The intimate relationship between the gut and the brain means that not only does what happens in the brain effect the gut, (i.e. nerves, nausea, butterflies, ‘stomach flip’) but also what’s happening in our gut can effect the brain resulting in poor cognition, anxiety and depression. IBS and other gut issues often go together with depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Here’s the why.

Neurotransmitters

Produced in both the gut and the brain, these are the chemicals which control feeling and emotions.

Serotonin, which effects happiness as well as our body clock and sleep, is mainly produced in the gut, so impaired gut means impaired happiness and sleep.

GABA, responsible for controlling anxiety, is produced by the microbes in our gut. Poor gut function leads to poor GABA production.

The Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is the major nerve that runs between the gut and the brain and transmits information about out stress levels and how the body should be responding. When the body is in a stressed mode (fight or flight) it down regulates digestion.

Gut Bugs

The microbes in your gut directly effect your brain chemistry, if you microbiome becomes dysregulated it can lead to mood disorders, loss of cognition, brain fog as well as weight gain (the stomach can’t communicate that it doesn’t need any more food properly).

Inflammation

Poor microbiome balance can lead to permeability of the intestinal wall (leaky gut) which allows toxic particles to enter the bloodstream, turning on our immune system and inflammation. If you have a leaky gut you probably have a leaky brain as well. Chronic inflammation can lead to depression, Alzheimer’s, dementia and other brain conditions, as well as numerous other health conditions.

I can help rebalance the gut in order to alleviate both gut and brain related symptoms