Feelings present in the brain often start in the gut; nerves before a presentation cause nausea, stress causes stomach aches, excitement creates butterflies in the stomach. These symptoms are more than self-fulfilling reactions – the gut and brain are very closely connected and heavily influence each other.
Neuron cells are found in the brain and control the body through the central nervous system. Surprisingly, there are 500 million neurons in the gut that are connected to the brain through the gut-brain axis, allowing common lanes of communication between the two. The gut and brain are also connected through neurotransmitters, many of which are produced by the gut.
Neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, are essential to feelings and brain activity. Because of this, gut health has been widely linked to brain performance and mood. The extent of potential in the gut is astounding; studies have even shown that probiotics can have similar effects on the brain to antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications like Diazepam
Vana’s liquid-form polyphenol delivery system extracts and delivers the benefits of its ingredients through the gut microbiome to help regenerate cellular membranes and increase blood flow and oxygenation to the parts of your body that need them most.
People with a poorly performing gut may be more likely to develop viruses because the lack of healthy microbes make it easier for viruses to infect cells in the digestive tract.
In addition to mental health, gut health also has the potential to increase brain cognition including memory and focus. This can increase the performance of students, athletes, professional, and anyone else looking to increase and optimize their brain function.
With mental health issues soaring, especially in young people, the gut-brain connection is vital to the future of nutrition, treatment, and mental health care. Realizing that the food we ingest directly affects mood, mental health, cognition and brain function will change diets and put an emphasis on probiotics and micronutrients.
