Written by Dr. Suzie Vlcek, D.C., M.A.
We’ve all heard the expression, “I feel it in my gut,” referring to a sense of knowledge that seems to come from the belly, not the brain. It turns out that this instinct is correct: the brain and the belly are not separate after all. Medical research has established that the digestive tract has it’s own nervous system, with nerves and neurotransmitters just like the brain, and that the nervous system of the gut and the nervous system of the brain are connected.
The brain is intimately involved in the process of eating. Nerves that originate in the brain are responsible for chewing, swallowing and digesting food. You may have noticed that your mental state influences not only your food choices (reaching for that ice cream after a stressful day) but also the way your body digests those foods (becoming constipated as a result of emotional distress). You may also have noticed the reverse reaction, that the foods you eat influence the way you think, your moods and your ability to concentrate. These common experiences make the point that the brain and the gut are not separate at all.
What does this mean to you? Continue reading »
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