Gut Bacteria May Be Controlling Your Mood, Should You Fix It?
A unique force inside of us controls our bodies, emotions, and thoughts. It’s not our soul, mind, or sense of free will; it’s the microbes living in and on our bodies, outnumbering our cells by tenfold. In fact, there are 100 trillion of them, and those inside our gut have been found to influence and control our mood and behavior.
Gut Bacteria and Mood
The living culture of bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract, known as the gut microbiome or microbiota, consists of four pounds of biomass and is part of the 3 percent of our body weight that is made of microbes. While a third of that microbiome is consistent in all humans, the rest is unique to each individual.
The residual effects of our gut health can be as profound as changing the function of our brains. It turns out that the old axiom of going with your gut feeling is not just a colloquialism; it actually has some scientific basis.
Researchers have discovered the diversity of healthy gut bacteria in our microbiome often fluctuates and changes based on what we consume or the lack thereof. So, the choices we make in deciding what to put in our bodies can have a drastic effect on the makeup and health of our gut.
When our bodies don’t receive the nutrients they need, the microbes in our gut send metabolites through the enteric nervous system, or ENS, a multi-layer lining in our intestinal tract composed of hundreds of millions of neurons connected to the brain. Scientists think the vagus nerve is the pathway between the brain and the ENS, and is responsible for telling the brain what the body needs.
It can also tell the brain how to behave.
There’s a reason why certain foods change your mood or make you feel a certain way. Fatty acids in particular are detected by cell receptors in the brain and make up a significant portion of the its weight. This is why Omega-3s are known to be mental boosters, as the brain relies on them to balance mood, energy, and memory.
Certain neurotransmitters that regulate these brain functions are produced in the gut. In fact, roughly 90 percent of serotonin is produced in the gut.
Gut Health and Depression
Researchers conducted a test on mice to see if specific character traits like anxiety or depression had anything to do with gut bacteria. They found that mice exposed to specific gut bacteria, compared to those kept sterile, showed symptoms of anxiety and depression after being exposed to stress early in life. The sterile mice did not show these symptoms until they were also exposed to that gut bacteria.
Although both groups originally showed a release in the stress hormone, corticosterone, it wasn’t until the gut bacteria was introduced to the sterile group that they showed signs of depression. This test effectively demonstrated the symbiotic relationship between the gut and the brain and how it can have definitive effects on our mood and emotion.
In fact, some researchers are working on what they’re calling psychobiotics, medicine that targets mental disorders through the gut microbiome. Traditionally, it has been thought that gut-related illnesses, like irritable bowel syndrome, were caused by depression, stress, and anxiety, but now some researchers are starting to think it’s the other way around.
How to Restore Gut Flora
The myriad microbes in our gut, often referred to as our gut flora, thrive when fed properly. A study of a primitive tribe in Tanzania, known as the Hadza tribe, found a significant variation between their gut flora and ours. This tribe, specifically a smaller sect of them who were hunter-gatherers, maintained a diversity of berries, fruit, starch, and meat in its diet.
These people also consumed high levels of fiber – ten times more than the average western diet. In one day, this tribespeople would consume 100-150 grams of fiber. While this may sound like a copious amount, it seems this tribe has figured out the right gut-health diet. Scientists found this diversity to be essential in maintaining diverse gut flora and the key to feeding a healthy microbiome.
In addition to the lack of fiber consumed in Western diets, we consume a lot of refined sugar and processed food. Unsurprisingly, this destroys certain gut flora that is so essential to a good bacterial balance.
There are ways for rebalancing gut bacteria, namely through probiotics. Any naturally fermented or cultured food is good for promoting healthy gut bacteria. The probiotics that are best for improving gut flora are those that promote the growth of Lactobacillus. This strain of bacteria is often found in yogurts, cheese, and pickled foods. There is even research underway to develop a probiotic beer, as Lactobacillus has become the main bacteria used in sour beer.
Antibiotics and Gut FloraÂ
It’s not just our diets that can have a serious impact on our gut health. By nature, antibiotics kill bacteria in our body including gut bacteria, and they do so indiscriminately. While antibiotics have been incredibly beneficial in preventing some deaths and illnesses, the extent to which we use them has created many negative side effects, especially when it comes to a healthy gut balance. Studies have found that it can take months for our gut microbiome to recover from the effects of antibiotics, and in some cases, up to a year.
While a healthy adult might be more concerned with catching an antibiotic-resistant pathogen than suffering from temporary gut flora damage, infants and young children are most susceptible to long-term effects. Scientists believe the administration of antibiotics in infants can lead to an imbalanced microbiome, impeding nutrient absorption, and immune system functions.
Some doctors even believe that children might develop autism due to damaged gut flora. This could also be related to children who develop ADHD, ADD, OCD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Although this is an incredibly contentious topic, more and more scientists are finding that gut flora is important in early development. Could there be a correlation between the decline in gut flora diversity in our Western diet and an influx of certain developmental issues in children? Will the gut be the next area of focus for treating mental diseases and disorders?
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Tapping Or EFT: What It Is And How It Can Help You Emotionally
Tapping, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), is a therapeutic tool that seeks to release emotional blocks through the stimulation of energy points on the body. This technique combines elements of psychology and acupressure to address stress, anxiety, pain, and other difficult emotions. In this article, we explore what tapping is, how it works, and how it can help you regain your emotional well-being.
Table of Contents
- What Is Tapping And How Does It Work On Your Emotions?
- How Does Tapping Work On The Body And Mind?
- Benefits Of Tapping: What This Tool Is Good For
- How To Practice A Tapping Round Step By Step
- What Does Science Say About Tapping?
