How Your Gut Controls Your Mood: The Butyrate & GABA Connection  – By Dr. Maya

Feeling anxious? Struggling with low moods or poor sleep? The answer might not be in your mind—it could be in your gut!

Many people don’t realize that gut health plays a major role in mental well-being, and one of the biggest missing pieces is butyrate, a powerful short-chain fatty acid that directly influences GABA, your brain’s calming neurotransmitter.

If you have low levels of butyrate-producing gut bacteria, your GABA levels can drop, leading to:

• Chronic anxiety & overthinking
• Low moods & irritability
• Poor stress tolerance
• Trouble sleeping & brain fog

The good news? This is a common issue—and it’s treatable! Instead of masking symptoms with SSRIs, we can test your gut microbiome to uncover imbalances and treat anxiety at its root cause—your gut!

Let’s break down how butyrate and GABA work together to support a balanced mind and healthy emotions—and how I can help you get real answers and a personalized healing plan.

What Is Butyrate, and Why Does It Matter?

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid made by beneficial gut bacteria when they ferment fiber and resistant starches. It plays a crucial role in:

• Strengthening the gut lining (preventing leaky gut)
• Reducing inflammation (both in the gut and brain)
• Supporting GABA production (calming neurotransmitter for anxiety relief)

If you don’t have enough butyrate-producing bacteria, you might experience chronic anxiety, poor stress resilience, and gut issues—even if you eat well!

GABA: Your Brain’s Natural Calming Neurotransmitter

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is your brain’s relaxation neurotransmitter. It helps:

• Calm racing thoughts
• Reduce anxiety & overthinking
• Improve sleep & stress resilience

Your gut produces over 90% of the body’s GABA—but if your gut bacteria are out of balance, you may struggle with low GABA levels and feel constantly on edge.

Low Butyrate-Producing Bacteria = Low GABA & More Anxiety

If your gut bacteria aren’t producing enough butyrate, your GABA levels can drop, leading to:

• Weakened gut lining → Chronic inflammation
• Poor GABA production → Increased anxiety, mood swings
• Disrupted gut-brain communication → Brain fog, stress, low mood

This is why I always take a root-cause approach! Instead of assuming anxiety is “all in your head,” we can test your gut bacteria to see what’s missing and create a science-backed treatment plan to restore balance naturally.

How to Increase Butyrate & Boost GABA Naturally

1. Get Your Gut Tested

If you’re struggling with chronic anxiety, low mood, or digestive issues, a gut microbiome test can reveal:

• How much butyrate your gut bacteria are producing
• Whether you have enough GABA-supporting bacteria
• What imbalances may be contributing to your mental health symptoms

With this insight, we can create a plan to correct the root issue—instead of relying on medications that only mask symptoms.

Want to get tested? Contact me for details on my gut microbiome testing service!

2. Eat More Prebiotic & Resistant Starch Foods

These foods feed butyrate-producing bacteria and restore gut balance:

• Resistant starch → Green bananas, cooked & cooled potatoes/rice
• Prebiotic fibers → Flaxseeds, artichokes, asparagus, onions
• Legumes & beans → Chickpeas, lentils, black beans
• Dark leafy greens → Kale, collard greens, spinach

3. Increase Natural GABA-Producing Foods

To directly increase GABA levels, include:

• Fermented foods → Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso, natto
• Dark chocolate (85%+ cacao) → Contains GABA & polyphenols that feed gut bacteria
• Green tea & matcha → Supports GABA receptors for a calming effect
• Magnesium-rich foods → Almonds, pumpkin seeds, avocados (helps GABA function better)

4. Consider Butyrate & Probiotic Supplements

If your gut is severely imbalanced, you may benefit from supplements that support butyrate and GABA:

• Sodium butyrate or tributyrin → Supports gut lining & butyrate production
• Probiotics with Bifidobacterium & Lactobacillus → Increases natural GABA production
• GABA supplements → Can help if your gut health is compromised

5. Reduce Butyrate & GABA Blockers

Certain habits lower butyrate and GABA, increasing stress and inflammation. Avoid:

• Processed foods & refined sugars → Starves beneficial bacteria
• Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame) → Damages gut microbiome
• Excess caffeine & alcohol → Disrupts gut-brain balance
• Chronic stress & sleep deprivation → Raises cortisol, lowers GABA

The Takeaway: Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Mind

If you’re struggling with chronic anxiety, low mood, or stress, your gut microbiome may be the missing piece—and the best part? It’s fixable!

Instead of relying on SSRIs that only mask symptoms, we can identify and correct gut imbalances naturally. With the right foods, supplements, and lifestyle changes, you can restore GABA levels, reduce anxiety, and regain emotional balance.

Want to uncover the root cause of your anxiety? Let’s test your gut!

• I offer comprehensive gut microbiome testing to measure butyrate-producing bacteria and identify imbalances.
• I create personalized treatment plans based on science—not guesswork.
• I take a root-cause approach so you can heal naturally, without depending on medications.

If you’re ready to take control of your mental health from the gut level, contact me to learn more about testing & treatment options!