Speakers: Dr. Kristina Carman and Kristina Morros, CRNA

Before we get started, a special thanks to the duo of Dr. Kristina Carman and Kristina Morros, CRNA, the brilliant minds behind the content in our Tools & Guides section. Their expertise and hard work are what brings FLCCC’s guides to life. 🙏

Stick with us to the end of this post for a peek at their newest creations!

The Gut-Brain Axis and Mental Health

In the webinar above, our panel discussed a number of topics, from stress to brain health. One of the biggest concepts they covered was something called the Gut-Brain Axis and why it matters for mental health.

Though it may sound hard to believe, the human gut plays a role in many systems that affect your brain and mental health. According to Dr. Carman, there’s more to it than just butterflies in the stomach:

“90% of the body’s serotonin is actually made in the gut.”

That alone would be reason to focus on improving your gut health. But as we’ll discover, the gut-brain connection operates through a variety of mechanisms.

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The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health Explained

The Gut-Brain axis is extremely important to brain health and mental health:

• Gut microbiota effect on mental health: Gut microbiota composition has been shown to impact likelihood of developing psychiatric and neurological disorders.
• Impact of Gut Health on Mental Well-being: An imbalance in gut bacteria might contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This is why disturbances in the gut can affect your emotional and cognitive functions.
• Communication Pathways: The gut and brain are linked through various biochemical signaling pathways, including the nervous system, immune system, and hormones. This includes the vagus nerve, one of the biggest nerves connecting your gut and brain, which sends signals in both directions.

How the Gut and the Brain Work Together

You might not have thought about it, but Dr. Carman says “there is a real communication that’s happening between the gut and the brain and the whole nervous system.”

We now know the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord, plays a crucial role in the gut-brain connection, particularly in how the body handles stress and emotional processing, which in turn affects gut health.

Here’s how the CNS is involved:

Neurotransmitter Production:

Stress Response

Inflammatory Response

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

1. Neurotransmitter Production:

The gut is often described as the body’s “second brain” because it contains a vast network of neurons in the enteric nervous system, which is linked directly to the central nervous system (CNS) via the vagus nerve. This connection allows the gut to communicate with the brain.

As we alluded to earlier, Serotonin is produced most often in the gut. Plus, there are high levels of Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and GABA produced there

2. Stress Response

The CNS plays a key role in the body’s response to stress. When you’re stressed, the brain sends signals through the CNS to various parts of the body, including the gut.

This can disrupt gut functions such as movement, secretion, and protective barriers, significantly affecting the balance of gut bacteria. Persistent stress can lead to gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

3. Inflammatory Response

The CNS also influences the immune system, which is crucial for gut health. Inflammatory responses initiated by the CNS can damage the gut lining, potentially leading to issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Inflammation in the gut can also feed back to the CNS, possibly worsening brain inflammation, which is thought to contribute to certain neurodegenerative and mood disorders.

4. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The ANS, a part of the CNS, regulates the function of internal organs, including the gut. The interaction between the gut and brain involves the ANS, operating through the parasympathetic (rest and digest) and sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous systems. This regulates digestive processes based on the body’s needs at any given moment.

Learn How to Reduce Stress (and More) with FLCCC Guides

If you want to stay on top of future research for mental health, stress reduction, and a huge number of health-related topics, then you need FLCCC’s tools & guides! You’ll find a nearly-never-ending list of topics that are virtually guaranteed to help you live a healthier lifestyle.

Here are a few of our latest to get you started. Enjoy!