Your gut is your second brain — do you know why?

Your gut contains approximately 100 million neurons, which is why it is considered your second brain. The high number of neurons it has is similar to that of the spinal cord. This network of neurons in your gut is capable of making its own decisions and operates through circuits as complex as those found only in your primary, central brain.

Neurons, in general, are responsible for producing your neurotransmitters—and these, in turn, create your emotions.

They make you feel, love, and suffer. This is why both the central brain and the gut brain play a fundamental role in a person’s mood, influencing emotions such as happiness or sadness.

In the gut, neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are produced; they perform specific functions there, just as they do in the central brain.

Similarly, it is in your gut where you absorb amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and the necessary precursors and cofactors to synthesize these messengers in your primary brain (Gómez-Eguilaz et al., 2019).

Serotonin, in particular, is known as the “happiness neurotransmitter,” and about 95% of it is produced and stored in the gastrointestinal tract.

Nutrition plays a fundamental role

‍Because it affects the gut—and, in turn, our gut neurons and psyche—we can conclude that both brains are closely connected and influenced by diet.

Your diet might be inflaming both your gut and your brain.

It’s important to note that some foods can serve as medicine for your body, while others act as poison.

Through your 3R Protocol, you can identify which foods are causing inflammation, so you can remove them and then replace them with nutrients your gut and brain need, by eating foods that provide:

• Essential micronutrients and antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables
• Healthy fats for your brain such as omega-3 from fish, avocado, etc.

This way, you can recover not only your gut health but also your:

• Energy
• Sleep
• Sex life
• Mood

References:

• Gershon MD. The second brain. United States of America (New York). HaperCollins Publishers: (1999).
• Berk M, Williams LJ, Jacka F, O'Neil A. So depression is an inflammatory disease, but where does the inflammation come from?. BMC Medicine [Internet]. 2013 [citado 15 Oct 2016];200(11). DOI: 1186/1741-7015-11-200
• McKeith W. Eres lo que comes. España (Barcelona). Editorial Planeta: (2006).
• Holford P. Nutrición óptima para la mente. España (Barcelona). Ediciones Robinbook: (2005).
• Mayer EA, Tillisch K, Gupta A. Gut/brain axis and the microbiota. J Clin Invest [Internet]. 2015 [citado 10 Oct 2016];125(3):926-38. DOI:10.1172/JCI76304
• Severance EG, Gressitt KL, Stallings CR, Katsafanas E, Schweinfurth LA, Savage CL, et al. Candida albicans exposures, sex specificity and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. npj Schizophrenia [Internet]. 2016 [citado 18 Oct 2016];16018(2). DOI: 10.1038/npjschz.2016.18.
• Rosales R. ¿Tuvo la agricultura algún efecto en la evolución humana?. Herbario CICY. [Internet]. 2016 [citado 17 Oct 2016];8:117-21. Disponible en: http://www.cicy.mx/Documentos/CICY/Desde_Herbario/2016/2016-08-11-Rosales-Escalante-Tuvo-la-agricultura-efecto-en-la-evolucion-humana.pdf
• Gómez-Equilaz y cols (2019) El eje microbiota-intestino-cerebro y sus grandes proyecciones. Revista 68(03) Revisión Lecturas 173193 Descargas 2812 https://www.neurologia.com/articulo/2018223