Probiotics Are For More Than Just Your Gut

When most people think about the benefits of probiotics, they typically center around the gut, but these beneficial bacteria do more than that. In fact, probiotics can have a profound impact on mental health, and new research published in 2025 even found that they can help improve mood over time.

A study from Leiden University revealed evidence that suggests probiotics can play a role in improving mood and emotional well-being and underscores the potential of probiotics as a natural intervention for reducing negative mood in healthy individuals.

Probiotics and Mood

A 2025 study from Leiden University found that those taking probiotics reported a noticeable reduction in negative mood, such as feelings of anxiety, stress and fatigue, beginning after two weeks of introducing a probiotic. The most interesting part? These improvements were detected through daily self-reports rather than standard psychological assessments, suggesting that the individual was able to identify an improvement in their mood without any fancy tests.

Beyond mood improvement, probiotics have been associated with various mental health benefits. They may enhance emotional processing, and alleviate symptoms of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Probiotics also contribute to cognitive function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, enhancing neurotransmitter production, and improving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.

Overall, probiotics offer a wide range of health benefits. They are known to improve digestive health by balancing gut bacteria, which can alleviate symptoms of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases. Probiotics also support immune function, reduce inflammation, and may positively impact skin health and weight management.

How to Incorporate Probiotics In Your Diet