Your intestines aren’t just a sophisticated food processor – they keep your whole body moving. It’s easy to take them for granted, but your intestines are actually the part of your body that is most in contact with outside elements. They are also known to be the most important part of your immune system. To put it bluntly, your intestines, and a healthy gut, are paramount, and it’s no coincidence that they’re called “your second brain.”
Have you ever had butterflies in your stomach before a big interview, or that you have followed your gut feeling in connection with a difficult decision? Times like these are good examples of how your gut-brain axis comes into play, and how this scientific understanding of this relationship between the gut and the brain underpins old sayings. Relying on our gut can take us on big decisions based on what we feel and think.
It has been scientifically proven that there is a connection between the intestines and the brain, which is also known as the gut-brain axis. Your brain communicates with all your organs in the body, including your intestines. The brain talks to your gut using a network of nerves that extends all the way through your body. But the smart thing here is that your intestines are the only organs in the body that communicate back to the brain, where they also have their own nervous system – the enteric nervous system. This nervous system allows the intestines to control individual actions, such as digesting the food we eat, without instructions from the brain. That’s why the gut is known as the second brain – they actually have their own neurons, 200-600 million to be exact.
Your gut-brain axis works best when it is in mixed different bacteria in your intestines. Again, you can think of you having production workers in your ‘stomach factory’, where each worker performs a task for you. Gut bacteria thrive on healthy foods that are rich in fiber. So give your little workers what they need by eating a varied diet. Your daily diet ought to consist of a mix of fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds. Fermented foods such as dairy, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut are good sources of live bacteria – include these in your diet to try something new and do something good for your gut. Read more here.
Everyone loves that feeling when you’ve had a good night’s sleep. You can almost conquer the world! Having varied bacteria in your gut also helps with the quality of your sleep. But if your gut bacteria get into a bit of a headwind (for example, if you take antibiotics), it can affect your sleep because it affects your gut-brain axis. Considering that we spend a third of our lives sleeping, it’s very important to focus on your sleep quality. It’s one of the best things you can do for your well-being.
Your whole body feels good when you exercise. Your gut bacteria also love it when you have a good workout because it makes your gut a better place to be for them. Therefore, exercise can enrich the diversity of gut bacteria. Athletes have somewhat more gut bacteria than ordinary people do. You don’t have to be an athlete to get more good gut bacteria – even a moderate amount of exercise can make a difference. So choose activities that you love – going for a walk, cycling, swimming, rollerblading, dancing – by moving, you create the best environment for the bacteria.
This is the best excuse to get a pet: people who live with animals have more gut bacteria than those who live without pets. Since humans have lived in close contact with animals and livestock, our gut bacteria have evolved with the animals. The best time to make a furry little friend is during childhood, when the gut bacterial system is developing.
Owning a dog can not only boost your gut diversity. By going for a walk outside, and enjoying nature can also do it. Get out and enjoy the green nature, or go for a brisk walk in the city – your gut bacteria will thank you!
Studies show that the way we react when we get stress depends on our gut bacteria. Having good gut diversity is a good start to keeping your stress levels in top shape. However, high levels of stress can alter the function of your gut bacteria. We have told you that the gut-brain axis works both ways. So take good care of your gut bacteria so that they can help you against the hardships of everyday life.