Good books about Microdiome?

*microbiome

What is it that you want to know? Or the results you're hoping for?

I ask because some of these conversations may already be in some existing threads.

Depending on her diagnosis, you may want to take a look at published medical research from reputable journals.

Based on what you mentioned here, may I suggest...

The Mind-Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, and Our Overall Health

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=9FNpBgAAQBAJ

There's an audiobook version as well, if that helps.

David Perlmutter's books, basically all of them address how our microbiome affects everything else! I think they're extremely readable, practical, and current on information.

One or two bacteria (or the lack of) are strongly associated with anxiety. There are like six or seven startups working on finding out how to grow those bacteria. They are also associated with depression.

The way to increase the helpful bacteria is by increasing your levels of GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter that doctors have known (or thought) was very important for depression and anxiety. Now they know why. The more GABA your body produces, the more of two specific bacteria that you have that reduce depression and anxiety.

Mutaflor (the brand name for E Coli Nissle 1917) is one way to increase GABA. But it's illegal in the US. You can only get it in Canada. Some would say it's the drug companies that are making billions off of antidepressants actively keeping Mutaflor out of the US. Others argue that it can be an invasive species for some with compromised microbiomes (think of it like a garden that needs to be in balance).

Edit -- as of December 2019, Mutaflor is now available in the US by mail. The FDA finally changed their stance on it late last year. I wasn't aware of that change. It's not cheap (around $100 for two month, I believe).

Look up on Selfhacked how to increase GABA naturally. You can't eat GABA. It doesn't work that way.

https://www.thehealthjournals.com/can-gut-bacteria-cure-depression/

@MaltedTea The link you provided suggests a low-fat diet and fermented foods....yes!

ReenieHJ wrote: »

@MikePfirrman Thank you for that! I sent the link to my dd. I cannot help but think there's got to be a better way to treat her levels of anxiety and depression than merely masking them with drugs because so far, 1) they haven't worked all that well and 2) they've all produced side affects, some of them very unwelcome.
Thanks again!!

Normally, I find regular cardio very effective for normal depression and anxiety, and increased activity during times of increased stress.

Thanks to covid, I had to make some additional changes:

1. Decrease news consumption
2. Decrease caffeine
3. Increase yoga
4. Start therapy.

I started CBT in April with an intern, which wasn't particularly effective. Fortunately, her program ended. I asked for someone who was not an intern, and she is working out much better. This was supposed to be CBT as well, but quickly changed to regular talk therapy. Maybe we will work on root issues for a while and get back to CBT, or maybe that will not be necessary.

(I do also take the AD Wellbutrin regularly (normally I stop in the spring and resume when my SAD kicks in in the fall, but this year just kept going), and have Xanax on hand. But this knocks me out too much for daytime use, so I only use it for middle of the night anxiety attacks, which don't happen very often, thank goodness.)