Beyond the Bowel: How Eating More Fiber Can Boost Your Mental Health We all know fiber is good for us. We hear it in relation to heart health, keeping us "regular," and managing weight. But what if one of the most powerful benefits of this humble carbohydrate had less to do with our gut, and more to do with our head? Emerging science is revealing a fascinating and powerful connection between dietary fiber and our mental well-being, suggesting that what we feed our gut has a direct line to our brain. If you've been looking for a holistic way to support your mental health, it might be time to look at your plate. The Gut-Brain Axis: A Two-Way Street The foundation of this connection lies in what scientists call the gut-brain axis . This isn't science fiction; it's a complex, bidirectional communication network linking your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) with your enteric nervous system (the nervous system of your gastrointestinal tract). Think ...