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Is the gut really our second brain?
Thanks for asking.
You have surely felt butterflies in your stomach before a big event or had a gut feeling about something.
You might even say you need to digest some big news.
Our stomach is sometimes dubbed the second brain and it's more than just a metaphor.
Where did this idea originate?
The term gained traction in the West in 1999 thanks to Dr Michael Gerson's book, The Second Brain.
However, the concept isn't new.
Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian healing system, has recognised the gut-brain connection for thousands of years.
In Ayurveda, the digestive system and the mind are intertwined.
A disturbance in one affects the other.
This link is embodied in the concept of anyi or digestive fire, which pertains to both physical digestion and the processing of emotions and thoughts.
Nourishing our anyi with the right foods can make us feel better, both physically and mentally.
Is there scientific backing for this brain-gut connection?
Absolutely.
Global research has validated what Ayurveda has long suggested.
Our intestines are home to a staggering number of neurons, so many that it constitutes its own nervous system, aptly named the enteric nervous system.
Cecile Dengen, who explores this in her documentary The Gut, Our Second Brain, noted that having an upper and lower brain has been pivotal in human evolution.
The two systems are in constant communication, thanks to the vagus nerve, which relays messages between the brain and the gut.
This is why we might feel queasy or upset in our stomach during stressful times.
Can taking care of your gut improve our mental well-being?
Focusing on the intestinal microbiota, formerly known as the intestinal flora, is key.
Research by Inserm suggests that mental health issues could be tied to microbiota imbalances.
A recent study by the Institut Pasteur, Inserm and CNRS, published in February 2024, found a connection between mood disorders and gut health, albeit in mice.
We're still awaiting further research to see if changes in diet or probiotic treatments could benefit those with mental health conditions.
There you have it.
Now you know if the gut really is the second brain.
In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines.
Listen along and you really will know for sure.
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