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<br /> Don’t scold people or call them ‘dumb’ the next time you fail to drag them off the <keyword id="395295" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="social-sites">social sites</keyword>. Chances are they have more of those ‘little grey cells’ than Hercule Poirot could ever hope to possess. According to a new study, if you have more <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> than most, certain parts of your brain tend to get bigger and more <keyword id="116073" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="grey-matter">grey matter</keyword> could be growing there.<br />
<br /> According to <keyword id="6354645" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="researchers">researchers</keyword> from the <keyword id="150557" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="University-of-Oxford">University of Oxford</keyword>, people with <keyword id="1943580" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bigger-social-networks">bigger social networks</keyword> often have a different brain pattern, <em>LiveScience</em> reported. For one, there is increased connectivity between the brain regions and such people may have more grey matter in certain brain parts like the <keyword id="1943561" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="temporal-parietal-junction">temporal parietal junction</keyword>, the <keyword id="611908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="anterior-cingulate-cortex">anterior cingulate cortex</keyword> and the <keyword id="1943562" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="rostral-prefrontal-cortex">rostral prefrontal cortex</keyword>. Interestingly, these are part of a network involved in <keyword id="1943563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mentalisation">mentalisation</keyword> – the ability to attribute <keyword id="1943568" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mental-states">mental states</keyword>, thoughts and beliefs to another.<br />
 <br />
Does it mean these parts of the brain are growing because they have gone into overdrive, ‘trying’ to cope with ‘increased’ social activities? We know it sounds like gym – the more the exercise, the better the muscle power.<br />
 <br />
But then, it makes sense if you take into account a previous experiment with macaque monkeys. It has been discovered that social-group size causes difference in their brain size and the brain parts connected to face processing and predicting others’ intentions happen to be bigger in animals that are living in large social groups.<br />
 <br /> So what’s preventing a similar thing from happening to the <keyword id="67889" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Human-brain">human brain</keyword>? It’s quite plausible, although scientists are not yet sure. To investigate the matter, <keyword id="1938162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MaryAnn-Noonan">MaryAnn Noonan</keyword> from the University of Oxford and her colleagues at <keyword id="206005" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="McGill-University">McGill University</keyword> (Canada) got 18 participants for a structural brain-imaging study after determining the amount of socialising they did last month. And the result was staggering. As with the monkeys, some brain areas were enlarged and better connected in humans with larger <keyword id="23045" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="social-networks">social networks</keyword>.<br />
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According to <em>LiveScience</em>, the researchers also tested if the size of a person’s <keyword id="6354615" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Social-network">social network</keyword> was linked to changes in <keyword id="1943576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="White-matter-pathways">white-matter pathways</keyword>, the <keyword id="1943577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nerve-fibres">nerve fibres</keyword> that connect different brain regions. Again, the result was positive. The <keyword id="1943578" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="White-matter-tracts">white-matter tracts</keyword> were better connected in people with bigger social <keyword id="50752" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Networks">networks</keyword>.<br />
<br />
So what’s the bottom line here? Pretty simple, according to Noonan. “If you’re spending a lot of time in social environments using social skills and your brain’s changing, maybe you’re not learning to juggle in your free time or becoming proficient at the piano,” she said. “The brain is just changing and optimising to reflect your needs, and if that is thriving within a complex social environment, that is what your brain is reflecting.”

