Consuming probiotics\, the beneficial bact eria found in yogurt and other fermented foods\, can help your digestion b y reducing the growth of harmful bacteria in your gut. And probiotic suppl ements are increasingly available over the counter as an alternative to ea ting probiotic-rich foods. \; But did you know about the relationship between your gastrointestinal tract and your central nervous system? \ ; Probiotics may affect our appetite\, our mood\, our sleep habits\, and t he symptoms of a variety of mental health disorders.
\nResearchers a re studying how we react to different probiotics\, as well as how probioti cs interact with other treatments. Since we can each be affected different ly by the same disorder a &ldquo\;one-size-fits-all&rdquo\; treatment is u nlikely\, but the research is fascinating! In honour of Science Literacy W eek the KFPL Live monthly speakers&rsquo\; series will host a presentation on The Gut-Brain Connection: Fact or Fiction?
\nCaroline Wallace is a PhD student in the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen&rsquo\;s Un iversity who is running a study examining the effects of a probiotic suppl ement on symptoms of depression. KFPL is hosting Caroline and special gues ts PhD candidates Kasia Szyszkowics from McGill University and Ana Santos from Carleton University as they discuss the connection between the gut an d the brain\, and how diet and nutrition can affect our mental health thro ugh the microbes in our gut.
\nRegistration is required for this pro gram.
\n\nInterested in other Science Literacy Week programs? \; Check out:
\n