Metaphorically speaking, we “know things in our gut,” and often, we have “butterflies in our stomach” before a big event. A profoundly upsetting event is often “gut-wrenching”; you must have “the guts” for bungee jumping. We’re told to “trust our gut” when it comes to difficult decisions or situations where we don’t have all the answers or information. The connection between our gut and emotions has been evident in the language for thousands of years.

Metaphors and proverbs aside, the scientific consensus is in, and it shows some fascinating results. Not only was our intuition correct (our gut feeling) about the connection between emotions and our gut, recent scientific discoveries show that it runs deeper and is far more complex, fascinating, and interconnected than anyone could have imagined.

So are you ready to go on an exciting ride into the bowels of the mind-gut connection? Don’t hesitate; now, follow your gut feeling!

The Multitudes You Contain

Picture this. Inside your belly, there’s a vibrant universe teeming with life. Entire societies live there, with armies, trade, and regular folks going about their daily lives. Bustling cities with traffic, pedestrians, and millions of diverse inhabitants. It turns out that Walt Whitman was right when he said, “I contain multitudes,” though he probably didn’t know just how literally right he was!

Scientists estimate that more than 100 trillion microorganisms are in each person’s gut. They think there are about 1000 species of bacteria and other organisms. But they’re not entirely sure, and that’s because they keep discovering new life forms and species inside our bellies every single day. Each of us harbors an ecosystem rivaling the Amazon Rainforest in diversity and density.

The Gut-Brain Axis

If you think you’re in control of your emotional and mental well-being, think again. The multitudes within you are the ones in the driver’s seat. And there’s a mountain of scientific literature to support this, going back almost 100 years. But the most recent scientific studies about the matter have made some mind-blowing discoveries.

Enter the Gut-Brain Axis. It may sound a little sinister, but the Gut-Brain Axis refers to the connection between intestinal flora and mental health. It may seem strange, but research has shown that there’s two-way communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, which constitutes the Gut-Brain Axis. The Gut-Brain Axis plays a role in mental health, and imbalance can lead to depression, anxiety, and even severe illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

It Starts in Childhood

The question you may have right now is when does it start? When do these vibrant new cities and multitudes of species and organisms start colonizing your digestive system?

As with anything related to your physical and mental health, it begins when you’re a baby. Studies show that breastfed infants acquire many of their gut tenants (also known as the gut microbiome) from breast milk. It doesn’t matter how long they’re breastfed; studies indicate that breastfeeding benefits infants and helps them acquire a diverse, healthy microbiome, regardless of duration.

Once children start eating adult foods, their microbiomes change and become more adult-like. At this point, they must start eating healthy and diverse natural foods. Fermented foods such as kefir, natural yogurt, kimchi, and others are great for adding probiotics. You can also add probiotic supplements to children’s diets. But a word of caution: make sure that you’re getting them from a reputable source. Not all probiotics are created equal! Probulin has a whole line of probiotics formulated for children to help balance their little microbiomes.

Happy Bugs, Happy You

Stacking up the supplements can help you maximize the benefits you get from each. One combination that works wonders is CBD with probiotics. If you don’t know much about CBD, here’s a summary of what it is, how it works, and its potential benefits.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an ingredient derived from the hemp plant, and it is non-psychoactive, meaning that it does not make you high. But while it does not affect your cognitive abilities, it may help with relaxation and has many other benefits that scientists have only recently discovered. The exciting thing about CBD is that scientists are discovering new benefits for this ingredient daily, making it one of the most exciting new kids on the supplement block.

People have reported that they feel more relaxed after taking CBD and that this has may of had some positive benefits on their gut health. By combining CBD with probiotics, you’re making sure the bugs in your gut are happy, and in turn, they’ll help you feel your best! But as with all supplements, make sure you’re getting them from a reputable source; for example, Social CBD has a wide range of CBD products to choose from to help you find the balance and relaxation you need.

When selecting probiotic supplements, it's essential to consider how they withstand the journey through your digestive system. Most probiotics on store shelves face significant challenges, particularly from stomach acids and enzymes that can degrade their effectiveness before reaching your intestines.

To address this concern, we have developed a proprietary Probiotic Delivery System, featured in our Probiotic+ Capsules. This innovative technology protects probiotics from digestive threats, ensuring they reach your gut intact and ready to provide their full benefits. By safeguarding probiotics from stomach acids and enzymes, our delivery system enhances their viability and potency, maximizing their impact on your digestive health.

The Gut Connection

Maintaining a healthy gut is essential for our overall health, as many recent scientific studies have shown. A balanced microbiome is key to a healthy gut, meaning the vibrant inner universe within our intestines. By ensuring that the right species exist in the correct proportions (you don’t want one group taking over!), you ensure that everything exists in balance and harmony. As always, consult your doctor before you try any new supplements, but in the meantime, a little yogurt, kefir, or kimchi will brighten things up at the dinner table and add a little extra flavor to your life.