The vast network of nerve cells lining your digestive tract is so extensive that medical professionals have given the gut the nickname of the body’s “second brain.” And your gut is much smarter than you might think. In fact, your gut holds tremendous influence over your health. And here are a few reasons why.
Stress Management
Chronic stress can cause inflammation to persist throughout the body and this can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system. And your immune system is largely regulated by your gut.
Eating a well-balanced diet and keeping a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut leads to a better immune system and digestive function. And the better you eat, the better you feel. Correspondingly, the better you feel, the less stress you’ll have in your life.
Poor Mood
Along with the immune system, the majority of your body’s serotonin can be found within the gut. And this is the hormone that regulates mood – causing you to feel vibrant or sometimes lethargic.
When you have an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your gut, this can offset adequate serotonin production. When this occurs, your mood could suffer. This can also affect your life in and the people around you in many ways.
Brain Fog and Difficulty Concentrating
Gut health plays a critical part in how we feel emotionally, and in our ability to focus on specific tasks. For example, you may have noticed that when you’re hungry it’s harder to concentrate. Well, this goes a little bit deeper as well.
Gut bacteria produce a vast amount of the neurotransmitters that we need for cells to pass information back and forth throughout the body – and the brain. When gut health is thrown off balance, your ability to concentrate and focus on tasks may be diminished.
Premier Health and Holistic Medicine is based in Leesburg, Virginia, and specializes in treating complex conditions.
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