How Stress, Your Gut & Your Brain Are Related
One of the most exciting areas of new research is the gut-brain axis. Scientists have known for a long time that the brain sends messages to the gut. As the body’s central command center, the brain sends messages to all parts of the body. What’s new is the discovery that the gut talks back![1] The term “gut-brain axis” points out a two-way relationship between the GI system and the central nervous system (CNS).
This bidirectional system of gut-brain communication...
This is your gut on stress

Why is your gut so sensitive to stress?
The short answer is because it’s connected to your brain, which generates your emotional responses. The long answer is, well, longer. Stay with us while we get a little technical.

Five ways the gut and brain can communicate: 1) neuroanatomical pathway of the gut-brain (vagus nerve), 2) neuroendocrine-HPA axis pathway, 3) gut immune system, 4) gut microbiota metabolism system, 5) intestinal mucosal barrier and blood-brain barrier. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5040025/figure/F1/
The role of the vagus nerve in stress

Five ways the gut and brain can communicate: 1) neuroanatomical pathway of the gut-brain (vagus nerve), 2) neuroendocrine-HPA axis pathway, 3) gut immune system, 4) gut microbiota metabolism system, 5) intestinal mucosal barrier and blood-brain barrier. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5040025/figure/F1/
How stress can damage your core gut architecture
Stress can also cause dysfunction in your core gut architecture — the actual anatomy of your gut. For example, stress can:

- Increase intestinal permeability, reducing your gut barrier’s ability to protect you from germs and toxins in your food and environment.
- Cause inflammation of the gut mucosa, that protective coating which lines the hollow organs comprising your gastrointestinal system.
- Initiate unfavorable changes in the composition of your gut microbiota (known as dysbiosis), wherein the ratio of good to bad bacteria in your gut becomes imbalanced.
Links To Our References
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