Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 28 | Page 32

Special Section
NEW
ADDITION!

Dr. Formulated

MOOD+
by Dawn Thorpe Jarvis, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. Garden of Life® Senior Director
of Nutrition Science & Educational Content

Sure, gut bacteria help in digestion. Yes; gut bacteria help
produce some necessary vitamins. No question that gut
bacteria play a large role in our immune system health.
But our mental outlook and mood influenced by gut bacteria?
Yes; studies are pointing that way.
Your gut bacteria are a vast army, too, numbering approximately
100 trillion—10 times as many as human cells in the body.
Likewise, two-thirds of the human gut microbiome—the technical
name for this evolving collection of trillions of probiotic microbes
living in and on the human body—is unique to each person.
Part of what makes it unique is due to the food we eat, the air
we breathe and other environmental or lifestyle factors.
And know this: studies point toward needing a diverse range
of good bacteria, or probiotics, for greater health benefits.
One area that’s being closely studied concerning the
microbiome is gut bacteria’s role in mental health and
mood. The American Psychological Association (APA) says
that gut bacteria produce a variety of neurochemicals the
brain uses for physiological and mental processes, including
memory, learning and mood. The APA also points out that
95 percent of the body’s supply of serotonin—the “feel good”
hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter and is responsible for
maintaining positive mood balance—is produced by gut bacteria.
Studies also indicate that gut bacteria help to reduce stress and
anxiety, while supporting a positive mood and mental outlook.
In fact, probiotics such as Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and
Bifidobacterium longum R0175 have been shown to positively
support mood and emotional well-being, according to published
clinical trials.

30 Extraordinary Health™ • Vol 28

Even prebiotics—healthy carbs which boost healthy bacteria
in the gut—can help to reduce stress and anxiety, according
to a study published in Psychopharmacology. Prebiotics work
hand-in-hand with probiotics, functioning to increase the growth
of probiotic strains such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in
the gut, while also increasing resistance to bad bacteria or
invading pathogens.
Probiotics and prebiotics aren’t alone in supporting a healthy
mood and mental outlook. For example, Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera), used in Ayurvedic medicine, is an adaptogenic herb that
helps to restore balance to the body, including supporting a healthy
stress response, mood and memory.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is a great resource
and national network dedicated to helping people with mental
health issues to build better lives. www.nami.org

DR. FORMULATED MOOD+:

• Has 350mg of Organic Ashwagandha and Organic Alaskan
Blueberries for stress management†

• Offers digestive and immune system support†
Used in Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
is an adaptogenic herb that helps to restore balance to the
body, including supporting a healthy stress response, mood
and memory. Additionally, our AuroraBlue® Alaskan Blueberry
Complex—compared to other wild and cultivated blueberries—
contains the highest antioxidant activities (up to 10 times higher)
to support brain health and a positive mood.