When you get a gut feeling you are sad, it’s because the two are linked.

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DYVOQoVs-UH/How so. Molecular biochemists at the Harvard Medical School now report in the Journal of the American Chemical Society that, when a common gut bacterium called Morganella morganii interacts with a contaminant found in everyday products, they spark inflammation that leads to depression.A sugar molecule produced by the bacterium combines with a pollutant called DEA, diethanolamine, found in some shampoos and cosmetics as well as in agricultural and industrial products, to create a new molecule that activates the immune system. This activation increases inflammatory proteins like IL-6 which is associated with major depressive events.While this discovery could trigger new tests and treatments for depression, it definitely opens the door to studying the complex ways in which gut microbes affect our brains and immune systems.The references for this report are available on my website.#GutHealth #DepressionResearch #BrainHealth #Harvard #MentalHealthScience