<b>Are You A Social Butterfly? It Can Change Your Brain
For Good</b>

A disturbing report by The Economic Times has revealed that over 100 <keyword id="21300086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cough-syrup" source="keywords">cough syrup</keyword> samples manufactured in India failed quality control tests. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (<keyword id="20109095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CDSCO" source="keywords">CDSCO</keyword>) analysed over 7,000 batches of cough syrup, finding that 353 did not meet quality standards.<br /><br />The reasons for these failures are particularly concerning. Nine batches contained di<keyword id="21957039" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethylene-glycol" source="keywords">ethylene glycol</keyword> (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG), toxins previously linked to the deaths of children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon. These toxins can cause serious health problems, including vomiting, convulsions, circulatory issues, and acute kidney failure.<br /><br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="94675384" title="Indian drug regulator kicks off probe on cough syrup linked to deaths of Gambian children" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br /><h2>What are <keyword id="15176477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diethylene-glycol" source="Orion">diethylene glycol</keyword> and ethylene glycol?</h2>For the unversed, DEG is a colourless, odourless and sweetish chemical. It is also a common industrial liquid used in many products, like antifreeze, car brakes, wallpaper removal solutions and in making fabrics and dyes. <br /><br />Similarly, EG is also a colourless and odourless alcoholic compound with a sweet-tasting and syrupy composition. It has known applications as an automotive antifreeze and as a raw material for manufacturing polyester fibres. It is also usually present in products like hydraulic brake fluids, stamp pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, cosmetics and plastics.<br /><br />However, cough syrup manufacturers sometimes use EG and DEG as a replacement to non-toxic solvents like glycerine or propylene glycol simply because they are cheaper.<br /><br />Unfortunately, swallowing DEG and EG can be very dangerous. If someone drinks it, it can cause serious problems throughout their body and nervous system, leading to coma, seizures, nerve damage, and even liver and kidney failure, as per the CDC.<br /><br /><h2>Who is responsible?</h2>According to The Economic Times, the CDSCO blames unsecured supply chains and inadequate testing for the presence of these toxins. This news comes after a series of global alerts issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 regarding cough syrups manufactured in India that were linked to the deaths of over 140 children worldwide.<br /><br />The first alert came in October 2022, when the WHO flagged four cough syrups produced by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Authorities in Gambia linked these medications to 66 deaths, primarily from acute kidney failure.<br /><br />In December 2022, the WHO recommended avoiding two cough syrups made by Marion Biotech after Uzbekistan reported 18 child deaths linked to their Dok 1 Max syrup.<br /><br />Most recently, in August 2023, the WHO issued another alert for a batch of Indian common cold syrup found to contain unacceptable levels of DEG and EG as contaminants. This marked the fifth such alert issued by the WHO since 2022 regarding Indian-made cough syrups.<br /><br /><h2>CDSCO considers waiving testing requirement before exploring cough syrups</h2>The discovery of toxic components in something that’s as commonly sold as cough syrup should have prompted authorities to tighten texting processes.<br /><br />However, the apex drugs regulatory authority, is reportedly examining stakeholders’ proposal to waive the requirement for testing cough syrups being exported to the US, the UK, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Korea and Switzerland at the prescribed laboratory.<br /><br />These repeated failures and global health warnings raise serious concerns about the safety of cough syrups manufactured in India. The Indian government is urged to take immediate action to address these issues by strengthening quality control measures, securing supply chains and ensuring thorough testing to prevent further tragedies.<br /><br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="96935179" title="WHO alert against use of Indian cough syrups in Uzbekistan" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Why are over 300 batches of Indian cough syrup being deemed "toxic"?

<ul><li>While the effort and intent are laudable, the question remains are you really contributing to your or the earth's health by embracing <keyword id="1284616" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="veganism">veganism</keyword>?</li><li>A poorly planned <keyword id="739882" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vegan-diet">vegan diet</keyword> can be quite harmful and can lead to various health risks, including a heightened risk of heart disease.</li><li>If it is the environment you are concerned about, then perhaps it is time to consider that splurging on imported avocados and almond milk is hardly sustainable. </li></ul><br /><em>“I ate a lot of meat — I ate my 10, 15 eggs a day. I had my 250 grams of protein in a day because I weighed 250 pounds… As I got older and I started reading up on it, I recognised the fact that you really don’t have to get your protein from meat — or from animals,” </em><keyword id="22324" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arnold-Schwarzenegger">Arnold Schwarzenegger</keyword>, Hollywood star and former California Governor says in the popular <keyword id="128682" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword> documentary, <em><keyword id="908691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Game-Changers">The Game Changers</keyword></em>. That alone moved many meat lovers in India to go vegan, overnight. However, there ought to be more thought behind a life-changing decision like stopping the food you have been consuming forever. The documentary itself faced its share of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/game-changers-review#limitations">criticism</a> for scientific inaccuracies and promoting misinformation.