The Gut-Brain Connection and Mental Health

Did you know that gut health is connected to mental health and brain function?

This connection is known as the gut-brain axis.

If you’ve ever felt butterflies in your stomach or experienced nervous poops before a big interview - you have felt this connection.

So what is the gut-brain axis?

Communication between the gut and the brain is bi-directional – meaning it’s like a two-way conversation. 

The brain and the gut are physically connected by the vagus nerve (vagus is Latin for “wandering”).

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body and connects the brain to many of our major organs acting like a superhighway that travels in both directions.

The connection between the gut and brain goes all the way back to fetal development. In utero, the gut and brain originate from the same tissue, meaning the physical connection between the gut and brain has been in place since the earliest stages of development. 

Neurotransmitters, the body’s chemical messengers, also play a role in the gut-brain axis.

The gut produces many of the same neurotransmitters that the brain uses including serotonin, GABA, and dopamine.

Let’s talk about serotonin. 

Did you know that 95% of the body’s serotonin is found in the gut?

Serotonin significantly influences regulation of mood, happiness, anxiety, food cravings, and sleep.

Another important piece of the gut-brain axis is the gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome is a community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes, that live in the gastrointestinal tract. 

Gut bacteria produce metabolites that act as chemical messengers to the brain playing a role in anxiety, depression, and cognitive function. 

Healthy levels of bifidobacterium, a strain of "good" gut bacteria, have been found to be associated with lower cortisol levels - resulting in better stress management, better emotional resilience, and improved sleep.

There is a LOT of existing and emerging research demonstrating the connection between the gut and the brain, but did you know it takes an average of 17 years for research findings to be implemented into routine practice? 

The gut holds so much power for improving mental health (and overall health!), and we can't afford to wait. 

If you're interested in learning more about this connection and how you can use it to harness better health, book a free consultation here.