If you ever had a gut feeling or butterflies in your stomach then these sensations tell that your brain and gut are connected. As per the recent survey, it is clear that your gut health can affect your brain. Likewise, your brain also can affect your gut health. The communication process in between your brain and gut is known as gut brain axis.
Researchers found that the nervous system in our gut interacts with our brain. These gut and brain plays a major role in your body and health. Food can affect the gut brain axis. Gut brain axis is a phenomenon that has two way communication. Let us discuss the gut-brain connection and its working:
How gut and brain connects?
The gut brain axis is defined as the communication bridge between your gut and the brain. These are both connected biologically and physically. Neurons are the cells that are found in the central part of the nervous system. This cell coveys the body how to work. Your brain consists of more than 100 billion neurons approximately. The gut consists of almost 500 million neurons.
The largest nerve that connects the brain and gut is known as the vagus nerve. This nerve is one of the most important nerves in the Gut-brain connection. These nerves transmit signals to both the gut and the brain. Stress sends signals to the vagus nerve and causes gastric problems.
Neurotransmitters:
The gut and the brain are linked with some chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Autoimmune diseases are one of the root causes of every problem, like weight gaining, mood swings, fatigue, etc. So, to get rid of this, you should do an autoimmune fix. These neurotransmitters are formed in the human brain that controls emotions and feelings.
The neurotransmitters produce a chemical known as serotonin that gives feelings of happiness. This also helps in controlling your body clock. Your gut cells have these neurotransmitters and millions of microbes. Due to this, a big portion of serotonin is produced.
Gut produce chemicals that affect the brain:
The millions of microbes that reside in your gut also produce other chemicals that affect the working of your brain. They have short-chain fatty acids like acetate and butyrate. They make short-chain fatty acids by the autoimmune fix. Digesting fiber affects brain functions in numerous ways, like reducing appetite.
A study shows that consuming propionate which reduces appetite and brain activity. So it is important to consume high-energy food. Butyrate is another short-chain fatty acid. The microbes produced by this acid form a bridge between the brain and the blood. This is known as the blood-brain barrier. These microbes metabolize amino acids that make chemicals that affect the brain.
Gut microbes affect inflammation:
The Gut-brain connection is linked to the immune system. Gut microbes play a significant role in the immune system. It causes inflammation by passing through your body. If your immune system is connected for so long, then it may cause inflammation. This will lead to numerous brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and depression.
LPS (Lipopolysaccharide) is an inflammatory acid produced by some bacteria. If too much LPS passes from the gut to the blood, it causes inflammation. It will happen if the gut barrier is prone to leakage. This also allows bacteria and LPS to pass into the blood. This may cause brain disorders like depression, stress, anxiety, etc.
Probiotics, prebiotics for gut-brain connection:
Gut bacteria may affect your brain health. So you should change your gut bacteria which improves your brain health. Probiotics are living bacteria that produce more health benefits if consumed. The probiotics which affect the brain are often considered psychobiotics. Although, not all probiotics are considered similar.
Most of the probiotics improve symptoms like stress, anxiety, depression, etc. People who have bowel syndrome should be taken a probiotic known as longum NCC3001. Prebiotics are the fiber that is produced by your gut bacteria. This may also affect the health of the brain. One study shows that particular prebiotics reduces stress hormones known as cortisol.
Bottom line:
Thus the article mentioned above helps you understand about the working of the gut-brain connection. There are a lot of mind-body therapies that help in improving or healing the gut-brain connection. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medical hypnotherapy bring hope to numerous people suffering from mental health and gastrointestinal issues.
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