Health News, second brain discovered in digestive system


Breaking News: Researchers Discover that Humans Have Two Brains! By Caroline Noonan, Distance Learning Manager

It may sound like something straight out of a bad science fiction movie but I kid you not, scientists have indeed discovered a second ‘brain’ in the human body. Where?… right there in your digestive system! We have known for a while now that the gut houses certain elements of the nervous system, such as brain chemicals known to influence mood, but this exciting new research has established that the gut actually has a completely separate and independent nervous system that exists without control by the human brain. So what does all this mean?

Consider for a moment what happens to your gut when you are rushed or stressed. Many of us experience butterflies, but others will suffer badly with diarrhoea or nausea. These symptoms are your gut ‘brain’ sending messages to your brain which can directly affect your behaviour. In other words it would seem that the gut can influence how you feel and think. This knowledge has positive implications on improving our understanding and treatment of a range of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, depression and autism, all of which can manifest in associated digestive symptoms. In fact some researchers have suggested for a long time that one of the main causative factors in the development of autism is a poorly functioning gut.

We have a tendancy in the West to want to compartmentalise our body and consider every organ and system as a separate entity, however research like this demonstrates just how interlinked our organs all are. And considering the gut as a second brain is not such a big leap of faith when you consider what we have known for a long time now - that nearly 95% of the bodies ‘happy’ neurotransmitter serotonin is produced in the gut. Therefore problems in the gut that reduce serotonin production, may lead to depression and other similar disorders. Now we know that there is a whole other brain lurking somewhere in the intestines it is not too hard to see how a disorder of the digestive track such as IBS, which is commonly diagnosed if no named disease is found to account for digestive symptoms, can lead to neurological disorders. IBS affects nearly 20% of British people but because no cause can be found, many individuals suffer in silence with little or no help as they are led to believe it is all in their mind. This new found gut –brain connection proves it actually is….but not in the way we previously thought!

This information has already lead to some interesting new treatments being trialled such as implanting a pacemaker in the vagus nerve (the main nerve supplying the digestive track) to reduce symptoms of migraine, Alzheimer’s and tinnitus. It will be interesting to follow the results in the coming years.

As most people now know, the gut houses a significant amount of friendly bacteria (more bacteria in fact than cells in our body) and these also appear to be part of the gut brain, as research is now indicating that they may have a significant influence on our emotional wellbeing. Just how influential they are in the manifestation of disease is still to be determined however we do know that these friendly bacteria are constantly in communication with the brain. So how do we keep this communication line working effectively and keep our second brain sharp? Here are a few tips:

  • Decrease stress levels
  • Meditate: research shows that meditation can help relax the gut
  • Reduce alcohol consumption
  • Increase fruit and vegetables
  • Remember one man’s meat is another man’s poison so listen to your gut and eat foods that you feel nourish you
  • Reduce processed foods and sugars which can create a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and as a result reduce beneficial bacteria. In other words keep the good guys high and the not so good low through healthy eating.
  • Eat fermented foods such as sauerkraut, fermented soya, miso and live yogurt
  • Consider a daily probiotic supplement

Interesting links if you would like to read more

The Institute of Health Sciences, Ireland’s Top educational provider of Nutrition Courses in Ireland