Too many of us are playing roulette with our lives because we don’t understand the detriment of not maintaining a healthy gut. It has been undeniably established through modern medical research that our overall health, especially our mental health, is directly affected by the health of our gut. So what does this mean, and what is the importance of maintaining a healthy gut?
Recent studies have shown that an unhealthy gut can often lead to severe mental illness. In particular, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can lead to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia and autism.
Inflammation places stress on the microbiome through the release of cytokines and neurotransmitters, this creates permeability within the gut lining, causing these pro-inflammatory molecules to travel systemically into the body and cross the blood-brain barrier. Thus negatively influencing brain function, leading to mental illness and memory loss.
Additionally, this Increased intestinal permeability leads to detrimental effects on the immune system, which has been demonstrated in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, asthma, and psychiatric disorders.
Furthermore, the human microbiome is commonly challenged with emotional stress, changes in diet and medication such as antibiotics, which further creates physiological changes to the gut environment. A plethora of studies has shown the prevalence of allergies, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders are associated with this disruption to our gut microbiome.
So how do the gut and the brain communicate with one another?
Well firstly, the reason why our mental health is so heavily influenced by our gut, and why our gut is so sensitive to our emotions, is because the gut hosts an extensive network of approximately 100 million neurons within it, making it the second-largest cluster of neurons in the human body, second only to our brain with approximately 86 billion neurons and we all know how sensitive that can be to our emotions.
Secondly, the technical term for the connection between our gut and brain is called the Gut-Brain Axis. The Gut-Brain Axis is a bidirectional communication system between the enteric nervous system (ENS) which resides in the gut, and the central nervous system (CNS) which is located in the brain and spinal cord. Communication signals are sent back and forth between the brain and gut via the vagus nerve.
Many of us may have experienced the sensation of “butterflies” in our stomach leading up to a nerve-racking event. These familiar gut sensations arise due to the intimate connection between the gut and the brain. That’s right, your gut and brain talk to each other, and we want them to talk nicely to one another too… but how?
Thankfully, due to many recent studies, we have discovered that a healthy dose of probiotics has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Along with a nutrient-dense diet, you can dramatically impact your gut health in a positive way which will leave you feeling happier every day, with more energy to do the things you love, and more confidence in yourself so you can face life’s challenges head-on every day.
ABMMA’s Gut Health Routine specifically targets Gut dysfunction (Indigestion, IBS, constipation, bloating, gassy, reflux and heartburn). Bioelectric Meridian Therapy (BMT) is a very gentle and non-invasive modality. It can be used for all ages. The bioelectric energy can penetrate deeper into structures below the skin without causing any discomfort and proven to deliver profound and lasting results in a short period of time.
Don’t let an unhealthy gut be your rut. Take conscious control of your physical, mental and emotional health and live your best life knowing that you are doing everything you can to avoid illness or disease, and instead live a life of health and happiness.
Rachel Austen
Naturopath (BSc)
References
Author unknown. (2020). The Gut Brain Connection. Harvard Health Publishing; Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Appleton, J. (2018). The gut-brain axis: Influence of microbiota on mood and mental health. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 17(4), 28.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6469458/
Carpenter, S (2012). That Gut Feeling. American Psychological Association 43(8), 50
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling
Clapp, M., Aurora, N., Herrera, L., Bhatia, M., Wilen, E., & Wakefield, S. (2017). Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: the gut-brain axis. Clinics and practice, 7(4), 131-136. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/
Graham, J. & Rege, S. (2017). The Simplified Guide To The Gut-Brain Axis – How The Gut And The Brain Talk To Each Other. Psych Scene Hub. https://psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/the-simplified-guide-to-the-gut-brain-axis/
