Why is the digestive system called the second brain? Know seven interesting facts
What part of your body has more neurons than the spinal cord or brain, which runs independently of the central nervous system?
Maybe gastrointestinal tract wasn’t your first answer. But our intestines are connected with millions of neurons and perhaps that is why it is called our ‘second brain’.
Our digestive system has more jobs than just processing what we eat. Microbes living and growing in it can affect our health and well-being.
Scientists are investigating whether improving gut health can help our immune system and whether it can help treat mental illnesses.
It is an autonomic nervous system
“Unlike any other organ in our body, our intestines can function on their own,” says Dr. Megan Rossi, a dietitian with a PhD in gastrointestinal health and author of Gut Health Doctor. They are competent to take their own decision and they do not need the advice of brains for it.’
Their autonomic brain is called the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) which is a branch of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and is responsible for all gastrointestinal and intestinal motility.
This system looks like a web-like network of neurons that appear in rows within rows in the stomach and digestive system.
Normally, the ENS communicates with the CNS through the sympathetic and non-sympathetic nervous systems.
70% of our immune system cells are in our gut
“That’s why our gut health is so important to improving our immune system against disease,” says Dr. Rossi.
Recent research shows that stomach and intestinal problems make a person more prone to common diseases like fever.
50% of our waste is bacteria
Our body waste is not just the leftovers from our food.
Many of the bacteria found in them are actually good for our bodies.
A transplant of the same waste could be a better treatment for people with an overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria in their gut.
This treatment is also called ‘stool transplant’ in which stool containing healthy bacteria from a healthy person is transplanted into a sick person.
Since we were discussing the stomach, we asked Dr. Rossi how often a person should go to the toilet.
He said that ‘according to the research, going to stool from three times a day to three times a week is called normal.’
A variety of foods improve the health of your gut microbes
Our stomach is home to billions of microbes. They are important because they help us digest certain nutrients.
Each group of bacteria thrives on different types of food. So eating a variety of foods improves your gastrointestinal health and is linked to your good health.
“Microbes are like our little pets that you want to pet and take care of,” says Dr. Rossi.
People who always eat the same type of food have weaker types of microbes in their gut.
Your bowels are connected to your mood
Dr. Rossi says that if you have gastrointestinal complaints, it’s best to look at how stressed you are.
She said: ‘In my treatment, I always encourage my patients to meditate for 15 to 20 minutes a day. And when they follow it every day for four weeks, we see an improvement in their symptoms.’
“Reducing and de-stressing is really important,” she says.
80 to 90 percent of what connects our mood and our gut is the serotonin produced in the digestive system.
Serotonin is a chemical messenger that affects many body functions, including the gut.
It is also associated with psychological disorder.
Long-term stress can lower serotonin levels, which can affect our emotional states, anxiety, and happiness, along with our mood.
If your family thinks a food is bad for you, you will start to feel it
Some people have very sensitive stomachs.
But Dr. Rossi says that recent research has shown that if you fear eating a certain food, you may experience pain after eating it.
He said: ‘We see how something you believe in can cause problems for your stomach.’
Many people believe that gluten or dairy ingredients are bad for them, and even if their system is not actually intolerant or allergic to it, they may develop problems after eating these foods. Is.
. You can improve your digestive health
Dr. Rossi suggests adopting certain habits for a happy stomach which are as follows:
Eat a variety of foods to diversify your gut bacteria
Try to reduce your stress according to your mood, such as meditation, relaxation, mindfulness or yoga.
If you already have an upset stomach, avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. These things can aggravate your problems.
Try to get better sleep.
A study has shown that if you change your sleeping hours, it also affects your gastrointestinal tract. Remember that you need to take good care of them.