What is the Gut-Brain Axis?

Have you ever had “butterflies in your stomach” when you’re nervous or excited? What about getting that “gut feeling” when something doesn’t feel quite right? These are both example of your gut-brain axis at work!

Communication between the gut and the brain works in both directions (from the brain to the gut, and from the gut to the brain). The connection is through the vagus nerve. To optimize your brain health, it is therefore important to optimize your digestive health. The connection is so strong that, according to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2001, 50-90% of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome also have a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety, depression or PTSD. Even head injuries can instigate problems in the gut. For example, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as a concussion, can cause severe digestive problems!

"50-90% of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome also have a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety, depression or PTSD"

If we haven’t convinced you of the connection between these two critical areas of your body, consider that 80% of the serotonin in your body is located in your gut. Not only is it the “happy” neurotransmitter, but it regulates motility (explaining why constipation often accompanies depression). Also, the hormone ghrelin, produced primarily in the gut and most known for stimulating your appetite, also enhances memory and learning!


Symptoms of a gut-brain axis problem
Some signs of a brain that isn’t functioning optimally are:

Difficulty digesting foods

• Gas and bloating
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability
• Brain fog
• Food intolerances
• Digestive problems that don’t improve after making dietary changes (ensure you rule out parasites and yeast overgrowths)
• Cognitive decline or memory problems

How to support the gut-brain axis
If your brain isn’t functioning well, the rest of you won’t function well either! Here are some basic tips to support your gut-brain axis.

• Stay mentally active
• Maintain steady blood sugar levels - Truehope OLE and Truehope Inositol can help.
• Manage stress and cortisol levels (which helps manage blood sugar too)
• Increase blood flow to the brain through regular exercise
• Ensure sufficient iron levels to deliver oxygen to the brain
• Improve your balance of omega 3 fatty acids to omega 6 fatty acids to support the protective blood-brain barrier
• Improve your digestion (a nutritionist is a great help with this!)
• Support your vagus nerve by singing loudly (in the shower, the car, on stage, wherever!) You can also gargle water three times a day to support the vagus nerve.

While many factors are not in your control, there’s still a lot you can do to protect your brain from neuro-degeneration. Supporting your gut brain axis is a crucial part of that process!