Can gut issues lead to anxiety and depression? An expert answers

A nutritionist says that inflammation and deficiencies can trigger mental health issues which can be corrected.

Recent studies have established that there is a close connection between gut and brain. No wonder, one tends to get butterflies in stomach before a new beginning or nauseous when anxious. Our GI tract is sensitive to emotions and external situations can impact our gut, say studies. The reverse is also true and even gut issues can lead to mental health troubles like anxiety, depression, and excessive negative thoughts. (Also read: Our belly and brain share a deep connection: Nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal)

Our GI tract is sensitive to emotions and external situations can impact our gut, say studies. (Pixabay)

A nutritionist and gut health expert in her recent Instagram post talked about the connection between automatic negative thoughts and gut health. According to Smriti Kochar, one of the reasons people struggle with negative thoughts could be their gut health. Kochar says that people should not be blaming their mindset for all the negative thinking but figure out what's wrong with their gut.

"Automatic negative thoughts – This is one symptom of anxiety that no one talks about, because no one thinks it’s a symptom. People who deal with this often end up blaming themselves, that I have become this negative person who just can’t think better! But that’s not true. It’s not your personality that has altered, but most likely your gut!" writes Kochar.

The nutritionist adds that in case of gut inflammation, and severe acidity, gas, constipation etc, one's mind bears the brunt. "You get anxious, sometimes you get panic attacks, you forget things easily. This is not a co-incidence," she says.

Kochar adds that inflammation and deficiencies can trigger mental health issues which can be corrected.

"It is time we stop thinking of these mental issues as something that just happens on its own. Everything in our body is linked to inflammation and deficiencies and can be corrected naturally to a large, large extent with no use of medication at all," says the gut health expert.

"People who start thinking negatively without consciously wanting to, are most likely deficient in neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Gaba, B vitamins and possibly have some hormonal imbalance going," she adds.