Buzz
While gut feelings often take the spotlight, your gut may be more of a thinker than you realize. Some researchers now consider it a second brain. Although it won't help you ace an exam or secure a promotion, your gut has the power to influence your mood, emotions, immune system, and overall health. Studies even suggest that the gut can 'learn' through conditioning. This remarkable connection is part of an emerging field called neurogastroenterology, which explores the gut-brain relationship. Here are 10 surprising facts about your gut.
1. THE GUT CAN FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BRAIN.
Your gut might be seen as a defiant organ. It doesn’t rely on the brain’s signals to manage digestion, as it operates independently—it has its own 'brain.' No other organ, not even the mighty heart, can claim that power.
2. YOUR GUT CONTAINS OVER 100 MILLION BRAIN CELLS.
The fact that your gut can think on its own makes sense when you consider the millions of neurons in its long digestive tract (9 meters from esophagus to anus). That’s even more neurons than in the spinal cord or peripheral nervous system.
3. YOUR GUT HAS ITS OWN NERVOUS SYSTEM.
The enteric nervous system—the control center for digestion and elimination—rules your gut with total autonomy. Some scientists regard it as part of the central nervous system, while others view it as a distinct system. It likely evolved to give the gut the green light when nature calls, without waiting for the brain’s approval, especially when you think about a newborn with its undeveloped brain.
4. YOUR GUT AND BRAIN ARE CONNECTED BY AN INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY.
One major nerve, the vagus nerve, is embedded in your gut. Research shows that up to 90 percent of its fibers carry signals from the gut to the brain, rather than the other way around. In other words, your brain interprets the gut’s signals as emotions. So, you really should listen to your gut.
5. MOST OF YOUR SEROTONIN IS PRODUCED IN YOUR GUT.
About 95 percent of your body’s serotonin, the key mood-regulating molecule that antidepressants like Prozac aim to preserve, is found in the gut. No wonder that what you eat, along with medications and antibiotics, can significantly impact your mood.
6. A HEALTHY GUT COULD BE A DEFENSE AGAINST BONE LOSS.
In a study exploring the serotonin-gut connection, scientists uncovered an unexpected link between the gut and bone health. Blocking the gut’s serotonin release helped prevent bone density loss in mice with osteoporosis. This research is paving the way for new osteoporosis treatments.
7. RESEARCH LINKS AUTISM WITH A LACK OF DIVERSITY IN GUT BACTERIA.
Studies show that up to 90 percent of individuals with autism have common gut imbalances, including leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and fewer types of beneficial bacteria. Research on mice is exploring the potential to address some behavioral issues of autism by adjusting gut microbes, though experts caution that such treatments are not a ‘cure’ for autism.
8. FOOD CAN TRULY IMPACT YOUR MOOD.
Certain foods, when introduced into the gut via feeding tubes, have been shown to alter a person's mood without their knowledge of what they’re eating. For example, fat increased feelings of happiness and pleasure by triggering dopamine—the brain’s natural 'feel-good' chemical. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, boosted serotonin, another neurotransmitter that enhances mood.
9. YOUR GUT IS YOUR ALLY DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON.
Your gut not only contains brain cells but also houses the majority of your immune cells—about 70 percent—in the form of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which plays a critical role in eliminating harmful pathogens. GALT, along with your gut microbiome—the vast community of bacteria that lives within your gut—works tirelessly to help you recover from illness. This makes it even more important to use antibiotics cautiously, as they can destroy both harmful and beneficial bacteria.
10. YOUR GUT CAN DEVELOP A TOLERANCE TO OPIATES.
Your gut is equipped with opiate receptors, just like your brain. The gut can become just as vulnerable to addiction, which may explain why some individuals find it particularly difficult to break free from addiction.
