Five Surprising Ways Your Gut Can Influence Your Brain
Our gut, technically known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), houses a complex community of microorganisms—collectively termed the gut microbiome. This powerhouse of microbes, thriving in our gut, has a profound influence on our brain's workings—enough to earn it the title of the "second brain". The ENS and the brain are intertwined through the gut-brain axis—a bidirectional communication highway determining various aspects of our day-to-day life, from our mood to cravings and even memory.
Altering Mood and Behavior
The gut and its vast microbial inhabitants can significantly affect our mood and behavior. Certain strains of bacteria, like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, have been found to produce neurotransmitters such as GABA, known for its calming effect. An imbalance of gut microbiota could potentially lead to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety—underscoring the concept of 'Psychobiotics', leveraging beneficial gut bacteria to improve mental health.
Influence on Stress Response
Our microbial allies are not only potentially capable of tweaking our mood but also our responses to stress. Studies have shown how the gut microbiota can directly interact with the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis—the chief stress response system in humans. Certain bacteria can downregulate the HPA axis, thereby potentially reducing stress and related disorders.
The Dietary Connection: Regulating Brain Function
What we feed our gut microbiota can indeed influence how our brain functions. The brain-gut axis allows our brain to learn about the nutrient availability from the gut. Specific patterns of food intake can shift the microbiota composition and consequently influence various brain functions, including learning and memory.
Impact on the Autonomic Nervous System
Our gut microbiota can majorly influence the body's automatic processes via the autonomic nervous system. A healthy balance of microbiota ensures smooth functioning of processes controlled by this system, like heart rate and digestion. On the contrary, a disrupted gut microbiota may spell trouble for these automatic processes, reflecting the gut's substantial sway over our physiology.
Gut Health and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Interestingly, our gut microbiota may hold keys to understanding and potentially managing neurodegenerative disorders. Evidence suggests that an altered microbiota can contribute to conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease—again, hinting at our gut's pervasive influence on our brains and overall health.