The idea that fermented foods — including yogurt and kefir — are good for us goes way back. But could the benefits of “good bacteria” extend beyond our guts to our brains?

Now, researchers are turning their attention to our emotional health. It turns out that there’s a lot of communication between our guts and our brains.

Bacteria used to be the thing we had to eradicate, but people are now realizing that many kinds of bacteria provide a benefit. So it’s a paradigm shift, a massive shift in our thinking. To read more on this fascinating article from NPR.