<br /><br />Whether it is to live a healthier lifestyle — to lose weight, counter diabetes, dairy intolerance, improve sexual health — or save the planet, several Indians are embracing veganism. Also, there is the added bonus that following a vegan diet is not too much of a segue for Indian vegetarians, barring giving up on milk, curd, or paneer. However, while the effort and intent are laudable, the question remains are you really contributing to your or the earth's health by embracing veganism? Is the diet even sustainable in the long-run, particularly if you live in India? <br /><br />A poorly planned vegan diet can be quite harmful and can lead to various health risks, including a heightened <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.com/vegan-diets-are-adding-to-malnutrition-in-wealthy-countries-107555" class="editor-rtfLink">risk</a> of heart disease. So, before you pat yourself on your back for giving up on cow milk while sipping on almond milk, it may be crucial to consider all the factors below before embracing the new lifestyle.<br /><br />            <div type="image" title="Representative image." msid="81601105" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Representative image.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br /><strong>Affordability</strong><br /><br />Often considered a diet for the rich, the first thing to consider here is will you be able to splurge thousands of rupees per week on items like plant-based milk, vitamin supplements or expensive vegetables and nuts required to provide the nutritional balance you need. Then, there is the added consideration that even if you are lucky enough to afford it, are the items you are buying genuine or, for that matter, fresh? For example, a litre of almond milk can set you back 200-300 rupees, and avocados can cost anywhere from 200 to 300 bucks for one piece, and that too the quality is suspect. <br /><br />However, nutrition expert and author of <em>Everyday Superfoods, </em>Dr Nandita Iyer tells Business Insider that "apart from almond milk, substitutes like soy milk or oat milk can be easily be made at home or even bought at reasonably cheaper rates, but of course the flavour might be slightly different and takes getting used to." She also points out that if you are looking to give up on dairy from an environmental perspective, then almond milk is "definitely not an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/05/ditch-the-almond-milk-why-everything-you-know-about-sustainable-eating-is-probably-wrong" class="editor-rtfLink">environmentally friendly option</a>". But given the rising popularity, many Indian brands, like Bengaluru-based Good Milk, are producing vegan plant-based dairy products like milk, butter, yoghurt at relatively reasonable prices.<br /><br /><strong>Age</strong><br /><br />The common consensus is that a vegan diet is less than ideal for both children and the elderly. <br /><br /><strong>Children - </strong>Providing a child nutritious diet is tricky even under normal circumstances, where there is no dietary restriction. During their formative growing years, depriving children of essential nutrients derived from milk products and meat may lead to various health issues in kids. While during the first six months, babies primarily rely on breast milk or infant formula, post that what they eat will essentially lay the foundation of their future health. Within one year, a baby is meant to triple its birth weight. And while plants can provide sufficient proteins, the issue is substituting essential vitamins (B-12 and D) and minerals (iodine, zinc, iron and calcium) that can only be substituted via fortified foods and supplements. <br /><br />A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15027383_Macrobiotic_nutrition_and_child_health_results_of_a_population-based_mixed-longitudinal_cohort_study_in_The_Netherlands" class="editor-rtfLink">study</a> conducted in the The Netherlands on children between 0-10 years who are on a macrobiotic diet — a diet based mainly on whole-grain cereals, pulses, and vegetables — noted that "ubiquitous deficiencies of energy, protein, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and riboflavin were detected in macrobiotic infants, leading to retarded growth, fat and muscle wasting, and slower psychomotor development." It further adds that the breast milk of mothers who are on a vegan diet contained less vitamin B-12, calcium and magnesium.<br /><br /><strong>Seniors - </strong>While there are some health benefits of going vegan, it is essential that older adults get enough calories as well as nutrients to avoid the pitfalls of a vegan diet. Once again, planning meals is key because seniors need more protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin B-12. For <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.com/vegetarian-and-vegan-diet-five-things-for-over-65s-to-consider-when-switching-to-a-plant-based-diet-144088" class="editor-rtfLink">example</a>, while an average adult would need a daily dose of 700mg of calcium, men over 55 and postmenopausal women need 1200mg of calcium daily. It is essential to consult with a certified dietician before senior adults decide to give up on meat and dairy.