Here’s a reality check: your overall health may be highly related to your gut condition. Moreover, problems in your gut can affect your mood and even cause psychological and neurological disorders.
According to research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences on “Impacts of Gut Bacteria on Human Health and Diseases”, gut bacteria are involved in diseases such as diabetes, IBD, obesity, carcinoma, autism, and HIV. There are good gut bacteria and bad gut bacteria. When there’s an imbalance between these two the body’s immunoregulatory activity is compromised, often resulting in disease. The above-mentioned study also revealed that these diseases could be prevented by undertaking a one-year course of probiotics.
By now, you can probably guess which body part we are referring to when we mention the “second brain,” right?
Often, before an interview, people say they have ‘butterflies in their stomach.’ Have you ever had this feeling, or worse, has it ever turned into intestinal cramps? Or, more surprisingly, have you ever taken antidepressants and noticed that it affects your intestinal condition, perhaps causing nausea or pain?
What is the reason behind this?
Our head brain and the ‘brain’ in the gut are interconnected, so when the one up top is distressed, the one at the bottom gets upset too. That makes sense. But the relationship works both ways, so when the ‘gut brain’ gets upset, it can upset the brain in your head just as easily. Your digestive tract contains more than 1 million nerve cells. That’s almost the same number as are found in your spinal cord. Moreover, the major neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine, glutamate, serotonin, nitric oxide and norepinephrine are also found in the gut. Finally, your gut contains natural opiates known as Enkephalins, which are found in benzodiazepines and other psychoactive chemicals. It’s a powerful and yet delicate balance of nerves, neurotransmitters, and other chemicals.
The condition of your intestines is extremely important for your emotional and mental health as well as your immune system. What you might not consciously realize is that your gut is not just made up of tissues, organs and digestive juices. It is a complex ecosystem of yeast and bacteria some of which are beneficial to your health and some of which can be toxic.
Two groups of gut bacteria - Firmicutes and Bacteroides – can be the cause of excessive weight gain. They mostly develop when you have a poor diet and your digestion suffers.
Certain foods such as beef and eggs produce a compound called trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) which increases the chances of heart disease.
When your immune system is compromised, the body’s production of lymphocytes and leukocytes is disturbed. These two cells are important because they attack bacteria and toxins, destroy infected and cancerous cells, and eliminate pathogens.
Since nerve cells in the gut and brain are interconnected, a problem in one can cause an imbalance in the other.
Infants who cry excessively may have an excess of proteobacteria in the gut. This group of bacteria produces gases, which can cause pain in the stomach and, naturally, crying episodes.
Your gut health is sensitive. It can be affected by things like antibiotics, medication, excessive fluoride and chlorine in water, stimulants like caffeine, food preservatives and additives, and whole grains that are not digested properly. If you’re interested in improving your overall health, try upgrading the quality of your diet to balance out your gut bacteria, or visit a doctor for recommendations about probiotics.