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The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis: The New Frontier of Mental and Physical Health

Our bodies have many interconnected systems, and in order to live a healthy life, all of these systems must continue to function smoothly. The gut-brain-immune axis is one of the relatively newly discovered systems and has a significant impact not only on our physical health but also on our mental health. While you are enjoying yourself on a site like online Casino ICE, millions of microbes living in your intestines may be regulating not only your immune system but also your emotions and thoughts.

What Is the Gut-Brain-Immune Axis?

Imagine a communication network connecting the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, and immune system. This is a complex network because it consists of dozens of pathways: if it were a real road, you’d probably get lost. These pathways pass through nearly all the important points in your body and determine the hormones you secrete, the responses your nervous system gives, and how and when your immune cells function.

At the center of this communication network is the enteric nervous system, known as the second brain. This is an extremely complex structure that can contain 600 million neurons and operates completely independently of your central nervous system. It primarily communicates with your brain through the vagus nerve and extends from your mouth to your intestines. You have no direct control over it, and this is actually a good thing, because it is your enteric nervous system that causes you to vomit when you are poisoned.

The communication network ends in your intestines, or gut microbiome. The microorganisms here actively produce neurotransmitters, which have a direct effect on both your brain functions and your immune system. The same neurotransmitters found in your brain are also present in your intestines. For the same reason, they also affect your mood: if your intestines don't feel good, neither do you.

If these explanations seem complicated, imagine this:

       The communication network we described above starts in your brain.

       It encompasses your entire digestive system through the enteric nervous system and reaches your intestines.

       This communication network ends in your intestines, but because of the neurotransmitters produced by the microbes there, it affects your brain functions. In other words, it comes full circle.

The more smoothly and efficiently this communication network works, the better your overall health and mental health will be.

How Can the Intestines Affect the Brain?

The name of the primary neurotransmitter produced by your brain is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The microorganisms in your intestines produce the same thing, meaning they play an important role in determining the level of GABA in your body. Because they produce the same type of neurotransmitter, your intestines have a direct effect on your brain function. But that's not all:

       Approximately 90% of serotonin, a hormone that promotes happiness and well-being, is produced in the gut, as the bacteria responsible for this process are only found in this part of our body. Gut bacteria also produce dopamine, a hormone responsible for pleasure and motivation. If your serotonin and dopamine levels are low, you may experience depression.

       Approximately 70% of the immune cells in our body are produced in the gut. Although most people are unaware of it, the gut is the largest immune organ in our body. The better it functions, the stronger your immune system becomes. 

In short, your brain may control your body, but its health and happiness depend on the gut.

New Treatments and Therapies

The discovery of the importance of the gut-brain-immune axis has also led to the development of new treatments and therapies aimed at making this communication network more efficient. Some examples include:

       Psychobiotics: A type of therapy that uses Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria to treat psychiatric disorders.

       Fecal microbiota transplantation: This involves transferring microbiota from a donor to a patient.

Consuming fermented and probiotic-rich foods can also be considered a therapeutic method. Increasingly, more people are adding foods such as kefir, kimchi, yogurt, whole grains, and green tea into their diets.

The gut-brain-immune axis is not a miraculous discovery, but it offers a new perspective on how our bodies actually function. The gut is far more important to our physical and mental health than we realize, and preventive treatments targeting it can prevent many diseases before they even emerge. 

author

Chris Bates



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