Did you know that your gut and your brain can talk to each other? It may sound weird, but it’s true. Your gut and your brain are connected by a bunch of wires, chemicals, cells, and bugs that help you stay healthy and happy. This connection is called the gut-brain axis, and it’s very cool and important.
In this article, I will tell you how the gut-brain axis works, how it makes you feel and think, and how you can make it better with simple things you can do every day.
What is the gut-brain axis?
The gut-brain axis is a name that describes how your gut and your brain talk to each other. The article from Harvard about the gut and brain connection explains it in an academic way, while i can tell you that in a simple way. Your gut is the part of your body where your food goes after you eat it. Your brain is the part of your body that helps you think, feel, and do things. Your gut and your brain talk to each other in different ways, such as:
Your gut has a lot of nerves that control how your food moves and comes out. These nerves also talk to your brain through a big wire called the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve tells your brain what’s going on in your gut, and your brain tells your gut what to do.
Your gut has a lot of cells that fight bad bugs and help good bugs. These cells also talk to your brain through chemicals called cytokines. Cytokines tell your brain if your gut is happy or sad, and your brain tells your gut how to feel.
Your gut has a lot of bugs that live in it and help you digest your food. These bugs also talk to your brain through chemicals called neurotransmitters, hormones, and SCFAs. Neurotransmitters, hormones, and SCFAs tell your brain how hungry, full, or sleepy you are, and your brain tells your gut what to eat.
How does the gut-brain axis affect your mood, thinking, and behavior?
The gut-brain axis can affect your mood, thinking, and behavior in many ways. Sometimes, your gut and your brain can get sick or unhappy, and this can make you feel bad or act differently. For example:
Depression is when you feel very sad and don’t enjoy anything. Depression can also make you forget things or have trouble paying attention. Some people with depression have different bugs in their gut than normal people, and this can make their gut-brain axis unhappy. Some people with depression can feel better if they eat foods that have good bugs in them, like yogurt or kimchi. These foods can make their gut-brain axis happy again.
The gut-brain axis can also affect your mood, thinking, and behavior in smaller and everyday ways. For example, the gut-brain axis can make you want to eat certain foods, or make you feel hungry or full. The gut-brain axis can also make you feel scared, angry, or happy, or make you act nice or mean.
The gut-brain axis can also explain why you may feel things in your gut, like butterflies, a knot, or a pit, when you face certain situations, like stress, danger, or love. These feelings are the result of your gut and your brain talking to each other, and they can help you make choices or do things.
How can you make your gut-brain axis better?
The gut-brain axis is a complicated and changing system that is affected by many things, like your genes, your environment, your lifestyle, and your stress. So, making your gut-brain axis better needs a lot of care and attention that is different for everyone.
But, some general tips that can help you make your gut-brain axis better are:
Eat a balanced and varied diet that has foods that are good for your gut and your brain. These foods have good bugs, fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3s. These things can feed your gut bugs and help your brain work well. Some examples are yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, and dark chocolate.
Avoid or limit foods that are bad for your gut and your brain. These foods have bad bugs, sugar, fake sweeteners, bad fats, and alcohol. These things can hurt your gut bugs and make your brain unhappy. Some examples are processed foods, candy, soda, chips, and cookies.
Drink enough water to stay hydrated and help your gut move your food and waste.
Exercise regularly to make your body and your mind strong, lower your stress, and make you feel good. Exercise can also make your gut and your brain talk better to each other.
Sleep well to let your body and your brain rest and heal, and to keep your day and night cycle normal. This cycle affects your gut and your brain too.
Manage your stress levels by doing things that make you calm and relaxed, like meditation, breathing, yoga, or tai chi. Stress can make your gut and your brain unhappy and sick.
Have fun and socialize with your friends and family, as these things can make you happy, smart, and friendly. They can also make your gut bugs more diverse and healthy.
Conclusion
The gut-brain axis is a very cool and important topic that can help you understand yourself better and make you healthier and happier. By taking care of your gut and your brain, you can make your mood, thinking, and behavior better, and prevent or treat some mental problems. Remember, a healthy gut means a healthy brain, and a healthy brain means a happy you.
Hello,I'm Simin Liang, a subconscious rewiring therapist.
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