Did you know that gut bacteria helps manufacture neurochemicals!
There are about 100 billion neurons in the brain but about 500 million in the gut which are connected to your brain through the nervous system. The biggest nerve connected to the gut and brain is the vagus nerve. Stress travels through the vagus nerve and can cause gastrointestinal problems. Healthy gut bacteria assists in producing about 90% of the body’s serotonin as well!
Serotonin is the neurochemical responsible for sleep, mood, appetite, and arousal.
This means that what you eat directly effects your moods and your stress levels can directly effect issues in your gut.
Research shows that a diet like the Mediterranean diet or the Japanese diet have positive effects on gut health. This means minimal processed foods, fresh/seasonal foods, and small amounts of added sugars & dairy. Do you notice a difference in how you feel emotionally when you eat certain foods or stick to a certain diet?
Comments