Recent findings about the gut-brain link are giving new meaning to the phrase you are what you eat.
Talking about our intestines isn’t something most people feel comfortable with. Unless, of course, you’re neurobiologist Michael Gershon from Columbia University in New York. Just over 10 years ago, Gershon surprised medical experts around the world by coining the term “second brain” for our gut. From his research, he discovered this humble body part is responsible for a lot more than simply expelling waste. And as a result of his groundbreaking results, the field of neurogastroenterology has made great strides. Prior to Gershon’s research, it was believed that the brain governed all human bodily functions. But we now know that the gut controls many things without the brain’s involvement, including digestion, nutrient absorption and bowel movements. Furthermore, this seemingly forgotten part of our anatomy works to defend our entire body, since it produces 70 to 85 percent of the immune cells of the body. “During infection, the intestine hunts down intruders in the body, increasing its processing speed and the amount of waste secreted from the body. It is also the gut that orders the cells of our immune system to tackle bacteria or viruses,” says Dr. Gershon. The gut and brain communicate through the vagus nerve, which is the body’s main nerve centre. Scientists were surprised to discover that, contrary to what was believed, 90 percent of the information flowing through the vagus nerve goes from the gut to the brain, and not vice versa. Our intestines have between 200 and 600 million neurons, as many as in the spinal cord. Even more surprising, it seems that 95 percent of the body’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, emotions and sleep comes from the colon. This is why drugs, such as antidepressants, also have an effect on the intestine, in particular by causing constipation. Researchers like Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and other experts believe that certain emotions or feelings originate in the intestine. “Some sensations, such as nausea, appetite, satiety and fatigue, are cued from the gut,” he says. Not convinced? Well don’t forget it has been long known that mental state can influence our digestive system. Turns out the reverse is also true, and our digestive health affects our mental health. When someone suffers from any form of digestive discomfort, they are much more likely to become anxious, stressed or depressed. Prominent psychiatrists and physiologists even believe that soon, psychiatry may need to treat the other brain, in addition to the one between the ears. In the meantime, it’s just as important to take care of your digestive system as it is to take care of your mental health.
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
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