CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN WOMEN AND THEIR DOCTORS. NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHAT YOU EAT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. DR. BARRY RAMO JOINS US IN STUDIO TO EXPLAIN WHICH FOODS MAKE US FEEL GOOD. I KNOW THAT AFTER I HAVE A SATISFYING MEAL, I AM MUCH HAPPIER AND THERE’S NO DATA TO SUGGEST THAT WHAT YOU EAT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON YOUR MOOD. YOGURT. COTTAGE CHEESE. WITH LIVE CULTURES, NATURALLY FERMENTED PICKLES, SOURDOUGH BREAD AND CHEESES LIKE SWISS ALL INCREASE HEALTHY BACTERIA IN OUR GUT, WHERE MUCH OF THE INFLAMMATION, CONTROL AND MOOD REGULATION BEGINS. AN ANALYSIS OF 44 CLINICAL TRIALS FOUND THAT FERMENTED FOODS AND PROBIOTICS CONSISTENTLY REDUCED ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS, ESPECIALLY IN PEOPLE WHO ALREADY EXPERIENCE A LOT OF STRESS. SEROTONIN IS THE CHEMICAL THAT’S INCREASED IN THE BLOOD BY DRUGS LIKE PROZAC, USED FOR DEPRESSION. COMBINE EXERCISE WITH THOSE FERMENTED FOODS AND YOU’VE GOT A GOOD WAY TO PERHAPS LIFT YOUR MOOD. FOR HEALTHBEAT, I’
What you eat matters when it comes to mental health
KOAT health expert Dr. Barry Ramo says a healthy gut is where good moods begin
Updated: 4:59 AM MST Dec 2, 2025
Back in the day when “health food” became in vogue, it was common to hear the phrase, “You are what you eat.”Now there’s research that takes that truism to a scientific level, KOAT health expert Dr. Barry Ramo says.”I know that when I have a satisfying meal, I’m much happier, and now there is data that suggests that what you eat could have a profound effect on your mood,” Ramo said. There are certain foods that can make us feel better, such as yogurt, cottage cheese with live cultures, naturally fermented pickles, sourdough breads and Swiss cheese, Ramo said.”All increase healthy bacteria in our gut, where much of the inflammation control and mood regulation begins,” Ramo said. “An analysis of 44 clinical trials found that fermented foods and probiotics consistently reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, especially in people who already experience a lot of stress.”For people living with clinical depression, eating the right foods and other beneficial activities are no substitute for medication prescribed by a mental health professional. “Serotonin is the chemical that’s increased in the blood by drugs like Prozac, which is used for depression,” Ramo said. “Combined with exercise and those fermented foods, you’ve got a good way perhaps to lift your mood.”
Back in the day when “health food” became in vogue, it was common to hear the phrase, “You are what you eat.”
Now there’s research that takes that truism to a scientific level, KOAT health expert Dr. Barry Ramo says.
“I know that when I have a satisfying meal, I’m much happier, and now there is data that suggests that what you eat could have a profound effect on your mood,” Ramo said.
There are certain foods that can make us feel better, such as yogurt, cottage cheese with live cultures, naturally fermented pickles, sourdough breads and Swiss cheese, Ramo said.
“All increase healthy bacteria in our gut, where much of the inflammation control and mood regulation begins,” Ramo said. “An analysis of 44 clinical trials found that fermented foods and probiotics consistently reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, especially in people who already experience a lot of stress.”
For people living with clinical depression, eating the right foods and other beneficial activities are no substitute for medication prescribed by a mental health professional.
“Serotonin is the chemical that’s increased in the blood by drugs like Prozac, which is used for depression,” Ramo said. “Combined with exercise and those fermented foods, you’ve got a good way perhaps to lift your mood.”