WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?

The Gut-Brain Connection 

Butterflies in your belly? Go with your gut?  These adages are no coincidence!  Our gut and brain are connected through the gut-brain axis.  In fact, the gut is often referred to by functional medicine practitioners as the second brain.  The gut-brain axis is that powerful and influences our health profoundly. 

The gut-brain axis refers to the communication that occurs between the brain and the spinal cord which make up the central nervous system, and the nervous system hidden in the walls of the digestive system known as the enteric nervous system.  The vagus nerve is the highway through which the central and enteric nervous systems communicate.  The messages go both ways - from the brain to the gut and the gut to the brain.  Through the gut-brain axis, neurologic and digestive functions are intricately linked.   

Messages go from the brain to the gut and the gut to the brain.

The enteric nervous system functions automatically - it governs the digestive system without messaging from the brain.  It is composed of two thin layers of more than 100 million nerve cells lining our gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum.  The enteric nervous system’s main job is not to compose a symphony or to remember what’s needed at the grocery store, like the brain in our head, but rather to control digestion, including swallowing, the release of digestive enzymes, and the control of blood flow that influences nutrient absorption and elimination.  However, research about the enteric system is revealing connections between digestion, mood, metabolism, disease risk, and the way we think.  The enteric nervous system affects more than just digestion.

The enteric nervous system may trigger emotional shifts experienced by people with irritable bowel syndrome and other functional bowel issues like diarrhea, bloating, and constipation.  Hence, the digestive system may be the root cause of mood issues.  This is why people with irritable bowel syndrome and functional bowel problems are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. Stress, fear, and other states of mind certainly influence the function of our digestive system.  The highway works both ways.

The digestive system may be the root cause of mood issues.

The two-lane highway of our vagus nerve is indivisible, forever uniting our gut with our brain.  Therapies that help the brain, like cognitive behavioral therapy, heart rate variability training, breathing exercises, and meditation, soothe our gut.  And things that heal the gut, like whole foods, glutamine, and probiotics help to heal our mind. The gut-brain axis is just another compelling reason to make sure we’re doing what we can to have optimal gut health.

The gut-brain axis is just another compelling reason to make sure we’re doing what we can to have optimal gut health.

Next week, we’ll explore the interplay between gut health and mood.

This series of “doable” weekly-ish installments, focused on gut health and immunity, is designed to help you understand the ways in which your defenses might be down and your overall health degraded. It’s meant to empower you to act in measurable and realistic ways. In the middle of a global crisis, you can take it upon yourself to get stronger. I want to help you understand your vulnerabilities and suggest ways you can realistically improve your health. Chances are, these are changes your body has been asking you to make for a while now.