Getting Your Head on Straight: The Connection Behind Your Moods and Digestion, and the Second Brain in Your Gut

Common symptoms during periods of “darker” weather or gloomy days include lack of energy, loss of motivation, cravings, sleep disturbances, and waves of melancholy. These feelings are temporary and individualized, but why is it that some people ARE BETTER AT PRODUCING BALANCED NEUROTRANSMITTERS?

Enter the concept of our SECOND BRAIN (aka the Enteric Brain). Enteric means gastrointestinal tract—your GUT! The lining of our gut actually has the same type of tissue that is found in our brain and spinal cord!

The human gut is lined with more than 100 million nerve cells—its basically its own little brain! The gut actually talks to the brain, sending signals to produce hormones into the bloodstream that controls everything from hunger to emotions such as happiness.

Many of the cells lining our gut produce neurotransmitters (  the body’s chemical messengers ) In fact, 90% of our SEROTONIN produced in our body is from the gastrointestinal tract. So, if the gut is not working well, our emotions may be comprised as well! By the way, I wrote about cravings a few days ago, and along with deficiencies in the body, a lack of serotonin signals you to want certain foods that produce an instant HAPPY FEELING.

How many times have you or someone you know said, “I just don’t feel like myself?”  Irritation in the gut may send signals to your Central Nervous System (CNS) which triggers emotional shifts and mood changes such as anxiety and depression.

Simple ways you can begin to improve your gut disturbances include eliminating food allergies or intolerances (there are simple and non-invasive tests for this), eat whole, unprocessed foods that are nutrient dense, replenish digestive enzymes, rebuild your gut microbiome with pre and probiotics, heal the gut lining with l-glutamine (bone broth is a fantastic source) and collagen, along with omega-3 fatty acids for inflammation. Sleep and exercise will also help to improve the health and motility of your gut, and controlling your body’s hormonal and stress responses is important also! (look for another post regarding this😊)