Mood Swings & Gut Microbes

Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a gastronome, in 1826 wrote, (in Physiologie du Gout, ou Meditations de Gastronomie Transcendante,) ‘Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are’. Similarly, Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, a German philosopher and anthropologist wrote, 'man is what he eats', in his essay titled Concerning Spiritualism and Materialism in the year 1863. Science, at that time was na?ve to discuss and elaborate in support of this thought. While the western world may have had a few of the likes of Brillat-Savarin and Feuerbach to think in this direction, with no substance in science to substantiate it then, Vedic literature written centuries ago, by that time had already guided many civilizations of the eastern world on their food practice, based on this thinking. The vedic wisdom runs down-up from the origin of food (plant or animal source), to how they need to be processed, how to be stored and what, when and how to be consumed, all of which seems described in detail. It is to be noted that given the emphatic discussions on practices related to food in Vedic literature, much emphasis has been given to hygiene practices in food production, storage, food serving, including while dining, most of which is practiced in the Indian households even today.

Hygienic practices in food handling and the effect of food on the human mind are related.

Satvik diet is a diet based on foods with satva quality (guna). In Yoga and Ayurveda literature, Satvik diet restores and maintains satvik state of living.

Science has traversed a long trail since the thought emerged in the western world and today we have ample literature to substantiate the view point that the food we eat can influence our minds. One might envisage, impromptu, connecting the contents of the food to the varying influences it might have on our minds, however, what remains uncovered is how much hygiene in food preparation is important and relevant in this context. Hygiene by definition refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. The term satvik which has been largely used in the Indian context refers to wholesome food that would keep the mind and body healthy, and which is inclusive of the hygiene aspects.

While the concepts of hygiene and satvik have a common object of maintaining good health, the conceptual difference of the idea of Satvik to hygiene in general, is the fact that satvik food regime was prescribed in the ancient Indian literature, in particular, to subdue the human mind, which is a pre-requisite for the object of self-realization and/or spiritual practices, whereas the western concept of hygiene, oblivious of its relevance and relation to the human mind then, dealt and discussed of cleanliness and physical health only.

By definition hygiene refers to ways by which the possible access by an unwanted microorganism (contamination) is averted. Questions then arise, why was hygiene given importance during the days when meditational practices were more prevalent ? what if contamination did happen ? why did it matter after all ? How could this impede in subduing the human mind, a requirement in order to achieve greater heights in meditational practices ? If answered, the response to these questions would not have had scientific explanation then. What seemed not so pertinent to the human mind then, seems to have been brought to fore play recently by scientific pursuits.  The hygiene aspect that has been an inclusive component and dealt with discretely in the satvik system, is growing in significance and is more relevant to neuroscience in the present context, its relevance revealed by science vividly and with high degree of clarity, only lately.

The relevance of hygiene and the Microbe – Mind Connect

The human body harbors trillions of bacteria that inhabit all our surfaces, especially that of the intestines. The collection of these resident microbes is termed as the normal flora and the normal flora of the gut is termed as the Gut microbiota. The normal flora, including the gut microbiota of the humans is typical to the host, as is the case with finger prints, which means that the microbial flora of an individual is typical to him or her. While it was known that an organism, if made devoid of these naturally resident microbes, (termed as gnotobiosis), vary largely in their characteristics to that of normal individuals, what has come to light lately is extremely intriguing. Science has revealed that the very presence of certain groups of microbes can alter the minds, the cognitive capacity of humans. This may seem fictitious, but is true.

Researchers have begun to study the influence of gut microbes on brain through hormones, immune molecules and metabolites, and a recent research has revealed that at least two types of gut bacteria produce the neurotransmitter (Gamma)-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

GABA is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system and is known to play a vital role in reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. While it is an inhibitory transmitter in the mature brain, its actions are primarily excitatory in the developing brain.

Release of these neurotransmitters may alter their levels in the gut, and this may eventually allow them to communicate with neurons. It has also been demonstrated that gut microbes can induce the serotonin production, (yet another neurotransmitter) by the gut cells.

Seretonin is a neurotransmitter primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), blood platelets, and the central nervous system (CNS) of animals, including humans

Seretonin is popularly thought to be a contributor to feelings of well-being and happiness. These findings are simply straight forward and indicate a strong connect between the gut through the microbiome and the brain. This means it is imperative that the connect will impact not only the brain, as it is, but its development and its functioning, bearing implications on the mind and mood of an individual. This is where the concepts of Satviki and Hygiene pitch in. The word hygiene directly relates to contamination, which in turn relates to microbial growth in food. Entry of unwanted microbes into the human body through food may have a detrimental effect on the physical, physiological and cognitive evolution of all animals, including humans. Unwanted microbes referred to here needn’t necessarily refer to the disease causing ones alone, but the ones that can otherwise influence the mind and cognitive evolution, as has been discussed. Hygiene therefore was and is crucial to strike a balance, maintain wholesome health, physical and mental. This compels us into thinking that the wisdom that gave birth to concepts such as the Satvik, ages before science could reveal the relevance, might be of a higher order.

Where we are and what lies ahead

If search was made for literature on this subject a few years ago, one might have had meager, but today the scientific community from microbiologists to neuroscientists seems to be digging in the same area.     It was neither a surprise nor usual for the US National Institute of Mental Health, Maryland, fund research worth 1 million USD to understand the microbiome-gut-brain axis, the US Naval research agree to spend 14.5 million USD in understanding the gut’s role in cognitive function and stress and the Eurpean Union put 9 million Euro for a similar object of research. Given the recent research focus and the ensuing research data, science for sure will back the idea of satvik food and life style, sooner or later.

If we were to read a human and describe him or her based on their psyche, then it should be borne in mind that undoubtedly, ‘man is what he eats’. Not far in the future, behavioral issues of humans could be treated by administering simple capsules containing advanced probiotic microbes, that will not only control the mood but will also assist in brain development. For now, if you are experiencing mood swings and are working on your personality, you might want to start from your diet, inclusive of the hygiene measures taken in its preparation. Mood Swings ???? Blame it on them (microbes). 

To read the edited article published in "The Speaking Tree", please follow the link below.

https://www.speakingtree.in/article/mood-swings-gut-microbes