Have you ever heard your gut referred to as your “second brain”?
It’s true. Doctors and researchers have acknowledged the gut-brain connection for years. Can you recall the feeling of butterflies in your stomach? We’ve all experienced it at an exciting time in our lives. This is the simplest example of the connection between the gut and the brain.
If you think back, you can probably think of several instances where different emotions may have triggered symptoms in the gut. The brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines – and the connection goes both ways. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals of distress to the gut. That means that unpleasant GI symptoms can be the cause or the result of anxiety, depression, stress or concentration problems. This is because the brain and the gastrointestinal system are literally connected – by the vagus nerve.
The gut and brain are constantly in communication via the vagus nerve. Think of the vagus nerve as a highway that runs from your brainstem down, connecting many important organs in your body – including the stomach and intestines. It is a significant part of the autonomous nervous system, which means it influences things you don’t even think about – your breathing, heart rate, and digestive function. It also plays a part in how you detect and modulate inflammation – a.k.a. feel pain. For these reasons and plenty more, it is important to keep your vagus nerve strong. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling are simple things you can do daily to stimulate and strengthen your vagus nerve.
Did you know that 70% of your immune system is in your gut?! Your gut is made up of trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microbes known as the “microbiome”. There are good and bad bacteria within the microbiome, and the goal is to keep the good guys in charge. The good bacteria are responsible for comfortable digestion, strong immunity and also feeling good mentally. If you haven’t been feeling yourself physically or emotionally, an unhealthy microbiome could be to blame. The gut produces your “happy hormones” – serotonin, GABA and dopamine. It is important to help these calming neurotransmitters thrive so that you feel your best. A strong vagus nerve will then deliver the good feelings to your brain.
So how do you take care of your gut? You are what you eat! Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet is the most important thing you can do to keep your gut healthy. Dr. Sears (Dr. Sears Wellness Institute) suggests following these simple steps to help nourish your good bacteria:
Preparing most of your meals can be empowering, allowing you to be in control of the ingredients and ensuring proper fiber and nutrients.
Incorporating certain foods can also boost your natural ability to produce those feel-good hormones:
Just as many fresh foods can feed your microbiome, many prepared or processed foods include ingredients that feed the bad bacteria and allow them to wreak havoc on your gut. The Standard American Diet (“SAD”) is just that – SAD! It is laden with convenience foods that have been stripped of nutrients. Additives allow the bad bacteria to flourish which can absolutely make you feel bad physically and emotionally. Read ingredient labels and be aware of these powerhouse threats:
Let’s talk a little more about butyrate, or butyric acid, and why it’s so important. Butyric acid is a food source to the microbiome, supplying the cells of your colon with most of its energy. Small amounts can be found in some food sources – such as butter, ghee and sauerkraut – but the large majority of it is naturally created when your body breaks down dietary fiber found in foods like artichokes, garlic, onions, asparagus, apples and bananas. Cooked and cooled starches – such as oats, beans, rice and potatoes – are another great source of energy for butyric acid production. The cooling process converts some of the digestible starches to resistant starches, meaning it remains undigested and provides a direct food source to those good bacteria. Yes – you can absolutely re-heat these foods at meal time, but studies have shown that allowing them to cool overnight after cooking actually tripled their resistant starch content – the primary food of butyric acid production!
Poor diet, antibiotics and radiation exposure can hinder your body’s natural ability to produce butyric acid. Incorporating foods that aid in the production of butyrate will give your body the fiber fuel it needs to maintain its own ability to create butyric acid.
Dr. Sears said it simplest: Fix your gut → fix your brain → fix your immune system.
Your gut will take care of you if you take care of your gut. Wise food choices will provide your body with the building blocks it needs to work best.
Resources:
Dr Sears Wellness Institute, Mental Wellness and the Gut-Brain Connection (video): https://www.drsearswellnessinstitute.org/blog/mental-wellness-gut-brain-connection/?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=w_gut_brain&utm_content=coach&mc_cid=12a9631d2d&mc_eid=3a93fd50d1
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
https://www.getsensate.com/blogs/news/vagus-nerve-stimulation
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/resistant-starch-101
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cooling-resistant-starch
