Study suggests changes in the gut can influence your mind

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The next time you feel uneasy, grab a pickle and chomp away — researchers from William & Mary and the University of Maryland say they have found a possible connection between decreased social anxiety and eating fermented foods.

Researchers asked 700 college students about the amount of fermented foods they ate, and found that those who consumed higher amounts of sauerkraut, kimchi, and the like had less social anxiety. The effect, researchers said, was greatest among those at genetic risk for social anxiety disorder as measured by neuroticism. "It is likely that the probiotics in the fermented foods are favorably changing the environment in the gut, and changes in the gut in turn influence social anxiety," Prof. Matthew Hillmire of William & Mary said. "I think that it is absolutely fascinating that the microorganisms in your gut can influence your mind."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.