One needs to understand the significance of gut health and mental health connection to manage unpleasant emotions and stress. The gut is referred to as the “second brain,” as many emotions like sadness, anger, nervousness, fear, and joy are felt more in our gut. 95% of the body’s supply of serotonin or happy hormone also resides in our gut and influences our mood and GI activity.
There is a term ‘feeling sick to the stomach,’ and it describes a situation that involves mental or emotional anguish that produces stress in the brain and body. Another feeling is excitement in the gut, which is described as ‘butterflies’ in our stomach. Therefore, it is evident that problems in our gut cause imbalances in the mind.
Another important function of the gut is to help in internal body sensing and intuition. There is a wise saying that goes, ‘trust your gut.’ This means we should use our gut to guide us or avert danger. The gut acts like an internal compass to support intuition decision-making.
A healthy gut helps improve energy levels, boost motivation, and clarify thoughts.
Gut bacteria produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate mental processes such as learning, memory, and mood.
MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS GUT HEALTH
Many people have often experienced anxiety and stress resulting in the arousal of gut issues like feeling sick, having a sensitive stomach, constipation, and diarrhea. Some chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis may also persist in the long run. These gut problems result when psychological stress suppresses the number of beneficial gut bacteria.
Mental disorders also instigate overeating unhealthy foods with high amounts of natural and artificial sugar, disturbing the delicate balance of our gut microbiota (collection of good gut microbes). An altered gut microbiome, therefore, leads to a number of GI disorders.
A reduced number of neurons in the gut further leads to the deterioration of the gut’s lining.
Poor digestion of food
Decreased absorption of nutrients
Slowed movement of contents through the GI tract
Reduced immunity
The resulting gut disorders are again the source of anxiety and depression as they affect our eating and drinking habits. Hence, this is a vicious circle. However, more severe conditions can be differentiated from stress-resulting symptoms by being mindful of some warning signs. Some signs are weight loss, blood in the stool, black tarry stools, or abnormal lab values.
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