The gut connection: Part 1 – The brain and stomach highway

Have you ever had a “gut feeling” you couldn’t explain, or wondered why “butterflies” in your stomach accompany certain emotions? It’s not all in your head: the truth is, you have a second brain! The second brain, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), is located in the walls of the digestive tract. Research on the ENS continues to shed light on the gut-brain connection, and how digestive health can affect our mood, memory, and cognitive function.

The ENS is made up of over 100 million neurons (nerve cells) that line your entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can operate independently of the brain, controlling functions such as swallowing, release of enzymes, and other digestive functions on its own. While this “second brain” is not directly involved in complex thought processes such as political debates or philosophy, it does affect things like mood, memory and overall brain function.

The neurotransmitter highway

Your gut and brain communicate through a system of nerves and neurotransmitters- chemical messengers that transmit signals between different areas of the body and brain. Neurotransmitters affect mood, sleep, digestion, and pain, among many other processes. Most of these neurotransmitters are actually produced in the gut, not the brain, although they affect both. They are produced by tiny organisms called microbes, made up of different types of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Some of these organisms can make us sick, but many are important for healthy functioning of our gut and brain.

One example of a neurotransmitter produced by these microbes is serotonin, commonly known as our “happy” neurotransmitter. Serotonin regulates mood, sleep, and libido, along with various digestive functions. Over 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced by bacteria in the gut. Therefore, if there is an imbalance in the gut, our brain doesn’t get enough serotonin and symptoms such as insomnia, depression and anxiety can occur.

Gut bacteria also produce a short chain fatty acid called butyrate. Butyrate helps protect the blood-brain barrier, a protective lining that blocks harmful substances from entering the brain. Poor gut health leads to lower butyrate production and a breakdown of this barrier. This, in turn, allows toxins to cross over and cause inflammation, resulting in symptoms such as brain fog, poor memory and decreased mood.

Maintaining a healthy gut and blood brain barrier can be challenging. Poor diet, environmental toxicity, and high stress lower gut function by decreasing healthy bacteria. Bacteria compete for space in the gut, so as healthy bacteria are killed off, harmful bacteria can take over. On the other hand, increasing good bacteria can “crowd out” bad bacteria and help restore balance.

One way to restore balance is eating foods high in both probiotics and prebiotics. Despite their similar names, the two operate quite differently. Probiotics are live strains of healthy bacteria, whereas prebiotics are types of dietary fiber that feed friendly stomach bacteria.

Some of the best foods to increase beneficial bacteria and improve overall gut health include:

Fermented foods: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and natto all contain probiotic bacteria that support gut health. A healthy bacterial balance is necessary to produce neurotransmitters that communicate with the brain.

Prebiotic foods: Prebiotics act as food for the healthy bacteria in your colon. Foods high in prebiotics include bananas, onions, garlic, dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, apple skins, chicory root, and beans.

Omega-3 fats: These fats are found in oily fish, pastured eggs, leafy greens, and certain nuts and seeds. They help modulate inflammation and reduce risk of brain disorders.

Bone broth: Bone broth is high in glutamine and collagen and also has amino acids that help restore a healthy gut lining. A healthy gut barrier helps prevent damaging proteins from crossing the blood brain barrier and disrupting brain function.

In order to read the second article in Miranda’s gut series, on the connection between your gut and your thyroid, click here!