Sometimes it is the rumbling in your stomach that causes you to go a different direction when making a decision. It could also be this eery sixth sense that some might call “intuition” or foresight. Science calls it the enteric nervous system, and it lives in your stomach.
This vast system of neurons that lines your digestive tract is the reason you make great decisions from time to time. You ever heard of the phrase “trust your gut”? There’s actually a scientific relation to this age-old piece of advice. Psychology Today says that enteric nervous system is the reason for the butterfly-like feeling in the depths of your stomach. 90 percent of these psychological stress responses are responsible for carrying messages to your brain.
What’s funny is that they don’t take messages from your brain, they give it to them. You read it right. Your stomach pretty much tells your brain “I know what to do. Now YOU listen!”
The enteric nervous system lives inside of our digestive system and communicates with bacteria for the most part. This bacteria we’re speaking of is responsible for a number of different functions such as: digesting food, fighting viruses and germs, and also sending messages to the rest of our body to influence how we feel.
The strength of your stomach’s biome dictates how
much the system can work for or against you. Basically the healthier you are the stronger your enteric nervous system works. If your gut flora is full of junk, the messages it sends to the rest of your body will be trash. Have you ever noticed that when you start to eat better your mindset and thoughts become better as well?
That’s no coincidence. Studies have shown that diets rich with probiotics (living bacteria that promote digestion and overall stomach health) decrease one’s risk for disease and depression.
Your “second brain” can’t help you type a paper, make conscious thoughts or solve math problems. However, it can help you to “feel” your way through the aforementioned actions. The “second brain” is made up of sheaths of neurons embedded on the walls of our gut. It contains about 100 million neurons and measures about nine meters end to end from the esophagus to your anus.
Scientists are still trying to unlock the magic of the enteric system. What they do know is that enteric nervous system uses more than 30 neurotransmitters like the brain in your skull. Scientists have also discovered that 95 percent of your body’s serotonin is found in your bowels. Research has shown that low serotonin levels correlate with depression. Anti-depressant medication used to address serotonin deficiency often has side effects that affect the gastrointestinal system.
Basically, medicine that we use to treat what is “supposedly” an issue of the mind; might actually be an issue of the second brain also known as our guts. Look at the side effects of a lot of
anti-depressant or medication used for mood disorders, and you’ll see how much they affect your stomach. Coincidence?
Try working on your gut for a few weeks, and see what new takeaways life gives you. There isn’t one way to keep your gut healthy. We do know that eating fatty, high-sodium and processed food will make you unhealthy. Try incorporating probiotic foods like yogurt, kombucha, raw cheese, apple cider vinegar and sauerkraut into your diet.
Also, many yogis are aware of the power of the enteric nervous system. I was first introduced to the “second brain” though a yoga class. Trust your gut. Leave a comment and let us know what worked for you these past two weeks.
Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation, author, and educator based in Chicago. You can follow him at @brotherhenderson on IG
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