The Gut-Brain Axis

Recently, you may have heard about something called the gut-brain axis. “What is it?” you might be wondering. Well, it is exactly what it sounds like! It is the bidirectional relationship that exists between your gut and your brain – more specifically, the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system (1). This relationship links emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with the function of your gastro-intestinal tract by means of neural, endocrine and immune links (1).
 
            This means that the integrity of our gut and microbiome has a huge influence on our mental health – this means motivation, anxiety, depression, ruminating thoughts, mood swings and so much more (1). The integrity of our gut and microbiome is maintained through a healthy diet and appropriate supplements.
 
In clinical practice, evidence of the brain-gut axis comes from the association of gut dysbiosis with central nervous disorders (i.e. autism, anxiety-depressive behaviors) and functional gastrointestinal disorders (1). What this means is that so many behavioural problems that we see in clinic in both children and adults alike, could be stemming from a problem existing within our gut microbiome (1). For example, patients who have high anxiety, may also be presenting with symptoms of IBS.
 
This bidirectional communication network of the gut-brain axis includes:
 

• The central nervous system (CNS)
• The brain and spinal
• The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• The enteric nervous system (ENS)
• The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis (1).

 
Here at Sprouting Health, we often look at the balance between these systems. While adrenal dysfunction, viruses and bacteria could be disrupting your HPA axis, it is important to understand that your gut could be having the same effect!
 
The HPA axis is considered the core axis of your body that coordinates responses to stressors in your life, whether they be chemical, physical or emotional (1).  When we have increased stressors in our lives, hormonal dysregulation is common and therefore creates a cascading effect of imbalances in our body extending into the gut and the enteric nervous system (1). When these changes happen, our cellular makeup is altered and important cells in our microbiota are compromised, thus having a major effect on mental health and cognitive function (1).
 
Research has shown that many of the cognitive dysfunction or mental health symptoms that present in people appear to be strain-specific (1). This suggests that a potential role of certain supplementing with certain probiotic strains could be an accessory in managing certain neurologic disorders (1). To summarize, a healthier gut can give us a healthier brain, and thus a healthier body!
 
Here at Sprouting Health, we value the importance of holistic health and want to help you balance your nervous system through chiropractic adjustments, addressing chemical imbalances through applied kinesiology and emotional regulation through NET. We understand that a healthy gut is one of the most important steps in healing our bodies, and we are passionate about educating our patients around the issue!
 
References
 

1. Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203-209.