“You are what you eat” is a well-known saying. But is it really true? That’s what we explore in this episode of CrowdScience, thanks to a question from listener Claire from Australia.

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We each have trillions of tiny microbes and bacteria inside our bodies, living in our mouths, skin, ears and even in our eyes. Each community of microbes and bacteria is known as a microbiome. The most populous of these is in our gut, with hundreds of trillions of organisms and bacteria helping digest the food we eat.

Our gut microbiome is affected by lots of things but mainly by our diet. With our gut microbiome forming such a massive part of our insides, people have long suspected that what we eat impacts how we feel.

Presenter Caroline Steel investigates. She speaks to a professor of psychiatry, Jane Foster, to find out how interconnected our microbiome and our brain really are. Professor Foster also explains the different ways in which our microbiome and brain communicate.

Do we really know what role diet plays in mental health? Consultant psychiatrist Professor David Veale provides more detail. And at a café with a rather interesting menu, Caroline samples some of the food available as occupational therapist Joel Oliver explains how important food can be as part of mental health treatment.

This begs the question: If our microbiome really does influence our mental health, can we harness the power of microbes to potentially find new treatments to help our mental health? Dr Najaf Amin tells us about her research identifying the link between specific microbes and depression.

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0:00 Introduction - what role does our gut play in our mental wellbeing?
2:36 What is the gut-brain axis and how does it work?
5:07 Link between gut bacteria, inflammation and mental health
6:58 Microbes produce metabolites
8:46 Are there any studies that link our microbiome directly with our mental health? 
10:18 The idea that what we eat can change how we feel has been around for thousands of years
11:15 John Porter-Phillips possibly did the first study linking diet to mental health 1914-1930
12:00 Guts: The patient-led cafe serving gut healthy food
16:07 Consultant psychiatrist David Veale: "Diet is one piece of the jigsaw"
19:03 What foods can support your physical and mental health?
20:22 Gizem Arat studies the impact diet has on mental health of people in sub-Saharan Africa
23:06 Could the future be a brain-friendly bacteria pill?
24:08 Conclusion

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