More and more studies are showing a connection between digestive health and stress. Here we will discuss 3 unexpected variables that have shown up in research.
Many of us are aware of the impact stress can have on our lives. However, research is starting to highlight how stress can impact us for years.
Digestive health is influenced by a variety of factors. One measurement of gut health is the microbiome. Our gut microbiome helps with digestion and aids our immune system. The diversification of this impacts our overall wellbeing.
In this blog post, you are going to learn 3 unexpected ways digestive health and stress can be connected.
Prenatal Stress:
A few studies have linked maternal stress during pregnancy to result in an infant with an altered gut microbiome.
This study stated maternal stress as:
- General Anxiety
- Pregnancy Related Anxiety
- Daily Hassles
Interestingly, the longer the stress occurred, the more likely the infant would have an altered microbiome. Stress reported during the second trimester was significantly associated with lower diversity in the gut bacteria.
These research findings suggest digestive health and stress impact us even during fetal development.
NICU or Foster Care Exposure:
A study reviewed infants in the NICU during the first 6 weeks of life. The researchers used a scale called the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale (NISS). Their goal was to see if early life stressors impact the gut microbiome.
The combination of parent-infant separation, medical procedures, and sterile environment impacted the overall gut microbiome. Additionally, many of these infants were placed on antibiotics which also impacted their gut health.
The researchers concluded more studies need to be done to review long term consequences of gut microbiome during NICU exposure.
Another study reviewed childhood adversity and the impact it had on gut health. Childhood adversity was specifically defined as institutionalized or foster care exposure.
They compared the diversity of the gut microbiome from children who experienced childhood adversity versus children who did not.
What did they find?
Children with childhood adversity had lower gut health during their adolescence years compared to children without.
Stressful Week versus Stressful Year:
Researchers are finding stress impacts our gut health regardless of how long the stress lasts.
For example, students undergoing final exams (stress for a few days/week) showed differences in their gut microbiome compared to earlier in the semester.
However, healthy children and adolescents who experience a year of negative events also had an impact on their gut health but in different ways.
Basically, the strains of bacteria varied whether the stressor was short term (days to week) versus long term (year). Overall, the research findings suggest stress impacts gut health regardless of how long but the degree in which it does varies.
Anything we can do to improve this?
Yes!
Since the gut microbiome is influenced by diet, we can improve gut health by what we eat.
A large amount of studies have shown omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), prebiotics, and probiotics to improve gut health. A few have even shown omega 3 deficient diets associated with weaker immune function and increased inflammation.
With a little nutritional effort, we can support our gut health and therefore improve overall wellbeing.
Good news, right?
Study Referenced:
Hantsoo L, Zemel BS. Stress gets into the belly: Early life stress and the gut microbiome. Behav Brain Res. 2021 Sep 24;414:113474. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113474. Epub 2021 Jul 16. PMID: 34280457; PMCID: PMC8380711.
Photography Credit:
Jan Vasek, Christian Bowen, Anastasia Chepinska, Yarden Yanay