Eating Healthy / Nutrition

by Christina Wilson

The positive influence of exercise on the microbiome-gut-brain axis

Need another reason to get that cardio workout in? Grab your leg warmers, I got one for ya.

Although the exact causal relationship is unknown, current evidence allows for the assumption that exercise may help mediate the bidirectional relationship between the gut and brain through alterations in the microbiome.

Here’s how: Aerobic exercise has been shown to impact the gut by increasing microbiome diversity. When gut bacteria diversity diminishes, there are systemic consequences, such as gastrointestinal and psychological distress (e.g. depression and anxiety). Altering the bacterial profiles and influencing the by-products produced from gut bacteria through exercise may have the potential to help reverse these conditions.

Although more research is needed, it’s pretty cool to know that staying active regularly positively affects your microbiome, which we now know can improve gut and brain health. Always trust your gut, and continue to sweat for it as well.