Scientists claim to have discovered that eating pickled foods reduces neuroticism. They speculate that it is chemical changes that are causing the reduction in neuroticism.
“Research conducted by University of Maryland and published in the Psychiatry Research journal claims to have found a link between pickled foods and social anxiety.”
These scientific findings support Happeh Theory, because Happeh Theory claims that the entire body and brain are connected. Because the story is claiming that something occurring in the stomach is changing behavior associated with the brain, it is indirectly claiming the stomach can change the brain, which is a claim most scientists would reject if they were presented with it.
According to Happeh Theory though, it is not chemical changes in the stomach that are causing the reduction in neuroticism, as the scientists suspect. It is a physical reaction of some kind that is causing the reduction in neuroticism. It would be necessary to study the physical structure of the stomach and surrounding area to discover what changes they are experiencing as a result of consumption of pickled foods to determine what the physical linkage between the stomach and brain is.
It could be something as simple as the overall stomach becoming physically stronger to deal with the usually strong sour taste of pickled foods. Which would mean it was the overall stomach becoming stronger that is reducing neuroticism, and not chemical reactions within the body that is reducing neuroticism.
The original story is reprinted below.
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If you’re the kind of person who leaves the pickle on the side of the plate after finishing your burger, you may want to reconsider.
Research conducted by University of Maryland and published in the Psychiatry Research journal claims to have found a link between pickled foods and social anxiety.
Those that regularly ate pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut and more were found to have reduced ‘neuroticism’.
The scientists were quite surprised to find that issues of mental health might be tied up in the stomach as well as the mind – calling it the ‘mind-gut connection’ (Descartes spins in grave).
“It is likely that the probiotics in the fermented foods are favorably changing the environment in the gut, and changes in the gut in turn influence social anxiety,” said psychology professor Matthew Hilimire.
“I think that it is absolutely fascinating that the microorganisms in your gut can influence your mind.”
Anecdotally, picklebacks have done nothing for my anxiety, but maybe the whiskey’s mitigating things.
The team is now examining data to see whether a correlation exists between fermented food intake and autism symptoms.
So the proverb “Tell me what you eat, and I tell what kind of person you are” could be true.