<br /><br />            <div type="image" title="Representative image." msid="81601190" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Representative image.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br /><br /><strong>Actual dietary requirements</strong><br /><br />Compared to a diet that includes meat and vegetables, a vegan diet is believed to be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24667136/" class="editor-rtfLink">higher in fibre but lower in </a>protein, fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and vitamins D and B-12. It is crucial to figure precisely what quantity of vegan alternatives you have to consume to make up for the switch. You may have to go heavy on the alternatives. For example, both fish and flaxseeds <a target="_blank" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-a-vegetarian-or-vegan-diet-for-you" class="editor-rtfLink">contain</a> omega-3 fatty acids, but the human body doesn't absorb omega-3s from flaxseed as easily as it would from seafood.<br /><br />And while the other dietary requirements may have vegan alternatives, vitamin B-12 is an essential nutritional requirement that is absent in fruit or vegetables and present in meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Vitamin B-12 helps prevent nerve damage, and adults should consume 1.5 micrograms of the vitamin per day. According to a British Medical Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4897" class="editor-rtfLink">study</a>, while fish eaters and vegetarians had lower rates of heart disease compared to non-vegetarians, vegetarians and vegans are believed to be more prone to strokes, possibly because of the B12 deficiency. While the quantity requirement is minuscule, B12 is only available via nutritional yeast (though the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200122-are-there-health-benefits-to-going-vegan" class="editor-rtfLink">claim</a> that this doesn't provide sufficient B-12) or fortified food, such as plant-based milk or vitamin supplements in a vegan diet.<br /><br /><strong>Where it comes from</strong><br /><br />If it is the environment you are concerned about, then perhaps it is time to consider that splurging on imported avocados and almond milk is hardly sustainable. In addition to the air miles it consumes, which is definitely not good for the climate, there is an added burden on land and water resources, and increasingly, farmers are choosing to give up on sustainable farming practices and burdening the land by overgrowing these trendy products. For example, in Chile, which is one of the largest producers of avocados, the focus on growing water-guzzling avocados for profit has caused an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05oMsK0-jjA&amp;t=98s" class="editor-rtfLink">acute water shortage</a> in the country — for context, to grow around a kilogram (3-4 pieces), 1000 litres of water is needed.<br /><br />So, whether a vegan diet is actually contributing towards mitigating climate change or helping your health is a contentious issue, but it can, without doubt, be sustained here in India. Most of the supplements are easily available on places like Amazon, but yes, it will be on the steeper side. However, as and when this trend blossoms, it will lead Indian manufacturers to expand into this territory, and that will bring the costs down. Already there is a whole range of <keyword id="99613" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mock-meat">mock meat</keyword> manufacturers making waves in the market. Dr Iyer tells us, "we have a huge bank of innately vegan recipes in Indian cuisine. For example, a lot of recipes from Kerala rely heavily on coconut milk and not regular cow milk. Even an entire sadhya meal that consists of 25-26 dishes can be entirely vegan and that is the beauty of Indian cuisine — I think it is the most vegan-friendly diet."<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-is-fourth-least-happy-country-in-the-world-checkout-list-of-10-unhappiest-countries-in-the-world/slidelist/81588422.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India is the fourth least happy country in a year of lockdowns, deaths and work from home</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tcs-to-dole-out-a-second-salary-hike-within-a-span-six-months-this-time-in-double-digits/articleshow/81589561.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">TCS to dole out a second salary hike within a span six months</a><br />

Is a vegan diet practical or sustainable for those living in India

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Okta</span></p><p class="caption">Aimee Mullins keeps her knees and body relaxed when she's on stage.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Aimee Mullins is a double-amputee athlete, model and actor known for her role on Stranger Things.</strong></li><li><strong>She's also known as for her popular Ted Talks.</strong></li><li><strong>Mullins has spent her life on stage sharing her personal story and inspiring people to believe in themselves. </strong></li><li><strong>She says that all of us can be powerful public speakers, by following a few simple tips. </strong></li></ul><p><br />You may know Aimee Mullins as No. 11's mother on Stranger Things.</p><p>Or maybe you know her as the woman who designs her own legs. Or the double amputee collegiate runner who made the "Cheetah" carbon-fibre sprinting legs world famous. Or the model who walked the runway for British fashion designer Alexander McQueen.</p><p>Perhaps you are one of the millions of people who have seen her on YouTube over the past decade. She has given hugely popular Ted Talks, <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_on_running">covering her career as an athlete,</a><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics"> how a disability to one person is a superpower to another </a>and how the <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_the_opportunity_of_adversity">power of imagination can bring you a life you love.