The Gut, also referred to as the “Queen of the Castle” or “Our Second Brain”.  You’ve probably been hearing more and more about the importance of gut health and how it can affect the whole body. So much takes place in the gut, maybe more than we realize.

In addition to digestion, it also houses around 70% of our immune system and even neurotransmitters are produced in the gut including 95% of our serotonin.  We have a network of neurons lining our gut, that is so extensive, which is why some scientists have nicknamed it our second brain. In addition to digestion and its complexity, it also is a mass of neural tissue filled with important neurotransmitters.

If you have ever made a decision by “going with your gut” or had “butterflies in your stomach” when nervous or excited, then you have experienced your second brain sending you signals to communicate with you. In the walls of the digestive system the “brain in your gut” is showing links between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think. Scientists call it the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), a third nervous system found in the gut, which is two thin layers of more than 100 million nerve cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. There has even been research finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system (IBS/bowel problems) may send signals to the Central Nervous System that trigger mood changes. Our big brain is the boss of the body. It runs the show and controls just about everything in your body. “The second brain is in control of digestion. From swallowing, to the release of enzymes that break down our food to control of blood flow that helps absorb nutrients to elimination. The second brain isn’t capable of thoughts as we know it, but communicates back and forth with our big brain. (Jay Pasricha, MD at John Hopkins Center for Neurogastroenterology.)

So, what are Neurotransmitters? Dr. Doni Wilson explains: Neurotransmitters are naturally produced chemicals that our bodies use to send messages between nerves. Our moods are greatly affected by how efficiently these messengers communicate throughout our nervous system. Generally speaking we have two kinds of neurotransmitters: The ones that calm and the ones that stimulate. Idealy we want a balance of the two. During the day for example we want to produce more stimulating neurotransmitters and at night more calming so we can sleep. However, when under stress we need to produce calming neurotransmitters to recover from that stress. All neurotransmitters whether calming or stimulating affect mood, energy, focus, sleep, memory and even skin.

Serotonin is a calming neurotransmitter. It effects mood, thought process, dreaming and appetite.  Most serotonin, around 95%, is made in the gut. If you have chronic digestive issues it could affect serotonin levels.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is also a calming neurotransmitter. It helps bring calm to our encounter with stress. When we have chronic stress GABA can become depleted which can make it hard to recover from stress and thus make you prone to feeling overall out of balance.

Glutamate is a stimulating neurotransmitter. It helps us think, learn and remember. It’s like the opposite of GABA. When glutamate is out of balance and elevated it is considered a “neurotoxin” and can lead to negative effects such as seizures, migraines and insomnia.

Adrenaline-is a stimulating neurotransmitter. Adrenaline kicks in when we need a burst of energy, strength or power. Our hearts beat faster, we sweat and it effects mood and focus. It’s produced by the nervous system and adrenal glands as a stress response. When adrenaline is depleted due to long-term stress it can lead to chronic fatigue.

Our mind and body work together, our brain and gut both produce and bounce neurotransmitters back and forth and greatly influence how we feel mentally, emotionally and physically. The message is pretty clear- what we feed our stomach also feeds our mind and has a pretty impactful part on our whole body.

By: Allison Eastman

References:
www.hopkinsmedicine.org – The Brain Gut Connection
www.drdonni.com- Dr Doni Nature Empowered
www.scientificamerican.com- Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being