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Can the bacteria living in your gut influence how anxious you feel?

Most of us think of probiotics as something to take after a course of antibiotics or when our digestion is out of balance. But emerging research is revealing something far more fascinating... the microbes living inside your gut may be communicating with your brain every single day.

In this episode of The Anxiety Compass, we are joined by Rebecca Edwards, Director of Education at Biome Australia, a naturopath and one of Australia's leading voices in microbiome research, to explore the exciting world of the gut microbiome and 'psychobiotics', specific probiotic strains being researched for their role in supporting mental wellbeing.

Together, we unpack what the microbiome actually is, how the gut and brain communicate through the gut-brain axis, and why looking after your gut could be another important piece of the anxiety puzzle.

Along the way, we also tackle some of the biggest myths and most common questions about probiotics, including how to choose one, whether they really need refrigeration, and if fermented foods are enough.

In this episode, we discuss:

What the gut microbiome actually is (and why Sammy calls them our "microbial overlords")
The fascinating connection between the gut and the brain
What 'psychobiotics' are and why researchers are so excited about them
The emerging evidence around probiotics, anxiety, stress, mood and sleep
How modern life (including stress, antibiotics, processed foods and poor sleep) can impact our gut bacteria
How to choose a probiotic and why strain specificity matters
Fermented foods vs probiotic supplements
and more...

As always, this episode is about curiosity, not quick fixes. Anxiety is rarely from one thing, and probiotics aren't a magic pill, but understanding how our gut microbes communicates with our brain may help us better understand ourselves.

If you've ever wondered whether your gut could be influencing your mental wellbeing (and cravings!), this episode is for you.

Follow Rebecca at https://www.instagram.com/activatedprobiotics/

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