</a></p><p>"I'm just living my life," she tells Business Insider. "I'm in a fortunate and privileged position to share stories about it ... and be paid well."</p><p>Business Insider recently met with Mullins and heard her speak live in<a href="https://www.okta.com/oktane18/"> Las Vegas at Okta's tech conference.</a> Her talks weave triumphant personal stories with her message of how to turn your own so-called shortcomings into strengths.</p><p>Her talks make you want to cheer.</p><p>So we asked her, How does she lure listeners in like that and are there tips that others can use to make their own public speaking more powerful, be it a Ted Talk or a business presentation?</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Wired Magazine</span></p><p class="caption">Aimee Mullins modeling alternative prosthetics</p></div><p></p></div></div>Short answer: yes. Long answer: hell yes!</p><p>She explained that the term "choking on stage" comes from the fact that nerves literally tighten your jaw and your throat.</p><p>"The adrenaline surge, the cortisol, the stress, there's a reason we say, 'he choked' because it literally does tighten your jaw, you feel your mouth get dry," she explained.</p><p>The first step to a great talk is to stop these physical changes from happening.</p><p><strong>Don't lock your knees or your hips.</strong> Obviously, the more relaxed you appear, the more the audience focuses on what you're saying and not signs of nerves. By not locking your lower body, you will feel genuinely more relaxed, she says. More importantly if you lock them, you cut off your blood flow, which contributes to tension and choking.</p><p>Relaxing your knees and hips also takes less energy than holding them tense.</p><p>"When you go out on stage, take your space, find it and just feel that softness in your ankles," she says.</p><p><strong>Start paying attention to your jaw and how often you clench it.</strong> "Throughout your day, try and put some space between your molars. Just release your jaw," she says, adding that it took her a full year of practicing this before a relaxed jaw became her natural state, "I was holding so much tension." </p><p>If you want to get better at public speaking, un-clench your jaw in daily life.</p><p><strong>Hum.</strong> "The morning you have to do a talk, you should be humming all day," she says. This keeps the jaw and throat open and relaxed.</p><h2>How to draw the audience in</h2><p>The next step is to work on bringing the audience with you, drawing them in.</p><p><strong>To avoid coming off as canned, corny or insincere, imagine that you are an excellent host at your own dinner party. </strong>Think of the room as your guests.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Netflix</span></p><p class="caption">Aimee Mullins as "Terry Ives" on Stranger Things</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>Don't "lose sight" of the corners of the room.</strong> Look at, and speak to, actual people in the room, in all parts of the room, from those up close up to those in the back corners.</p><p>"Literally, I find eyes, I find faces," she says. "You are metaphorically putting your arms around the whole room, saying, 'I got all of you.'"</p><p><strong>Do not look over people's heads. </strong>If you do, people won't feel included. When you look directly at people "they are with you" and it will be energizing for you while you are talking.</p><p>"Now that everyone has a phone, it's a thrill to see that they aren't looking at it. They are with me," she says.</p><h2>Share your real self</h2><p>The final step is to create a talk that people can relate to, by putting your own life and observations into it.</p><p><strong>Be truthful.</strong> "Only you have actually lived your life," she said. So trust that your stories and observations about your own life will be relatable and help you emphasize your bigger point. </p><p><strong>Keep a file on your phone, write down anecdotes, what you learned from them and how they made you feel. </strong>In 2017, she was indicted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. While she was deeply honored she was also unnerved. Many of the others had been awarded posthumously.</p><p>Mullins is 43 and still in the early stages of her acting career. She began to wonder: was the peak of her life already behind her? No. This honor was coming to her in the prime of her life and she could use it as a tool. Those thoughts became a topic for future talks.</p><p><strong>Feel the incident as you relate it. </strong>Mullins says that even when she's sharing a story about a humiliation that happened 20 years ago on stage, a story she's told over and over again, she still feels it as if it was happening right then. Allow yourself to feel what you are trying to share and your audience will feel it, too.</p><p><strong>Keep flexing your "reinvention" muscles: naivete, curiosity and daydreaming.</strong> "These are tools you've had since you were kids," she says. Don't "let them atrophy," she says, and they will be a continuous source of new accomplishments and reinvention. That will fuel your life which will, in turn, inspire your talks.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-siri-sucks-2018-5">Why Siri sucks</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Stranger Things star Aimee Mullins has done a decade of inspiring Ted Talks - her tips will help anyone be a better public speaker

