What is the mind-gut connection?
The brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines. For example, the very thought of eating can release the stomach’s juices before food even arrives. This connection goes both ways. A intestine experiencing dysfunction sends signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. That being said a person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or even the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That’s because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected.
What is our second brain?
The gut is comprised of 100 million neurons, the network of nerve cells lining the digestive tract is so extensive that it has earned the nickname “second brain.” Medically known as the enteric nervous system, this network of neurons is often overlooked and contains more nerve cells than the spinal cord or peripheral nervous system. The mass of neural tissue in our gut produces over 30 different neurotransmitters, many of which are also produced by the brain.