The Brain In Your Belly: Why Gut Health is About More That Just Indigestion
“Trust your gut”.
We’ve all heard the saying, but rarely stop to think about what it actually means.
Would you think I was crazy if I were to tell you that your gut is actually just as powerful as your head?
As silly as that might sound, your gut actually is a powerhouse of information that we commonly overlook.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the complex system of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract cleverly called the “gut brain”; different processes that happen in the gut besides digestion; what happens when the gut becomes unbalanced; and what you can do to fix it.
The Nitty Gritty on Your Gut
First let’s define what we mean by gut. Gut is a colloquial term referring to the gastrointestinal tract, which encompasses everything from your mouth to your anus. Yep, all of it. It includes the salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, small intestine & large intestine. Some definitions expand to include other organs essential for digestive processes like the gallbladder and pancreas, but that’s outside the scope of this article.
Traditionally the gut is thought of as the center of digestion, assimilation and excretion. We intake nutrients in the form of food and digest them by chewing and degradation with acids & enzymes. The food is broken down into its smallest usable pieces - amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids - and transported from the inside of the gut to the cells, where they are used up as energy or stored for later use. Whatever remains goes through the large intestine and comes out the other end. Ta-da!
(Side note: this is why holistic health professionals like to talk about poop so much - it gives us a great idea of your body’s ability to complete this essential life process.)
There are three things we don’t traditionally consider about the gut. First, is the fact that the GI tract is home to a network of nerve cells as large as your brain that produces its own neurotransmitters. Second, the gut is a key player in your immune system, and third, home to a community of microorganisms more populous than the number of cells in your body.
When you consider those things, it is easy to see why gut health is all the rage. Let’s go into detail.
There’s A Brain In My Gut?
While not exactly a brain like the one in your skull, the “gut brain” is very real. “Gut brain” is a generalized term for what scientists have dubbed the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). The ENS is a complex system of millions of nerve cells within the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. Although the ENS can’t help you solve a math problem, it does have a direct connection with the brain in your head - this is referred to as the gut-brain-axis (GBA).
The GBA is precisely why stress and anxiety are factors associated with so many digestive issues. Ever had a “nervous stomach”? Or known someone with IBS? All have a GBA component. It’s a two-way connection, which means that what happens in your brain affects your GI and vice versa.
But that’s not all about your “gut brain”. The GI tract houses about 90% of the serotonin produced in the body and just as many receptor sites for this potent neurotransmitter.
Serotonin is typically associated with maintaining a positive mood, hence why it’s the target of many antidepressant drugs. But in the enteric nervous system, serotonin has very different effects. It helps to stimulate peristalsis (synchronized contraction of the muscles of the small and large intestine which moves food through the GI tract), plays a role in the GI inflammatory response, and may even help to regenerate liver tissue.
Happy Bacteria
The GI tract is also home to literally billions of microbes. Microbes is a fancy word for bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Fun fact: there are more microbes inside your gut and on your skin than the number of human cells in your body. The majority of them live inside your large intestine, but can be found in lots of other places as well.
Even though the relevance of these little guys wasn’t fully recognized until the 1990’s, it would be a mistake to underestimate their impact on your overall health. Microbes carry out some seriously essential processes. For example, the microbes in your gut help you to digest food and produce vitamins B and K.
A Hot Spot for Immune Function
Last but not least, a class act immune system resides in your gut. Because potentially pathogenic bugs pass through it every single day, the GI tract has to be armed and ready to put up a fight. Your gut contains an army of immune cells called macrophages and lymphocytes who live to root out and destroy pathogens. There is also a large amount of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) secreted by the B lymphocytes to act as a first line of defense. The collective tissues and mechanisms that the gut uses to protect itself are called the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, or GALT.
You can see how there’s the potential for many things to get out of balance in this system. Which brings us to our next point…
Inflammation and the Unbalanced Gut
Because of its high immune function, one of the most common things affecting the gut is...you guessed it: inflammation!
Inflammation is a broad term for an intricate process where the body responds to something it deems foreign and attempts to remove it. The process involves release of lots of chemicals and immune cells.
When the gut is chronically inflamed, the ENS, microbiome and GALT can’t work correctly. Proper function breaks down and has systemic effects on the human organism. For this reason, things like depression, IBS/ IBD, colorectal cancers, obesity and autism have all been associated with gut health.
Help for An Unhappy Gut
But never fear. For those with chronic GI inflammation help is widely available.
For starters, it is helpful to work with an experienced holistic health practitioner who understands the importance of GI wellness in practice.
Working with a practitioner allows you to dive deep on your gut health, making efficient steps towards wellness.
These are some areas you can expect a practitioner to address:
Balancing your microbiome
Identifying and removing food sensitivities
Individualized nutrition and eating habits
Implementing a supplementation program for intestinal healing
Supporting the immune system to respond healthfully to future insults
Addressing specific concerns such as anxiety, depression or weight loss
Your gut is a powerhouse, but only if you keep it that way. Maintaining gut health may be one of the most important things you do for your long term wellness.
Further Reading:
5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) in the gastrointestinal tract.
The Human Gut Microbiome – A Potential Controller of Wellness and Disease
If you are ready to get to the root cause of your gut health concerns, reach out to the EmpowerMed team of naturopathic doctors today. We take a collaborative approach to natural medicine, partnering with patients to help them achieve their unique health and wellness goals.
Contact us today at 760-456-7501 or use our booking link to schedule.
EmpowerMed Clinic is located just off the I-15 and Carroll Canyon within the Fitness Quest 10 Wellness Center of Scripps Ranch, San Diego County, CA. We serve the communities of North County San Diego, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Scripps Ranch, Santee, and more.