<p><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></em></p><p><em>Our gut does more than help us digest food; the bacteria that call our intestines home have been implicated in everything from our mental health and sleep, to weight gain and cravings for certain foods. This series examines how far the <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> has come and whether there's anything we can do to improve the health of our gut.</em></p><p>The gut microbiota is the community of bugs, including bacteria, that live in our intestine. It has been called the body's "forgotten organ" because of the important role it plays beyond digestion and metabolism.</p><p>You might have read about the importance of a healthy gut microbiota for a healthy brain. Links have been made between the microbiota and depression, anxiety and stress. Your gut bacteria may even affect how well you sleep.</p><p>But it can be difficult to work out exactly how far the science has come in this emerging field of research. So what evidence is there that your gut microbiota affects your brain?</p><p><div></div></p><h2>How does your gut talk to your brain?</h2><p>When you're healthy, bacteria are kept safely inside your gut. For the most part, the bacteria and your gut live in harmony. (The gut has been known to nurture or even <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/chemical-messengers-could-make-poo-transplants-obsolete">control the behaviour</a> of the bacteria for your well-being.)</p><p>So how do the bacteria get their signal out?</p><p>The best evidence is that the normal channels of communication from your gut are being hijacked by the bacteria.</p><p>The gut has a bidirectional relationship with the central nervous system, referred to as the "<a href="http://www.gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/en/interview-ted-dinan-learning-gut-brain-axis/">gut-brain axis</a>". This allows the gut to send and receive signals to and from the brain.</p><p>A recent <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/108/38/16050">study</a> found that the addition of a "good" strain of the bacteria lactobacillus (which is also found in yoghurt) to the gut of normal mice reduced their anxiety levels. The effect was blocked after cutting the vagus nerve - the main connection between brain and gut. This suggests the gut-brain axis is being used by bacteria to affect the brain.</p><p>This link was clarified in a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25550456">study</a> where bacterial metabolites (by-products) from fibre digestion were found to increase the levels of the gut hormone and neurotransmitter, serotonin. Serotonin can activate the vagus, suggesting one way your gut bacteria might be linked with your brain.</p><p>There are <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25103109">many other ways</a> gut bacteria might affect your brain, including via bacterial toxins and metabolites, nutrient-scavenging, changing your taste-receptors and stirring up your immune system.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><h2>How can the gut affect your mental health?</h2><p>Two human studies looked at people with major depression and found that bacteria in their faeces differed from healthy volunteers. But it's not yet clear why there is a difference, or even what counts as a <a href="http://www.jwatch.org/na41241/2016/05/27/characteristics-gut-microbiome">"normal" gut microbiota</a>.</p><p>In mouse studies, changes to the gut bacteria from antibiotics, probiotics (live bacteria) or specific breeding techniques are associated with anxious and depressive behaviours. These behaviours can be "<a href="http://www.gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/en/gut-microbiota-changes-may-responsible-depressive-like-behaviours-mice-alterations-host-metabolism/">transferred</a>" from one mouse to another after a faecal microbiota transplant.</p><p>Even more intriguingly, in a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27491067">study</a> this year, gut microbiota samples from people with major depression were used to colonise bacteria-free rats. These rats went on to show behavioural changes related to depression.</p><p>Stress is also likely to be important in gut microbiota and mental health. We've known for a long time that stress contributes to the onset of mental illness. We are now discovering bidirectional links between stress and the microbiota.</p><p>In rat pups, exposure to a stressor (being separated from their mums) changes their gut microbiota, their stress response, <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150728110734.htm">and their behaviour</a>. Probiotics containing "good" strains of bacteria can reduce their stress behaviours.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><h2>How gut microbiota affects your mood</h2><p>Medical conditions associated with changes in mood, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), might also be related to gut microbiota.</p><p>IBS is considered a "<a href="http://www.ibsclinic.org.au/causes.php?pageId=584&amp;moduleId=186">gut-brain disorder</a>", since it is often worsened by stress. Half of IBS sufferers also have difficulties with depression or anxiety.</p><p>Ongoing <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734998/">research</a> is investigating whether gut bacteria are one reason for the mood symptoms in IBS, as well as the gastrointestinal pain, diarrhoea and constipation.</p><p>Similarly, CFS is a multi-system illness, with many patients experiencing unbalanced gut microbiota. In these patients, alterations in the gut microbiota may contribute to the development of symptoms such as depression, neurocognitive impairments (affecting memory, thought and communication), pain and sleep disturbance.</p><p><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1984006315000632">In a recent study</a>, higher levels of lactobacillus were associated with poorer mood in CFS participants. Some improvements in sleep and mood were observed when patients used antibiotic treatment to reduce gut microbial imbalance.