What Patients Should Know About Inflammation and Mental Health

Tiffany Ho, Ph.D., an associate professor of clinical psychology at UCLA, says one of the most important lessons emerging from microbiome and mental health research is that emotional wellness and physical health cannot truly be separated.

According to Ho, the traditional divide between “mental health” and “physical health” is a false distinction because the brain and body are constantly interacting. She emphasized that brain health is physical health, and that chronic inflammation throughout the body may negatively affect mood, stress regulation and overall mental well-being.

Much of her research focuses on the gut-brain connection, including how the gut microbiome — the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the digestive system — may influence inflammation and communication with the brain. Ho explained that supporting gut health may be one way to promote overall wellness, although researchers are still working to fully understand how these biological systems influence conditions like depression and anxiety.

One evidence-based strategy Ho highlighted is incorporating fermented foods into the diet. Foods such as kimchi, kefir, yogurt with live cultures and other fermented products may help increase microbiome diversity and reduce inflammation. She referenced research from Stanford University that compared high-fiber plant-based diets with diets rich in fermented foods. While both approaches supported health, the fermented food group showed increased diversity in gut bacteria and reductions in inflammatory markers.

Beyond diet, Ho stressed that many everyday lifestyle habits can influence inflammation levels in the body. She pointed to quality sleep, regular physical activity, meaningful social interactions, stress management, limiting alcohol intake and reducing ultraprocessed foods as important tools that may benefit both physical and emotional health.

At the same time, Ho cautioned patients against viewing supplements or microbiome trends as replacements for medical care. She noted that supplements are not closely regulated and may not always contain high-quality ingredients or strong scientific backing. Instead, she encouraged a “food-first” approach focused on sustainable lifestyle habits.

Importantly, Ho urged patients not to stop medications such as antidepressants without speaking to a licensed health care provider. She explained that although microbiome science is exciting and rapidly growing, researchers are still in the early stages of understanding how microbiome-targeted therapies could be used in mental health care.

For now, Ho says the best-supported approach combines evidence-based medical care with healthy lifestyle habits that reduce inflammation and support the body as a whole.