The health of your gastrointestinal system is critically important to your overall mental and physical wellbeing. We’ve known for a while the crucial role that gut bacteria play in the efficacy of our digestive system, but a growing volume of research is now highlighting how the flora in our gut can also influence our mood and stress levels.
We have in the region of 100 million neurons embedded in our alimentary canal, more than in either the peripheral nervous system or our spinal cord! Technically known as the enteric nervous system, this amazing network of neurons has such a huge influence on our emotional wellbeing that scientists commonly refer to it as our “second brain.”
Just like the brain in our head, this second brain uses over 30 neurotransmitters. In fact, over 95 percent of our body’s serotonin – the neurotransmitter essential to mood stability – is made in our gut.
Serotonin travels from our gut to our brain via the vagus nerve, which forms a kind of neural highway for chemicals. And it’s not just the goings on in our gut that influence our brain – this incredible chemical corridor runs both ways. Ever wondered why you don’t feel like eating when you’re very anxious or nervous? Blood flow and enzyme production in the gut is limited during times of mental stress as our body goes into fight or flight mode.
Food Affects Feelings
Most of the food we consume today was completely unknown to our bodies 100 years ago. And we’re paying the price – not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Our gut has no idea how to process and use these new compounds, and when our gut gets stressed, we do too.
A healthy gut forms a selective barrier between us and “the outside.” It allows water and nutrients to enter our body, while preventing the infiltration of toxins and antigens. But when our gut is under pressure, its role as a defensive barrier weakens, and this is when dangerous compounds can enter our bodies.
Inflammation, stress, pharmaceuticals, and certain compounds and additives in food can all cause the gut wall to become inflamed or irritated. When this happens, the normally tight junctions between the cells become loose and more permeable. This is known is leaky gut syndrome, and it places a big burden on our brain and liver.
To support our gut, and strengthen its vital guardian role, we have to eat the right foods. Fatty fish, lean protein, whole grains, leafy greens and fermented foods (such as yoghurt with active cultures, kefir, kimchi, tempeh and certain pickled vegetables) have been shown in studies to reduce anxiety and the production of stress hormones.
“Quite literally, your gut is the epicentre of your mental and physical health. If you want better immunity, efficient digestion, improved clarity and balance, focus on rebuilding your gut health.”
Kris Carr (bestselling author, speaker, wellness advocate and cancer survivor)
So, what was the last thing you ate?