Gut Feeling Holistic Nutrition 

 

Our gut, microbiome, and brain are connected through the gut-brain axis which is a bi-directional communication highway between the enteric nervous system, which is responsible for the function of the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system which regulates numerous functions in the mind and body. This network is comprised of neurons, hormones, immune cells, and microbial molecules. The enteric nervous system is also called your second brain because it affects your entire body, including your immune system, digestion, metabolism, nutrient absorption, and mental health.

 

This axis also involves various complex pathways such as the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, HPA axis, immune system, and the microbiota and its metabolites. Among these pathways, inflammasome additionally plays a role in the alterations associated with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

 

Your gut and your brain also communicate through chemicals called neurotransmitters. Several of the neurotransmitters that are responsible for maintaining our mental health are made either by gut cells or by gut microbes. In fact, the gut produces 90% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine, melatonin, and oxytocin. Additionally, the gut microbiota plays an important part in tryptophan metabolism, regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as well as the afferent input of the vagus nerve. When the balance of organisms in our gut is altered it affects our neurotransmitter production thus our mood and our behaviors are imbalanced and manifest as illnesses such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraines, autism etc. Furthermore, microbial changes can increase gastrointestinal permeability, facilitate bacterial translocation, decrease levels of secretory IgA, modulate inflammation, and induce chronic low-grade inflammation.