Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ

by Giulia Enders

Artichoke, asparagus, endive, green bananas, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, onion, parsnips, black salsify, wheat (wholegrain), rye, oats, leek.

There are now some twenty reliable studies of this kind involving human subjects. Three of the bacteria cocktails tested appeared to have no such effect, but all the rest (and this is the more exciting piece of news) do influence the human psyche.

their effect on our emotional state is gradual, often not appearing until three to four weeks after the microbes are administered, and their effect may be fairly limited.

Those who slept less in the run-up to an exam were always more stressed.

THE CURRENT STATE of research indicates that our gut has about a 10- to 15-percent influence on feelings of melancholy, anger, or stress.