Why the gut-brain connection is so important for our health

The close relationship between the state of our gut and brain is well known and scientifically proven, acting in synergy with each other. The gut microbiota is home to trillions of bacteria , viruses, and microscopic agents that act beneficially to maintain the health of both body and mind.

The connection between both organs occurs naturally and is undeniably possible, and it can be improved with a healthy lifestyle . New research confirms that the gut-brain axis operates with such intensity that it allows us to address psychiatric problems from a completely innovative and complementary perspective.

What exactly is the intestinal microbiota and what is its function?

The most recent studies highlight the role that the gut microbiota plays in the transition from health to disease, through its interaction with diet and the immune and neuroendocrine systems . Possible pathologies include obesity and neurological disorders.

Yolanda Sanz, a researcher from the Microbial Ecology, Nutrition and Health group at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology of the CSIC, and her team explain that "the intestinal microbiota protects us against the impact of adverse environmental factors (poor diets, antibiotics, infectious agents, etc.) and interacts with various organs and systems, regulating multiple physiological functions (metabolic, immune, neural, etc.) that are key to our health.

Disturbances in the gut microbiota can disrupt this symbiotic relationship and contribute to the development of diseases , ranging from intestinal pathologies to many other metabolic, mental, and/or autoimmune disorders. This occurs because the gut microbiota regulates various physiological functions.

The gut-brain axis and its interconnections

Both the gut and the brain are connected in three ways. One is through the vagus nerve, part of the nervous system , which connects the brain with organs like the heart and gut. But there's also a group of hormones that connect the gut to the brain: ghrelin and GLP-1, which send signals throughout the body.

Although many people believe that immune systems only operate in the blood and lymph nodes, in reality, much of it develops in the intestine, acting as intermediaries between the brain and the body. A summary of these relationships could be as simple as the brain needs a large amount of energy to function, and the intestine is an important storehouse of that energy.

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The gut-brain connection acts in a bidirectional manner

One of the intestine's main functions is to break down food into simple molecules and absorb them to provide "fuel" for the entire body, considering that the brain consumes 20 percent of all the body's energy.

The relationship between both organs is bidirectional. In a stressful situation, we easily feel the digestive reflex with nausea, stomach cramps, and real physical discomfort. Conversely, we can experience constipation , which can later lead to anxiety and stress.

Changes in the balance of the microbiota, what we call dysbiosis, have been associated with a wide range of diseases. It has been shown that gastric irritation in the first days of life can induce increased depression and anxiety-like behaviors, among other things. Dysbiosis is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease , and even some types of cancer.