Your Gut Bacteria Controls How You Handle Stress

In a fascinating new study that continues to reveal the mysteries of the gut microbiome, researchers have discovered that people who were more resilient to stress had more strains of healthy gut bacteria that reduced inflammation and improved intestinal barrier integrity.

Stress is a MASSIVE problem for almost every person. Stress is responsible for driving and worsening many chronic illnesses, including hypertension, migraine, diabetes, depression, and anxiety. We all need ways and methods to improve our resilience to the effects of stress. Resilience can be defined as acceptance of change, the ability to adapt to change, tolerance of negative emotions, tenacity, and recovery from adverse events.

The health impact of stress can be traced to one thing: inflammation. Stress triggers an inflammatory response in the body, and inflammation can worsen stress. It is certainly exciting to see that healthy gut bacteria can help us cope with effects of stress, potentially by controlling inflammation.

Another interesting finding in this study is that bacteria that maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining are found in more stress-resilient people. A “leaky gut” can allow toxins and harmful compounds to pass from the gut into the bloodstream, which triggers inflammation and other negative effects. A healthy gut barrier keeps such molecules out of the body and appears to be important in how the body copes with stress.