</p><p>The exact contributions of stress and other factors such as intestinal permeability (which allows nutrients to pass through the gut) to these disorders are not understood. But the downstream effects seem to be involved in IBS, inflammatory bowel conditions, CFS, depression and chronic pain.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><h2>How our gut affects our sleep</h2><p>Our mental health is closely linked to the quality and timing of our sleep. Now evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can influence sleep quality and sleep-wake cycles (our circadian rhythm).</p><p>A study this year examined patients <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757840">with CFS</a>. The researchers found that higher levels of the "bad" clostridium bacteria were associated with an increased likelihood of sleep problems and fatigue, but this was specific to females only. This suggests that an unbalanced gut may precipitate or perpetuate sleep problems.</p><p>There is emerging evidence that circadian rhythms regulate the gut immune response. The effect of immune cells on the biological clock could provide insights into the possible bidirectional relationship between sleep and the gut. For example, data from <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0097500">animal studies</a> suggests that circadian misalignment can lead to an unbalanced gut microbiota. But this effect can be moderated by diet.</p><p>There is growing concern that <a href="http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v6/n5/full/nrn1670.html">disruptions</a> to our circadian timing of sleep leads to a range of health issues, such as obesity, metabolic and inflammatory disease, and mood disorders. This is particularly important for shiftworkers and others who experience changes to their sleep/wake patterns.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><h2>What this means for treatment</h2><p>In terms of using interventions directed at the gut to treat brain disorders - so called "psychobiotics" - there is a lot of promise but little clear evidence.</p><p>Probiotic (live bacteria) treatments in mice have been shown to reduce cortisol, an important stress hormone, and decrease anxious and depressive behaviours.</p><p>But there are very few studies in humans. A <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26370263">recent systematic review</a> of all the human studies showed the majority do not show any effect of probiotics on mood, stress or symptoms of mental illness.</p><p>On the plus side, large studies show us that people who eat a balanced diet with all the usual good stuff (fibre, fresh fruit and vegetables) have lower rates of mental illness as <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21957462">adults</a> and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21715296">adolescents</a>.</p><p>Clearly, diet affects both the gut microbiota and mental health. Research is ongoing to see whether it is a healthy gut microbiota that underlies this relationship.</p><p>A healthy gut microbiota is linked to a healthy brain. However there are only a handful of human studies demonstrating real-world relevance of this link to mental health outcomes.</p><p>There is still a way to go before we can say exactly how best to harness the microbiota in order to improve brain function and mental health.</p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-bertrand-7622">Paul Bertrand</a>, Senior Lecturer in School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-loughman-298142">Amy Loughman</a>, Associate Lecturer, Industry Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/melinda-jackson-169319">Melinda Jackson</a>, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></p><p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/gut-feeling-how-your-microbiota-affects-your-mood-sleep-and-stress-levels-65107">original article</a>.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/autonomous-garden-sun-brightest-robot-innovation-art-2016-8">This intelligent garden rolls through the city find the sunlight</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="k0ZnEwNTE6lBlKTMmLVZKAreNcnfGGPp" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

How your gut bacteria affect your sleep, stress levels, and mood

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Boris Johnson delivered his first speech as prime minister on Downing Street.</strong></li><li><strong>He promised to prove the "doomsters" wrong on Brexit.</strong></li><li><strong>Read the full speech below.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.</a></strong></li></ul><p>LONDON - Boris Johnson on Wednesday gave his first speech as prime minister of the United Kingdom, saying he wants "to <span>change the country for the better."</span></p><p>Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, Johnson - who replaces Theresa May - vowed<span> to leave the EU on October 31 with "no ifs or buts," adding: "The buck stops with me."</span></p><p>He also listed a wide range of domestic plans, including reforms to ensure the extra £20 billion in NHS funding "really gets to the front line," increased investment in transport and education, and growing the number of policemen across the country by 20,000.</p><h2><strong>Read Johnson's speech in full:</strong></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Dan Kitwood/Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p> </p> <p class="tagline">Our Brexit Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and analysis about Britain's departure from the EU, direct from Business Insider's political reporters. Join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/267178180471848/">here.</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-brexit-uk-prime-minister-life-politics-2019-7">The rise of Boris Johnson, the UK's new controversial prime minister who was fired from multiple jobs</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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