UCC Study: High fibre foods ease stress effects

Eating high-fibre foods may reduce the effects of stress on our gut and behaviour, it has emerged.

Interest has been growing in recent years in the link between gut bacteria and stress-related disorders including anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome. Bacteria in the gut produce short-chain fatty acids the main source of nutrition for cells in this part of the body. Foods such as grains, pulses, and vegetables contain high levels of fibres and will stimulate the production of these short-chain fatty acids.