The Second Brain

What if we said that you had not one, but two brains? Your gut being the second one. Astounded, no doubt.  What if we told you that your gut plays as much an important (if not more) role as your brain? Read along, before you call bluff.

We are more bacteria than human, says experts. Whether it holds any truth or not, is a matter for another day, for we cannot ignore that microbes play a crucial function in the overall well being of our body and the environment. With over 1000 species of microbes, our guts are more diverse than the Amazon rainforest.

Maintaining the health of your gastrointestinal system is crucial to your overall well-being. Largely responsible for the critical functions of the body’s digestive and immune systems, beneficial bacteria in your digestive system have the capability of affecting your body’s vitamin and mineral absorbency, hormone regulation, digestion, vitamin production, immune response, and ability to eliminate toxins, not to mention your overall mental health. Imbalance of the gut flora is linked to various diseases and disorders ranging from obesity and diabetes to osteoporosis. Moreover, digestion, mood, health, and even the way people think is being linked to their “second brain,” i.e. their gut. The Enteric Nervous System, or ENS, is what scientists are calling the 100 million or so nerve cells that line the entirety of our gastrointestinal tracts. The main role of the ENS is to control digestion, but in doing so, it communicates back and forth with the brain as to the overall health of the body’s gut, and in turn, its immune system. Symptoms related to poor gut health can be as obvious as abdominal pain, bloating after meals, reflux, or flatulence, but also less obvious like headaches, fatigue, joint pain, and immune system weakness.

Studies have revealed that when the body tries to digest overly processed foods or foods to which the body is sensitive to, the ENS signals the brain, which in turn can trigger mood changes. It would be surprising to know that around 90% of neurotransmitters called serotonin, which makes you feel good is produced in the gut and not the brain. Happy tummy, happy you are therefore factually correct.

Through testing, nutritional changes, and supplements, it’s possible to reverse and repair the damage that’s been done to your gut over years of unhealthy diets or imbalances. With the undeniable link between gut health and mental health, the age-old adage “you are what you eat” becomes more accurate every day.