The Gut-Brain Connection: What Your Microbiome Does to Your Mood

For most of medical history, the relationship between gut health and mental health was considered minimal. That understanding has been completely overturned in the last decade.

The Enteric Nervous System

The gut has its own nervous system - the enteric nervous system - containing over 500 million neurons. This is why the gut is often called the "second brain." It communicates bidirectionally with the brain via the vagus nerve (the body's longest nerve), meaning the gut and brain are in constant dialogue.

Serotonin: The Gut's Neurotransmitter

Approximately 95% of your body's serotonin - the primary neurotransmitter associated with mood stability, wellbeing, and emotional resilience - is produced in the gut. This means that the state of your gut microbiome directly influences your emotional state, your anxiety levels, and your capacity for positive emotion.

How to Support Your Gut-Brain Axis

• Eat a diverse range of fiber-rich foods: diversity of diet correlates directly with diversity of microbiome
• Include fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso supply beneficial bacteria
• Minimize ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, and excessive alcohol - all negatively impact microbiome diversity
• Manage stress: cortisol directly alters gut permeability and microbiome composition
• Prioritize sleep: the gut microbiome follows its own circadian rhythm, and disrupted sleep disrupts gut health