Dr. Alok Kanojia

And when you eat processed food, those bacteria, you're fueling them. And they're at war with the other bacteria. And they'll actually out-compete those other bacteria. And they'll destroy those bacteria. Now, the problem is some of the bacteria in your gut do things like make serotonin precursors. So the building blocks for our neurotransmitters come from some bacteria.

And when you eat processed food, those bacteria, you're fueling them. And they're at war with the other bacteria. And they'll actually out-compete those other bacteria. And they'll destroy those bacteria. Now, the problem is some of the bacteria in your gut do things like make serotonin precursors. So the building blocks for our neurotransmitters come from some bacteria.

And when you eat processed food, those bacteria, you're fueling them. And they're at war with the other bacteria. And they'll actually out-compete those other bacteria. And they'll destroy those bacteria. Now, the problem is some of the bacteria in your gut do things like make serotonin precursors. So the building blocks for our neurotransmitters come from some bacteria.

And that's probably why some bacteria are protective against anxiety, because they produce they have some kind of tryptophan metabolism, which then enhances your serotonin production in the brain and you get endogenous serotonin production. So that's just one of the many avenues that we know that your diet will very, very directly affect your mental health.

And that's probably why some bacteria are protective against anxiety, because they produce they have some kind of tryptophan metabolism, which then enhances your serotonin production in the brain and you get endogenous serotonin production. So that's just one of the many avenues that we know that your diet will very, very directly affect your mental health.

And that's probably why some bacteria are protective against anxiety, because they produce they have some kind of tryptophan metabolism, which then enhances your serotonin production in the brain and you get endogenous serotonin production. So that's just one of the many avenues that we know that your diet will very, very directly affect your mental health.

So there are other systems at play as well. We haven't even touched on inflammation. But some bacteria, our body has learned over millions of years of evolution, like lactobacillus is a really good example. This helps us digest milk. And like lactobacillus, like our immune system is like, oh, that's my ally.

So there are other systems at play as well. We haven't even touched on inflammation. But some bacteria, our body has learned over millions of years of evolution, like lactobacillus is a really good example. This helps us digest milk. And like lactobacillus, like our immune system is like, oh, that's my ally.

So there are other systems at play as well. We haven't even touched on inflammation. But some bacteria, our body has learned over millions of years of evolution, like lactobacillus is a really good example. This helps us digest milk. And like lactobacillus, like our immune system is like, oh, that's my ally.

So if lactobacillus is hanging out in our gut, like our immune system doesn't usually get upset. But when we have these ultra processed foods that select for these new kinds of bacteria, our body thinks, and rightly so, that these are not our friends. They haven't lived here for a long time. They're new. So it creates an inflammatory response. That inflammatory response can be whole body, right?

So if lactobacillus is hanging out in our gut, like our immune system doesn't usually get upset. But when we have these ultra processed foods that select for these new kinds of bacteria, our body thinks, and rightly so, that these are not our friends. They haven't lived here for a long time. They're new. So it creates an inflammatory response. That inflammatory response can be whole body, right?

So if lactobacillus is hanging out in our gut, like our immune system doesn't usually get upset. But when we have these ultra processed foods that select for these new kinds of bacteria, our body thinks, and rightly so, that these are not our friends. They haven't lived here for a long time. They're new. So it creates an inflammatory response. That inflammatory response can be whole body, right?

So it's somewhat localized, but also travels to the brain. And we know, for example, that people who are depressed are having inflammation in the brain as well. So we know this, and this is super common sense because when you get the flu, what happens to your mood, right? You feel like, and that's like biologically driven. It's not like, you know, you're not depressed.

So it's somewhat localized, but also travels to the brain. And we know, for example, that people who are depressed are having inflammation in the brain as well. So we know this, and this is super common sense because when you get the flu, what happens to your mood, right? You feel like, and that's like biologically driven. It's not like, you know, you're not depressed.

So it's somewhat localized, but also travels to the brain. And we know, for example, that people who are depressed are having inflammation in the brain as well. So we know this, and this is super common sense because when you get the flu, what happens to your mood, right? You feel like, and that's like biologically driven. It's not like, you know, you're not depressed.

You just feel depressed and you know, it is a consequence of inflammation, right? And that's evolutionary, by the way. So depression is actually our body's way of telling us to conserve energy. So don't get out of bed. Just hang out. It makes you feel weak. It makes you feel energy energy less. And that is because it is trying to encourage you to rest.

You just feel depressed and you know, it is a consequence of inflammation, right? And that's evolutionary, by the way. So depression is actually our body's way of telling us to conserve energy. So don't get out of bed. Just hang out. It makes you feel weak. It makes you feel energy energy less. And that is because it is trying to encourage you to rest.

You just feel depressed and you know, it is a consequence of inflammation, right? And that's evolutionary, by the way. So depression is actually our body's way of telling us to conserve energy. So don't get out of bed. Just hang out. It makes you feel weak. It makes you feel energy energy less. And that is because it is trying to encourage you to rest.

And that's why we feel sad and cranky and stuff. Right. So there's a lot of stuff there that's evolutionary. But those are just two of the mechanisms through which like food is incredibly important for mental health.

And that's why we feel sad and cranky and stuff. Right. So there's a lot of stuff there that's evolutionary. But those are just two of the mechanisms through which like food is incredibly important for mental health.