other words, probiotics can physically help your brain manage stress.
The three strains used in the study included:
- Bifidobacterium longum R0175
- Lactobacillus helveticus R0052
- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum R1012
Your gut health is intimately connected to every aspect of your body’s health.
The best way to support a healthy gut microbiome is to make sure it has plenty of good bacteria, and to limit the bad bacteria.
One way to get things jumpstarted in the right direction is to take a quality probiotic.
Consider adding in a prebiotic as well, which will help feed the good bacteria to make sure they flourish.
P.S. Researchers have identified a way to measurably lower your stress—and it only takes 10 minutes a day. Read about it, right here.
SOURCE:
Daniells, S. (2022, April 22.) Probiotic Combination May Ease Acute Stress in Healthy People: RCT. Nutra Ingredients-USA.com. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2022/04/20/Probiotic-combination-may-ease-acute-stress-in-healthy-people-RCT
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
Get Better Blood Sugar This Holiday Season
Let’s face it. The holidays are NOT good for your waistline… or your blood sugar levels. Potlucks, family dinners, cookie exchanges, Christmas parties… you know the drill. So, if you’re one of the 98 million people on the brink of type 2 diabetes, it’s VITAL to take steps to manage your blood sugar levels as […]
Common Vitamin Is a Hidden Colon Cancer Shield
With aggressive colon cancer on the rise in younger people, I’m always on the lookout for research showing how we can all lower our risks. Over the past few months, I’ve shared studies showing that stress, oral bacteria, obesity, and circadian disruption are all tied to colon cancer. And just last week I revealed how […]
Ditch Dieting for Better Blood Sugar Control
I’ll just say this right upfront… Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle issue. And while diet is PART of the equation, it’s not the only thing to consider when managing your blood sugar. Over the past few months, I’ve highlighted research showing that factors like your bedtime and activity levels impact diabetes risk. Today, I […]
Slash Painful Nighttime Leg Cramps
On this Veterans Day, my team and I honor and thank all who have served in our armed forces. Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our nation’s freedoms will never be forgotten. Not all health problems are life-threatening. There are plenty that threaten your quality of life. Nighttime leg cramps are one of them. […]
Life-Saving Fats Shield Against Cancer—Here’s How
The word “cancer” alone can stir up fear and worry, especially as we watch friends or family face its challenges. It’s one of the most brutal battles our bodies can go through. And prevention has never been more essential. While there are no guarantees, we have more tools than ever to reduce our risks. And […]
Sacred Indian Secret Protects Eyesight
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a terrifying chronic eye disease. It affects the macula, a small area located in your eye’s retina. AMD slowly steals your vision, blurring or blacking out everything in the center of your visual field. It’s the leading cause of blindness in those over 60 in the USA. More than 200,000 […]
The Fruit Bowl Secret to Better Sleep
Having trouble sleeping? The answer might be in your daily diet. A groundbreaking new study reveals that a common vitamin, long known for fighting colds and supporting immune health, could also help you get better sleep. And the best part is that you don’t need to look any further than your fruit bowl to get […]
The Powerful Memory Tool You ALREADY Own
It’s natural to worry memory decline as we age. We often turn to brain training games or supplements to keep our minds sharp. And those are fantastic options to help keep your brain firing on all cylinders. However, there’s another incredibly effective “memory tool” that most of us overlook. New research reveals this tool could […]
Your Tummy Troubles Could Trigger Diabetes (Learn How)
Researchers have uncovered a surprising link between two autoimmune diseases that affect millions worldwide…Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While these two conditions may seem unrelated, a new study presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week 2024 reveals a bidirectional relationship—meaning patients with one disease are at a higher risk of developing […]
Beware of False Blood Pressure Readings
High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for heart disease. The problem is… you could be led to believe you have high blood pressure when you really don’t. An issue I’ve been battling for years is that mainstream medicine keeps lowering the number that defines high blood pressure. While this hasn’t been shown […]
