THE IMPACT OF DIGESTION ON MENTAL HEALTH

Explaining the Gut-Brain Axis!

The central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gut are linked via a communication channel called the gut-brain axis. It is an intricate system of neurons, hormones, and neurotransmitters that controls a number of biological processes, including metabolism, mood, and digestion. The ENS is often referred to as the "second brain" as it has as many neurons as the spinal cord and communicates with the CNS through the vagus nerve. Many systems, including the release of neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, are involved in this communication.

Due to its ability to affect the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, the gut micro biome also has a significant impact on the gut-brain axis. Research has demonstrated that the gut micro biome’s makeup can affect different facets of mental health, such as anxiety, sadness, and even cognitive performance.

The development of certain neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, has also been connected to the gut-brain axis. Chronic inflammation, which has been linked to the development of many diseases, can result from the breakdown of this communication system.

Diet, stress, and medication are a few things that can affect how the gut-brain axis functions. It has been demonstrated that a diet high in fibre and probiotics can support the gut-brain axis and encourage a healthy gut flora. Chronic stress, on the other hand, can sabotage the gut-brain axis and alter gut motility as well as promote inflammation.

In conclusion, the gut-brain axis is an important communication system that regulates a variety of biological activities, including metabolism, mood, and digestion.A better understanding of this complex network could lead to the development of new treatments for various neurological disorders and mental health conditions.

The Mind-Gut Connection

The bidirectional connection between the brain and the gut is referred to as the mind-gut connection. The central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gut share a two-way communication route that controls a range of physiological processes, including metabolism, mood, and even digestion.

The gut is frequently referred to as the "second brain" since it has as many neurons as the spinal cord and connects with the central nervous system via the vague nerve. Although the ENS is capable of operating independently of the CNS, it also receives information from the brain, including stress and emotions.

Research has demonstrated that psychological stress and negative emotions can have an effect on gut health, causing symptoms including diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain. Also, there has been evidence linking chronic gastrointestinal conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to higher levels of anxiety and depression.

The creation of neurotransmitters and hormones that affect mood and behavior can be influenced by the gut micro biota, which is another important factor in the mind-gut relationship. Studies have shown that the gut micro biome can impact various aspects of mental health, including anxiety, depression, and even cognitive function.

In addition, mounting research shows that dietary modifications, such as increasing fiber consumption and limiting processed foods, can have a good effect

on both gut health and mental health. This emphasizes how crucial a good diet is for preserving a strong mind-gut connection.

In conclusion, the brain and the gut are connected by a complicated network called the mind-gut connection, and problems with it can affect both your physical and mental health.By understanding this connection and adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can support both our gut health and mental health.

WHY DO THE GUT AND BRAIN CONNECT?

The bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain is referred to as the gut-brain axis, or GBA. In essence, this means that the gut and the brain communicate with one another and can even affect how the other person feels when they are ill. For example, if your partner gets the flu, you can end up in bed with your own barf bucket three days later. a two-way conversation.

There are several different ways in which the gut and the brain communicate. You likely heard in high school that the brain is our organ of function and that it communicates with every part of our body through nerves.

On a deeper level, the nervous system and brain can affect things

like how the gut moves and how much mucus is secreted. Which microorganisms settle in the stomach can be significantly influenced by this input. For instance, if the nervous system stops directing the gut to move frequently and efficiently (which may occur as a reaction to stress, medication, endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism, etc.), microbes that should have been flushed from the small intestine aren't flushed, and as a result, they settle in a region of the gut where they shouldn't.

In order to diagnose and treat SIBO, it is necessary to alter not just the gut flora but also the way the brain and nerves communicate with the gut. I have seen numerous patients who had struggled for years with nebulous IBS symptoms heal after having SIBO identified and treated.

Nevertheless, I digress. SIBO is the healing missing piece that so many people have been looking for, which is why I get so thrilled about it.

We can now understand how the brain affects the way the stomach works, but how does the gut communicate with the brain and affect the emergence of conditions such as anxiety, depression, autism, and more?

How the gut can affect our mental, cognitive, and emotional health

Your intestine's resident microbes have their own DNA and function somewhat like micro master minds that can either help or hurt your brain and mental wellness. Here are just a few instances of the psychological impact these bugs can have on us: GABA is one of our calming neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) and is often supplemented or addressed in the treatment of anxiety. Some strains of bacteria named "bifid bacterium" and "lactobacillus" produce this neurotransmitter. 1 Our serotonin production is also largely regulated by the microorganisms in our gut. You may recall that the main neurotransmitter that many antidepressant drugs target is serotonin.

Certain probiotic strains have been shown to be able to alter the genetic expression of GABA receptors in the brain

(GABA receptor function is implicated in anxiety and autism), and decrease cortisol (our stress response hormone that, when out of whack, can affect the immune system). The vagus nerve, a very long nerve that is considered to be a part of the parasympathetic nervous system, may be thought of as a major highway between the gut and the brain (imagine the The number of tiny bugs that reside in the gastrointestinal system, known as the gut microbiota, were discovered to produce enough butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, in healthy and diverse human subjects.

As we will see shortly, the immune system can be impacted by the stomach, and the immune system can impact the brain, causing anxiety, despair, and other neuropsychiatric illnesses like autism.

It has been demonstrated that the gut bacteria Bifid bacterium raise levels of a substance called Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF). BDNF, despite sounding incredibly complex, really aids in the development of new neurons in the area of the brain that controls our emotions and cognition—two crucial aspects of our mental health. 5 When healthy bifid bacteria were introduced to "germ free" mice (mouses with no gut micro biota), their BDNF levels increased and this altered the way the mice's brains functioned.