The gut-brain axis: BRAIN TO GUT, GUT TO BRAIN
If you have nothing in your head, you have nothing in your gut. You're probably thinking, what do these two things have to do with each other? But this statement isn't entirely unfounded.
Expressions like "That's weighing heavily on my mind," "It makes me feel sick just thinking about it," or "I'll decide this based on my gut feeling" are not without reason. There is a direct connection between our brain and our gastrointestinal tract, the so-called gut-brain axis.
But what exactly is the gut-brain axis?
The gut-brain axis facilitates communication between the gut and brain, which occurs in both directions via nerve pathways, hormones, and metabolic products of our gut bacteria. This communication primarily takes place via the vagus nerve, a kind of nerve highway that extends from the brainstem to the large intestine, sending signals back and forth between the central nervous system and the microorganisms in the gut. Surprisingly, 90% of this communication originates in the gut, while only 10% of the signals come from the brain.
The enteric nervous system (ENS), a network of over 100 million nerve cells that permeates the intestinal wall, also plays a crucial role in microbiome communication. Within the ENS, neurotransmitters synthesized by microorganisms are detected by chemosensors and can thus communicate with the vagus nerve and the brain, relaying information. Due to the high number of nerve cells and the intensive exchange between the gut and brain, the gut is also referred to as the "gut brain" or "second brain."
Another communication channel between the gut and the brain is mediated by hormones such as z.B. Dopamine and Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is used for maneuvering. Neuropeptides and messenger substances also form part of this system.. Examples include short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan. The microorganisms that communicate with the central nervous system (CNS) are also referred to as the "psychobiome" due to the expansion of the gut-brain axis to include the microbiome. If, for example, the digestive tract is irritated due to inflammation, a message is sent to the brain and processed there. This can, for instance, activate an immune response. Conversely, the brain sends signals to the enteric nervous system (ENS) when we feel stressed, which in turn can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
→ So what can we do to keep the gut-brain axis in a balanced state or to restore it?
It is important to focus on a healthy and balanced diet Pay attention to this, because it's not just your gut flora that benefits! When your gut is healthy, it sends a positive signal to the brain, which in turn benefits your mental health and overall well-being. Avoiding or reducing excessive stress through methods like meditation or physical exercise also benefits both your gut and your mind. Since it can often be difficult to integrate these measures into everyday life, suitable as a supplement also excellent Probiotics, with which we can actively support our microbiome.
You can find more interesting information in our Healthy Guide on the topic. “Stress and gut health”. Here, the gut-brain axis is explained in more detail and based on scientific facts.Furthermore, the article discusses what you can do to manipulate the gut-brain axis, what stress has to do with it, and of course, what things are best suited to reduce stress.
