Gut Bacteria Shape Kids' Brains: Unhealthy Food Linked to Mental Development

• New research links unhealthy food and gut bacteria to children's brain development and mental health.
• Northwestern University study reveals a "gut-brain connection" where bacteria directly influence brain function.
• Mental illnesses like autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia may be deeply connected to gut health, not just genetics.
• Experiments with mice showed bacteria from large-brained species activated learning genes, while small-brained species' bacteria led to ADHD/autism-like symptoms.
• The study suggests gut bacteria are crucial for proper brain wiring in childhood and may have played a role in human evolution.

Why It Matters: Your gut bacteria silently engineer your brain; food choices directly impact its development and function.