New research commissioned by Life-Space Probiotics1, one of Australia’s leading probiotic brands*, has revealed that the stress levels of Australians have increased, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other global events over the last few years. While most Australians agree (68 percent) that these circumstances have taken a toll on their wellbeing, this has been felt disproportionately by some groups, with those aged between 40 to 49 stating stress levels have increased more than most (80 percent). Additionally, the research revealed women were more likely to report increased stress levels (76 percent) than men (55 percent).

Whilst genetic, environmental and psychological factors all play a role in determining stress resilience, new evidence has emerged highlighting the role of another important key player – the gut microbiome.2

A person’s microbiome plays a key role in fine-tuning the daily operations of the body and influences many aspects of health and wellbeing.3

The positive impact of probiotics on the microbiome

Giaan Rooney, Life-Space brand ambassador, Olympic swimmer and advocate for education around a healthy microbiome, says, ‘Our microbiome is as unique as our fingerprint and is essentially a community or an ecosystem that coats every surface both in and on our bodies. When it’s out of balance then we can see health problems start to arise.’

Disturbances such as poor sleep quality and diet can impact a healthy microbiome. However, it can be said that Australians are proactively preventing future health issues through better eating (66 percent), exercise (61 percent) and taking vitamins or supplements (44 percent). And although the research showed that only 4 in 10 have heard of the word ‘microbiome’ (48 percent), those who have heard of it, believe that it has a positive effect on the health of everyone (62 percent).

‘This is where probiotics come in, as they can actually help us support our health through maintaining our gut microbiome,’ Rooney adds. A supplement that can aid the microbiome is a good quality  probiotic such as Life-Space Broad Spectrum Probiotic, which is a premium, multi-strain probiotic formula specifically formulated to support general health and wellbeing and healthy immune system function. In combination with a diet rich in plant fibre and exercise, probiotics may help to support immune and digestive function in healthy individuals.4

The research also found:

●       The most common issues experienced as a result of more stress included worsened sleep quality (66 percent), lower overall moods and anxiety (64 percent) and lower energy levels (52 percent).

●       Australians agreed that the very important factors in managing their overall health and wellbeing include sleep (78 percent), mental health (79 percent) and immunity (62 percent). All are areas that a healthy microbiome can solve.

●       Although 9 in 10 Australians (95% percent) surveyed knew what a probiotic was, only less than half of those who have also heard of the microbiome correctly identify a strong association between the two (46 percent).

Driven by research on the microbiome, Life-Space is passionate about bridging the gap between understanding the microbiome and the benefits a probiotic has on inner health, believing it is the next frontier in wellness. This is due to the fact that the synergistic relationship between the gut and brain can also be demonstrated by several conditions which present with symptoms in both the brain and the gut, such as mild anxiety and medically diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few.5

To date, most of the research on this axis has focused on communications directed from the brain to the gut. However, since the surprising discovery that approximately 90 percent of messages go in the reverse direction, scientists have increasingly turned their attention to the gut microbiome.6

Furthermore, recent decades have seen a huge increase in the understanding of the microbiome, but much remains to be discovered. The gut is a rich ecosystem, and a high level of microbial diversity is essential for its optimal function. This diversity ensures that the microbiome remains resilient, adaptable and robust. The microbiome changes as humans change. And that’s empowering because, as they make healthier lifestyle choices, they can help to support a healthier microbiome.

Find out more about Life-Space and the microbiome at https://www.lifespaceprobiotics.com/pages/microbiome-101

References:

1. The survey was conducted by research firm CoreData between 24th and 25th of March, 2022. A total of 590 respondents completed the survey. These responses formed the basis of the analysis and was weighted by age group to achieve representativeness of the general Australian population.

2. Stress resilience and your microbiome – Life-Space Probiotics, 2022.

3. Bacterial diversity is the hallmark of a healthy microbiome – Life-Space Probiotics, 2022.

4. Immune health and probiotics, what’s the fuss? – Life-Space Probiotics, 2022.

5. Strandwitz P. Neurotransmitter modulation by the gut microbiota. Brain research. 2018 Aug 15;1693:128-33.

6. Hadhazy, A. Scientific American.  Think twice: How the gut’s “second brain” influences mood and wellbeing.  USA.  2010 (cited 27/9/21).  Available from:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/

*IRI Aztec MarketEdge. Total Probiotics – Australian pharmacy and grocery (units) MAT to 13/3/2022.