Why Is Your Gut Called “The Second Brain”?

Gut health is so important, and you may have heard more about it in recent years. The gut is often called “the second brain,” but have you ever wondered why? There is a part of the body called the enteric nervous system, and it contains more than 100 million nerve cells. These cells line your gastrointestinal tract and run from your esophagus to your rectum. The enteric nervous system is “the second brain” and communicates directly with your brain. This is often referred to as the gut-brain connection.

What is the Gut-Brain Connection?

There are physical and chemical messengers that communicate with your enteric nervous system through the pathway that’s called the gut-brain axis. The vagus nerve is the gut’s primary connection to the brain, which also influences the autonomic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system controls the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other automatic systems in your body, whether you think about it or not. In addition, neurotransmitters and hormones travel through the gut-brain axis, chemically delivering messages.

Why Your Microbiome Is Important

Your gut’s microbiome includes bacteria, viruses, and fungi that influence chemical messages communicating with the brain. Many different types of fungi, bacteria, and viruses live in your gut; some are beneficial, while others can harm your health. The gut-brain connection affects your health when it comes to conditions and diseases, and it affects your mental and physical health.

How Gut Health Impacts Your Life

The gut-brain connection is how you feel the fight-or-flight response and other symptoms linked to the sympathetic nervous system. People can deal with conditions that impact their gut and physical health. If you have depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders, you may deal with gastrointestinal symptoms in the stomach or bowels due to the gut-brain link. The opposite is also true: your gut health can impact your physical and mental health. 

How You Can Impact Your Gut Health 

You can do many things to impact your gut health positively, and many of them are easy changes you can make. Working with a knowledgeable practitioner can help guide you on your journey, as gut health and symptoms are so individual. Some of the things you can do to have a positive impact on your gut health and influence the gut-brain connection include the following:

• Practice mindfulness. Reducing stress can get the body into the parasympathetic nervous system, the rest-and-digest system. When the body is in this state, it diverts energy to healing, rest, and repair instead of preparing for a threat. 
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eating a diet full of good quality meats, vegetables, and fruits is helpful to provide the body with the nutrients it needs. 
• Take supplements to support gut health. Probiotics can be a good supplement for some people, but it’s essential to work with a knowledgeable doctor because different strains affect people differently. 

Work With a Practitioner

If you are dealing with gastrointestinal issues, mental health disorders, or other physical symptoms, give The Gut Authority a call. Dr. Mashner can help you discover the root cause of your concerns and help support you through your health journey. Call us today- we look forward to working with you!