KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Just to share:
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/chang ... ugh-245617

UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

The study, conducted by scientists with the Gail and Gerald Oppenheimer Family Center for Neurobiology of Stress, part of the UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases, and the Ahmanson–Lovelace Brain Mapping Center at UCLA, appears in the current online edition of the peer-reviewed journal Gastroenterology.

The discovery that changing the bacterial environment, or microbiota, in the gut can affect the brain carries significant implications for future research that could point the way toward dietary or drug interventions to improve brain function, the researchers said.

Is yogurt consumption beneficial for the brain then? My brain couldn't translate so many terms in the article. Maybe I need me some yogurt.

Yes, according to the research it is beneficial.

Very interesting research. This is likely to be impartial and true research (unlike some drug research which are sponsored by the drug company themselves).

The effect should be mild though, not like eat yoghurt suddenly can become Einstein. I tried eating yoghurt daily since reading this article, do feel a mild improvement in terms of mood, focus, and mental energy.

mathtuition88 wrote: I tried eating yoghurt daily since reading this article, do feel a mild improvement in terms of mood, focus, and mental energy.

interesting. thanks for the info.

janet88 wrote:

mathtuition88 wrote: I tried eating yoghurt daily since reading this article, do feel a mild improvement in terms of mood, focus, and mental energy.

interesting. thanks for the info.

Yes, it is indeed very interesting. I am "researching" on this topic in my spare time, and found that there is a very crucial connection between the gut (stomach, intestines) and the brain.

Yep! It's very good for general health. It helps to keep my girl's eczema under control.

it would be wonderful if probiotics helps to improve my mood.

Well, research has shown that it does. http://www.livestrong.com/article/47878 ... hest-gaba/

Potbelly_Burp wrote:Well, research has shown that it does. http://www.livestrong.com/article/47878 ... hest-gaba/

thanks for the article.

i am lactose intolerant, any recommendations of probiotics?
i do hope to reduce my intake of the anxiety medication which is mainly to help me sleep.

janet88 wrote:

Potbelly_Burp wrote:Well, research has shown that it does. http://www.livestrong.com/article/47878 ... hest-gaba/

thanks for the article.

i am lactose intolerant, any recommendations of probiotics?
i do hope to reduce my intake of the anxiety medication which is mainly to help me sleep.

Hi, I think if your lactose intolerant is mild to moderate, yoghurt should be fine as most of the lactose is broken down by the bacteria already.

Other non-dairy natural sources include miso soup, kimchi.

Alternatively, there are probiotic capsules (found in larger Guardian/Watson's pharmacies) that are dairy-free.