The Gut-Brain Axis - what it does and why it is important
The gut brain axis is a bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain. Simply put what you do to your gut impacts your brain and what you do to your brain impacts your gut. The brain and gut are connected by the Vagus Nerve which allows your brain to talk to all parts of your body and your body to talk to your brain.
Have you ever felt butterflies or had a gut wrenching experience?
That is an example of the gut-brain axis working. A lot of researchers are starting to call the gut the “second brain" because it has neurotransmitters and has deep connections with mental health. One of the biggest connections is that the gut produces more serotonin than the brain does. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps you feel pleasure and stabilizes your mood.
So why is the gut-brain axis so important? When we do not treat our guts kindly (by putting harmful chemicals and foods into it) we are getting in the way of healthy neuro chemical development which, in turn, leads to a deficient amount of specific neurotransmitters. This can lead to anxiety, depression, OCD, fatigue, IBS and other mental illnesses. This also goes in the direction of brain to gut. If we do not treat our minds kindly our gut will reap the benefits through IBS, gas, bloating and pain. It is important to recognize your pain, give it space and then talk positively over yourself to move towards a healthy, sustainable life.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the gut-brain axis. More blogs to come on this subject —