- What Is The Origin Of Tapping And Who Developed It?
- How To Begin Incorporating Tapping Into Your Daily Life
What Is Tapping And How Does It Work On Your Emotions?
Tapping is an emotional self-regulation technique that consists of gently tapping with the fingers on certain points of the body linked to the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine. While stimulating these points, phrases are spoken aloud that acknowledge the emotional issue being addressed. This combination allows the release of energetic blocks associated with memories, thoughts, or sensations that cause distress.
On an emotional level, tapping helps to process difficult experiences without repressing them or becoming trapped in them. By validating what we feel while simultaneously activating specific points on the body, a sense of relief and inner safety is created. That’s why it is considered an effective tool for calming states of anxiety, stress, fear, guilt, or sadness.
How Does Tapping Work On The Body And Mind?
From a physiological perspective, tapping reduces the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response to stress. By stimulating certain acupuncture points, calming signals are sent to the brain, which can lower cortisol levels and promote a state of relaxation. This allows the body to feel safer, even when facing difficult emotions or memories.
On a mental level, tapping supports the reorganization of beliefs associated with negative emotions. By repeating conscious phrases during the process, patterns of thought that often operate automatically are reprogrammed. The result is a deeper connection with what we feel, accompanied by an internal sense of relief, stability, and perspective.
Benefits Of Tapping: What This Tool Is Good For
Tapping is a versatile technique that can be used to relieve emotional, physical, and energetic discomfort. By focusing on the connection between body and emotion, it allows the release of internal blocks and the restoration of balance.
- Stress reduction: Helps calm the nervous system and relieve accumulated tension. It’s useful during times of emotional or mental overload.
- Anxiety management: Allows the identification of thoughts that fuel anxiety and the release of the associated emotional burden. Improves the sense of internal control.
- Fear processing: Facilitates facing fears and phobias with greater stability. Reduces automatic reactions to stimuli that previously triggered alarm.
- Releasing repressed emotions: Offers a safe space to recognize and express what we feel. Encourages emotional flow without judgment.
- Improving insomnia: By reducing anxiety and mental noise, it supports deeper rest. It can also be used before bed as a relaxing routine.
- Support in physical pain: Relieves bodily tension related to unexpressed emotions. Complements physical treatments from a holistic perspective.
- Support during personal processes: It’s helpful during times of change, grief, or personal growth. Aids in integrating emotions and finding inner clarity.
How To Practice A Tapping Round Step By Step
Practicing a round of tapping is simple and does not require external tools. All you need is a quiet space, your hands, and the willingness to connect with what you’re feeling. Below we share the essential steps to perform a tapping round:
- Identify and name what you’re feeling: The first step is to connect with a specific emotion, recurring thought, or physical discomfort you want to address. The more specific the identification, the more effective the practice.
- Formulate a setup phrase: This phrase should include the problem you’re feeling and a statement of acceptance. An example could be: “Even though I feel afraid of change, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Repeat this phrase while stimulating the first point.
- Stimulate the karate point: With the fingers of one hand, gently tap the outer edge of the other hand (known as the karate point). While doing this, repeat the setup phrase out loud or mentally about three times.
- Tap through the body points: Then proceed with the traditional tapping sequence: eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collarbone, and under the arm. At each point, apply light taps while naming what you’re feeling or repeating phrases related to the issue being worked on.
- Observe and close: At the end of the round, take a deep breath and assess whether the intensity of the emotion has changed. You can repeat the process if needed or close with a positive phrase that affirms the new emotional state, such as: “Now I feel calmer and more at peace.”
What Does Science Say About Tapping?
In recent years, tapping has attracted the interest of the scientific community, especially in the fields of clinical psychology and mind-body medicine. Various studies have indicated that the practice of EFT can significantly reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and improve symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and emotional trauma.
Although it is still considered a complementary therapy, institutions such as the APA (American Psychological Association) have begun to recognize its therapeutic potential, particularly when it is integrated with other approaches. Research continues to expand, but early results suggest that tapping is not only safe, but also effective in promoting emotional well-being and reducing nervous system activation.
What Is The Origin Of Tapping And Who Developed It?
Tapping was developed in the 1990s by Gary Craig, an American engineer with training in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). Craig was inspired by the work of psychologist Roger Callahan, who had created a technique called TFT (Thought Field Therapy) that combined acupressure and verbal therapy. By simplifying that method, Craig designed what we now know as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).
The foundation of tapping is found in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the stimulation of the body’s energy meridians. Craig proposed that by applying gentle tapping on specific points while working on a concrete emotion, it is possible to unblock stagnant energy and restore internal balance.
Since its creation, tapping has spread widely as an emotional self-regulation technique that is accessible, practical, and adaptable to different contexts. Its popularity grew due to its ease of use and the testimonials of people who report significant relief with just a few minutes of daily practice.
How To Begin Incorporating Tapping Into Your Daily Life
Including tapping in your daily routine can be as simple as taking a few minutes a day to connect with yourself. Upon waking, a brief tapping round can help you set a clear intention and release any tension that arises with the first thoughts of the day. It’s also a useful tool for recognizing how you feel before starting your activities.
During the day, you can turn to tapping in specific moments of discomfort or emotional blockage. If you’re going through a stressful situation, a short pause to apply the technique can help release emotional charge and return to center. Emotions don’t need to be intense—even subtle states like worry or irritation can be addressed effectively.
At night, tapping can help you close the day with greater calm. It’s a good time to review how you felt, give thanks for what you experienced, and let go of what you don’t need to carry into rest. The more natural this space of emotional connection becomes, the easier it will be to return to it whenever you need it.
