THAT GUT FEELING IS OUR BODIES SECOND BRAIN
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It’s More Than Just A Gut Feeling…
Obviously there’s a reason why so many English sayings (“trust your gut” and “I have butterflies in my stomach,” just to name a few) center around the stomach. These cliched expressions not only emphasize how the gut works in tandem with our thoughts and emotions but why the stomach is such a vital system to our overall health and well-being.
While we may have once believed the gut’s only role was to break down food so our body can absorb the nutrients, we now know that a healthy gut is linked to better sleep, mood, digestion, immunity, mental health and clarity, less stress and anxiety, and pretty much every other important health factor—not to mention intuition. In short, the stomach is way more sensitive than we’ve given it credit for. In fact, it might be more in tune with your feelings than the brain.
Scientists have deemed the stomach the “second brain” thanks to its complex network of hundreds of millions of neurons that function as its own nervous system. These intuitive neurons work together with the brain to assess past memories, lessons, and current desires whenever you go to make a decision. So when you’re having a “gut feeling,” it’s not an exaggeration. Gut feelings are just an indication of how strongly the gut signals to the brain to influence your behavior and decision-making.
The ever-important gut microbiome also plays a leading role down there. The microbiome is brimming with trillions of good and bad bacteria that help transport food through the digestive tract and metabolize key micronutrients and vitamins.
Good gut bacteria are also responsible for producing neurotransmitters, like serotonin (the happy hormone), that influence our mood. In fact, gut bacteria produce around 95% of our body’s serotonin supplies. When things are working smoothly down there and the good bacteria are running the show, that’s when we’re feeling and looking our best. Among its other noteworthy praises, a healthy gut supports detoxification, keeps our skin clear, and shuts down inflammation.
Good Gut Essentials
VIOME Gut Intelligence Test ($249)
Of course, our gut only thrives when we give it the tools to do so. And given the complex ways in which the gut microbiota affects our brain, intuition, immunity, and so much more, staying on top of our GI health is key for overall mental and physical wellness. Viome’s at-home Gut Intelligence Test gives you the inside scoop on what’s going on inside your gut and how to support it with personalized food, supplement, and probiotic + prebiotic recommendations.
Zuma Nutrition Para Clear Tonic ($50)
For women looking for something stronger to address consistent gut issues like gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, we recommend a parasite cleanse. While the thought of parasites living in your tummy is stomach-turning, to say the least, it’s something we all come in contact with through contaminated food, water, pets, and traveling. Zuma Nutrition’s vegan, organic Para-Clear formula cleanses away harmful organisms and microbes in adult, larva and egg stages so you can get back to proper gut health.
Lumity ‘Night’ and ‘Day’ Vitamin Travel Cases ($26)
Anyone in a personal relationship with their probiotic knows how important consistency is, especially when traveling. Lumity’s Supplement Travel Cases are a chic, eco-conscious lifesaver because it means I can leave the inconvenient supplement bottles at home while still taking my pre- and probiotics with me, whether I’m heading away for the weekend or traveling to far, far away places.