NOTE FROM TED: The relationship between diet, mental health and the microbiome remains an ongoing field of study. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t...

If you suffer from mental illness, you’ve probably heard this wellmeaning advice: “eat healthy & get some sunshine.” But do you know WHY this works? In this mindblowing talk, neuroscientist Christopher A. Lowry explains his cuttingedge research and offers practical advice for preventing & treating depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You won’t think about plants the same way again! Christopher A. Lowry, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder with a secondary appointment in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Lowry’s research program focuses on interventions for the prevention and treatment of disorders including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with an emphasis on the role of the microbiomegutbrain axis in stress resilience, health, and disease. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx