The Gut-Brain Connection: How the Gut Affects Mental Health

Dr.Sharad Malhotra, 4 mins read

Many of us often say - ‘listen to your gut feelings’. But do you know our gut really says a lot of things to us? Shocked! It’s true! 

You may have noticed that whenever you have experienced anger, anxiety or sadness, you may have felt butterflies in your guts. Is this just a coincidence? Or something else?

Well, many studies reveal a link between the gut and the brain.

Connection Between Gut and Brain Health

Just like the brain, the gut is full of nerves, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS). Some experts also call it the second brain or gut brain as it relies on the same types of neurons and neurotransmitters that are present in CNS (central nervous system). 

The ENS lines the GI (gastrointestinal) tract right from the oesophagus to the rectum with more than 100 million nerve cells forming two thin layers. 

The main job of ENS is to control digestion, from swallowing to the release of enzymes for food breakdown to the regulation of blood flow for nutrient absorption to the elimination of waste from the body.

The ENS is capable of communicating with the main brain through the nervous system and hormones.   

For decades, researchers believed that anxiety and depression lead to gut problems, like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), diarrhoea and constipation. But now, many studies show that it can be the other way around. This means these problems can also trigger mood changes.