The Gut Brain Axis and the Enteric Nervous System plays an amazing role in the body and in our health. Where do our Gut Feelings come from? This little video will help explain a bit more.
This video was recorded during a short networking event, with a very brief introduction on this topic. If you’d like to hear more from Emma Bitz, you can go back and listen to her video as well.
A lot of us don’t realise that our gut has a huge impact on our nervous system, and our brain, and vice versa. We all have something called the Enteric Nervous System. While a lot of us have heard of the Central Nervous system, which consists of the spinal cord, the brain and the nerves, the enteric nervous system is different. The enteric nervous system basically consists of the cells lining our gut. The Enteric nervous system helps to control gut functions, digestion, swallowing and similar functions. It also communicates with our brain, and is connected via the Vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is one of the superhighways of the central nervous system, and is involved in a lot of the automatic processes that go on in the body. It’s also said to be affected by some of the breathing practices we do in yoga as well, which is just another way yoga can affect our health. A lot of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which impact our mood, are produced in the gut. These impacts could help explain some of the mood and anxiety related symptoms of issues such as irritable bowel syndrome. The Gut brain axis consists of the interaction between the gut and the Enteric Nervous System.
Empowered with this, it really makes sense that what we eat affects so many elements of our lives. Anxiety and stress can affect inflammation triggering cytokine responses in the body, and being stressed and anxious can lead to those frown lines that a lot of us women are trying to avoid by slathering on anti-ageing skincare. Hence a good diet and looking after our gut can help our skin in more ways than one.
When we feel stressed and anxious, we often reach for so called “feel good food”, which then causes more inflammation, and can upset the gut even more, and lead to a spiralling effect, and even lower energy levels, which is the exact opposite of what we want.
Want to read more on the Gut Brain Axis and the Enteric Nervous System?
Check out some of the articles below:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gut-brain-connection#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
Want to get your nutrition and gut in check? Send me a message, or book in for an introductory consultation to see how I can help.
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