Experts say increasing the intake of two types of food in your diet could help reduce social anxiety. The advice comes after a recent study linked anxiety to poor gut bacteria health.
Scientists have discovered a link between people who suffer from social anxiety disorder and the bacteria that live in our guts. The researchers took microbes from the feces of people with anxiety and introduced them into previously healthy mice.
The mice developed a heightened response to social fear. Professor John Cryan, co-author of the research from University College Cork, written in the Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesHe said: “The main point is that we need to take care of our microbes, especially during development and even into adulthood, to keep the social brain functioning properly.”
The team took samples from six people with anxiety and six healthy people and used DNA analysis to show that their gut microbiomes were significantly different.
Each sample was transferred to six mice (72 in total) that had been given antibiotics to wipe out their own microbiomes. The mice had to deal with a series of challenges, including meeting other mice.
Mice given samples from anxious people were found to have different levels of three bacteria and were afraid to approach other mice, while mice given “healthy” samples did not experience the same response.
Cryan said: “They never fully recovered to be able to socialise again.”
The researchers found that the experiment had altered the hormonal and immune responses of the mice. The research suggests that gut microbes have a direct impact on increased social fear and anxiety.
Cryan said: “Increasing the amount of fibre and fermented foods in the diet may have beneficial effects.”
