Is Your Gut Really Your Second Brain?

There is nothing quite as fascinating as the human brain. If you think about it, it's basically a super computer that is made up of millions of neurons that we carry around with us in our heads.

They say that your thoughts make you who you are. Our brains control all of what we do and how we go about it, along with a bunch of other conscious and subconscious activities and body functions as well. It's not wrong to think of it as our most precious organ, kind of like a celebrity amongst body parts, so to speak.

Well, what if we told you that your body had a second brain, for real, and it exists in your tummy? 

Before you freak out and start imagining an alien-style body snatching situation, relax. Nothing about you has changed. It's just that scientists have recently discovered the significance of the complex web of neurotransmitters in our gut, which influence us in many different ways. Here's what you need to know.

This is what having a gut feeling actually means

According to research, there is an entire ecosystem of bacteria and a vast neural network operating in our guts. This ecosystem is our second brain, and comprises some 100 million neurons, more than the spinal cord. This is not a thinking brain—it does not reason, write poetry, or solve math problems—but mounting evidence suggests that your gut’s health strongly influences your mood.

It’s not just that a stomach ache can ruin your day, but much more then that. The enteric nervous system is a mesh-like network of neurons that lines the entire digestive track. It causes the sensation of nervous butterflies or a pit in your stomach that are a part of our psychological stress responses. Up to 90% of the cells involved in these responses carry information to the brain rather than receiving messages from it, making your gut as influential to your mood as your head is. Maybe even more. What this means is that having a healthy gut can actually affect the way you think. Check out this video for more info.

 

So, what exactly is the Vagus nerve?

Though it sounds like a party sensor in our brain, the Vagus nerve is actually super important. In science speak, The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve. It contains motor and sensory fibres and, because it passes through the neck and thorax to the abdomen, has the widest distribution in the body. It's one of the biggest nerves connecting your gut to your brain, and it's the reason what goes on in your tummy influences your thoughts and reactions and vice versa.

Here's how this knowledge can be of use

Studies indicate that those with healthy and diverse gut microbes are less likely to suffer from mental health issues. And many of us who grew up in too clean environments, frequently took antibiotics, and ate junk food could have poor gut health. So changing one’s diet could actually benefit far more than your waistline. It could herald good news for those who suffer from anxiety or depression, or just help all of us be in a better frame of mind. Eating probiotics, and keeping a balanced and healthy diet could make a lot of difference to the kind of day we have. Just imagine, your morning yogurt could just be the answer to dealing with work stress in a more productive way.

We don't know about you, but we are switching our morning coffee for some kombucha tea, ASAP.