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Writer's pictureAlison Barrera

More Than Just Butterflies: How the Gut-Brain Axis Shapes Your Health


Studying Britannica Image Quest


Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach before a big event, like a final exam or a crucial presentation? These nerves are not just in your head—they are a prime example of the Gut-Brain Axis at work! Simply put, the Gut-Brain Axis is the two-way communication network between your digestive system and your brain (Appleton, 2018). 


When you’re stressed or nervous, have you ever felt nausea or cramps? This happens because your enteric nervous system— often referred to as the “gut brain” or “second brain”—and your central nervous system are constantly communicating through a complex neurological pathway that links to emotional stress and depression (Harvard Health Publishing, 2018).





“Vagus nerve anatomy, illustration” Britannica Image Quest


While many messengers play a role in the Gut-Brain Axis communication system, the principal one is the Vagus Nerve. Sounds a bit weird, right? The Vagus Nerve releases neurotransmitters: chemical messengers responsible for various bodily functions such as digestion, sleep, and acid production. While you may have heard of some neurotransmitters, like Serotonin and GABA, which affect your mood (Appleton, 2018), the Vagus Nerve's role is unique, directly linking your gut to your brain. 


Even as you read this article, trillions of bacteria in your gut are helping with digestion, but their role goes beyond that. Some of these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), maintaining healthy gut cells and, consequently, support your brain. Just as much as SCFAs can benefit both your gut and the brain, disruptions in this balance can lead to negative effects on both systems (Collins, 2000). 



Gut Microbiota for Health

If you’ve ever heard of “leaky gut syndrome,” it’s caused by dysbiosis, an imbalance of bacteria. This imbalance may lead to harmful substances in your gut escaping into your bloodstream, resulting in detrimental symptoms including severe pain, depression, and anxiety.




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Another example of the Gut-Brain Axis is the system responsible for your stress response: the HPA axis (hypothalimic-pituitary-adrenal axis). While you’re studying for that AP or IB Exam, your gut is probably releasing chemicals like galanin that activate the axis. These chemicals prompt the adrenal cortex to release cortisol—our body’s main stress hormone—throughout your body (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). 


These stress hormones, like Cortisol, can damage an important protective barrier in your gut called the epithelial barrier, which serves as a strong wall to keep invaders out of your intestines while retaining all the goodies (nutrients) in. However, once  your wall weakens, you’re more susceptible to gut disorders including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (Harvard Health Publishing, 2018).


What’s especially fascinating is that this connection is not a one-way-street. Disorders like depression and anxiety can lead to inflammation of your gut, and interestingly enough imbalances in the gut can cause stress. 

With this in mind, scientists have created anti-inflammatory drugs and probiotics that are now being looked at as potential treatment options for depression (Appleton, 2018). 


Seeing the clear relationship between gut and mental health, it's critical to note that disorders such as depression, which involve inflammation in the body, may be soothed through anti-inflammatory drugs. This sheds light on the concept of probiotics aiding mental health issues.


Next time you feel nervous, remember it’s not in your head! Your gut and brain are in constant communication, so taking care of your mental stress starts with protecting your gut—so prioritize eating healthy food!

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