Ron Gutman is a medicine and health reporter who reviews the latest studies in his field. He also did a TED talk that is all about gut science, and it has been viewed more than one million times. At TEDxPSU, Ron Gutman explains how his obsession with the digestive system led him to research the microbiome and “gut brain communication.” 

This is fascinating stuff! 

He asserts that there are trillions of microorganisms living inside our gut, which feed on everything we eat and play an important role in maintaining our health. Ron Gutman explains that these bacteria are vitally important for a number of reasons! For starters, they help protect us against harmful strains of E-coli and other bad guys that make their way into our food supply. 

Ron Gutman explains that the gut microbiome is so important that he calls it our “second brain.” Crossing from the digestive system into your nervous system, the gut, the healthcare expert explains, interacts with the brain, and has a direct impact on emotional control and memory performance. This is important stuff to know! 

Gutman explains how all of these microbes in our gut are influenced by what we eat, what we think and how much stress we feel. In his talk at TEDxPSU, the healthcare expert explains this concept with a new term: “psychobiotics.” Ron Gutman assures that these psychobiotics are particularly important for our emotional health. Gutman explains that these bacteria feed off of our emotions and can actually manipulate our brain chemicals. Gutman calls this a “gut-brain axis.”

Gutman explains that when we are feeling happy, the gut microbiome is a particular kind of happy, full of good microbes and fatty acids to help us feel good. When we are feeling sad or depressed, these chemicals change and the gut microbiome becomes less diverse, with more bad microbes. Ron Gutman has found that in some people who suffer from depression and anxiety, the bacterial diversity in their gut can be increased by taking probiotic supplements and eating foods high in fiber.