Yost Wellness Center: Deeper Look at the Brain-Gut Connection

 


Deeper Look at the Brain- Gut Connection


.... One of the biggest reasons we’re so successful in treating patients is because when someone’s brain health is suffering we know to begin looking at the gut for answers. Most people think when your gut isn’t working properly, you feel it in the form of constipation, IBS, diarrhea, upset stomach or slow digestion. And while this certainly can be true, gut issues often manifest themselves in other ways throughout the body — including hair, skin and nail problems, sinus issues, ear ringing, headaches and weight gain — and especially in the brain! Most doctors either don’t know about the all-important BRAIN-GUT CONNECTION or fail to take it into account when treating patients. This is a complete travesty because if you don’t focus on what’s causing the problem, you will never truly be well!

With that in mind, let’s dive deeper into the brain-gut connection.

THE BRAIN-GUT CONNECTION: A TWO-WAY STREET

As you probably know by now, your digestive system’s health and brain’s health are intricately connected. Believe it or not, your GI system, aka “the second brain,” has more neurons than the brain, and its own nervous system called the “enteric nervous system.” Your gut is where also where the majority of neurotransmitters responsible for mood and energy, such as serotonin and dopamine, is made, and where most of your immune system is located.

As you can see, the gut does much more than just digest food! The gut and brain are in constant communication. We all know the brain communicates with the entire body, including the gut, but now we also know that the gut sends messages to the brain, too! Research has shown that the gut communicates with the brain and central nervous system through neural, hormonal and immune pathways. (1)

The gut is also home to the majority of an amazing complex system of bacteria in our bodies that’s unique in each and every one of us known as the microbiome. The microbiome is now widely recognized by the medical world as a distinct organ. An unhealthy microbiome has been linked to autoimmune diseases, brain health issues, obesity, heart disease and cancer.

Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.

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