With spring in the air, fresh and hydrating salads are making a comeback into our rolodex of recipes.
This probiotic yogurt cucumber salad has so much goodness in it! It combines simple prep (and literally no cooking) with delicious flavors and basic ingredients that are bound to appease your gut and mood.
It can also be added between two slices of bread for yummy sandwiches if you’re attending any brunch or high-tea event but don’t want to fuss over what to bring (or just want a more complete meal!).
Plus, probiotic yogurt doesn’t just do loads of good for your gut and mind; these gut benefits also spill over into your entire well-being and health thanks to the gut-brain axis.
When we are mindful about the food we eat, our entire body benefits. The truth is obtaining better physical and mental health doesn’t have to be overly complex. In fact, complicating things can actually create loads of resistance, leading to hurdles and serious frustration. So, let’s stick to simplicity.
This salad combines the cooling effect of cucumbers with the digestive benefits of probiotic yogurt—making it an excellent choice for a healthy, refreshing side dish. Enjoy it alongside your favorite main dishes, especially during warmer weather for a digestive health and mood boost.
This is an especially great simple recipe for all you dill lovers out there (hey, me too). And it might just be one you keep coming back to since it’s likely to be a hit with friends and family alike. So, let’s get slicing!
For a simple salad, this one has lots going for it (and for your mental well-being and overall health!). A lot of it comes down to the gut-brain axis and the impact probiotics have on the gut microbiome.
So, what the heck am I talking about here?
Well, let’s break this down a little further.
The gut-brain axis is the multidirectional communication highway between the gut and the brain.
The gut is home to trillions of bacteria—and while bacteria is often considered “bad,” the gut microbiome actually needs a balance of the “good” and “bad” guys to function at its best. This ensures smooth and easy digestion, bowel movements, and more.
But here’s the thing: the gut-brain axis holds a lot of weight when it comes to how we feel and our mental well-being. It’s not all about digestive health. More so, when our digestive health is out of whack, our mood is likely to suffer as well. We feel more irritable, cranky, and probably even a bit lethargic.
Issues with the gut have even been implicated in the development and continuation of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
In other words, it’s about time we all took our gut health a little more seriously. But again, this doesn’t have to be overly complex. This salad, with its probiotic yogurt and other ingredients, offers your gut microbiome the tools it needs to function properly.
Probiotics are actually bacteria themselves. Yeah, I know; we’re eating bacteria. It doesn’t sound too appealing, but your gut is full of necessary bacteria that help regulate various bodily functions. So, probiotics are some of the good guys here.
Probiotics help rebalance the good bacteria in the gut (they even can help treat gut bacterial overgrowths, but this is on a case-by-case basis, so always talk with your doctor or nutritionist before trying this out). In turn, this enhances gut function and many other functions within the human body.
In particular, when your gut is happy because of a good balance of bacteria (thanks to probiotics and other strategies), you might notice you have a better mood, you sleep better, and everything feels a little easier. Ah, the power of your microbiome!
Inevitably, probiotics aren’t the end-all, be-all to this. Managing stress and other dietary approaches are also important. But… probiotics can help!
Because of the gut-brain axis, probiotics also indirectly enhance your brain, mental, and cognitive function. These helpful microbes can influence the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, essentially making you feel better emotionally.
In fact, a surprising 95% of serotonin (also known as part of the group of happy hormones) is made in the gut.
Additionally, probiotics help reduce inflammation and stress levels, both of which are crucial for maintaining a healthy brain and preventing cognitive decline.
By keeping the gut healthy and reducing harmful inflammation, probiotics can indirectly support clearer thinking, better mood regulation, and overall improved brain health. Essentially, a happy gut means a happy brain, making probiotics a valuable ally in your diet for mental and emotional well-being.
Lactobacillus, found in probiotic yogurt, is the most common probiotic. This is well-studied for enhancing mood and cognition. However, other good probiotic bacteria further include Bifidobacterium, which can also be found in yogurt and other milk products.
Related Article: The Ultimate Yogurt Parfait: Can Greek Yogurt Improve Your Mental Well-Being? How?
Related Article: Banana Bliss: A Fro-Yo Recipe for a Happier, Healthier Mind | Mental Health Recipes
Boost your gut and mental health with this delicious summer salad. It might just become your 2024 summer staple.
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