Have you heard the term that your gut is your second brain? Some people even call it our first brain as 85% of the signals go from the gut to the brain. We know that our body does what our brain tells it to do but the orders are beginning in our guts.
The reason that the gut is referred to as a brain is because of the vast influence our microbiome has on our lives. We are made of more bacteria cells than human cells. The term microbiome refers to the bacterium that is in and on our bodies, in our mouths, on our skin, in our intestines and all throughout our bodies. We receive it at birth, and it changes throughout our lives based on what we eat and are exposed to. It has a strong influence on our health and mental well-being.
Depression and anxiety are at all-time highs in our society. 90% of our serotonin is in our intestines, and serotonin regulates our moods, low serotonin can lead to depression. 12% of emergency room visits are gastrointestinal-related and one-third of the population struggles routinely with digestive issues.
What damages our gut microbiome? Processed foods, sugar, wheat, pesticides, and other chemicals in the food we eat. Medications especially antibiotics, including the antibiotics that are given to the animals that we later consume can damage or destroy our good bacteria.
Happy gut, happy life!
Ahealthynana
