The health of your gut affects your entire well being. If you experience bloating, gas or constipation, your mood, immune system and energy level may be affected.  Most of us know that SSRIs- a group of antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro, work by increasing serotonin in the body. Serotonin is seen as the “happy hormone”. Well, 95% of serotonin is actually produced in our gut! So, if our gut isn’t healthy, we are more likely to feel depressed and anxious. A majority of my patients find significant relief in mood and energy when their gut is addressed.  This means making sure there is enough healthy bacteria living in the colon and small intestines, eliminating any potential food sensitivities, identifying parasites or bacterial overgrowth, supplementing with digestive enzymes (when necessary) and healing the gut if there is a long history of irritable or inflammatory bowel disease. This Wall Street Journal article discusses the growing body of research showing how the gut affects bodily functions far beyond digestion.