“Listen to your gut” is something we’ve all probably heard once or twice throughout our lives. Your gut is often thought to aid your mind in making tough decisions.The belief that there is a connection between your brain and your gut is nothing new. What is new, however, is that there may actually be scientific backing for the belief that your gut has an impact on your mind – specifically when it comes to mental illnesses including anxiety and depression.

This connection starts with the bacteria in your gut. Countless studies have shown that in mice, a lack of good gut bacteria leads to social anxiety, depression and behaviors consistent with autism. When given supplements designed to boost healthy gut bacteria, commonly called probiotics, the mice showed drastic improvement in their willingness to try new things and interact with other mice. In addition, they showed increased levels of resilience and determination when presented with challenges.

Now, a study done at Oxford University shows that similar results were discovered when giving a group of humans prebiotics (supplements that feed the good bacteria in the belly and help them grow). The researchers gave 45 adults either a prebiotic or a placebo every day for three weeks. After the three weeks were up, they found that the prebiotic group had less anxiety when confronted with negative information when they compared the results to those taking the placebo pills. These results showed that the effect of taking probiotics were similar to what has been observed in people taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication.

All these studies show that there is, in fact, a deep connection between your gut and brain health. By taking care of your stomach, you are, in effect, taking care of your mind – especially if you suffer from anxiety or depression. So listen to your gut, and if it’s telling you something is off, know that taking the time to care for it will have a positive impact on your overall well being.