20/08/2022
😱You have TWO BRAINS? 🧠
Not really. 🙃 Your actual brain sitting on your shoulders is still its own fascinating, complex, unique thing. 💁♀️ (I’m sure if brains could voice their opinions, they would appreciate this statement. Is it just us or would you imagine a speaking brain to have quite a confident personality? 😎 Anyways…)
Still, the network of neurons that innervate your gastrointestinal tract has gained the nickname of ‘second brain’. ✌️Also called the enteric nervous system (ENS), it is the largest of the three branches of the autonomic nervous system in your body. The other two major branches you might’ve heard of are the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous systems.
So why has the ENS the honor of being called a second equivalent to your brain?
1. It operates independently. Although it is in constant communication with the rest of the autonomic nervous system, the ENS can operate independent of brain and spinal cord. 💪
2. It communicates like the brain. The ENS communicates using a variety of neurotransmitters that are also found in the brain. Over 90% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine in your body are found in the ENS! 😱
3. Mental health. Depending on what and how you eat and drink and your overall gut health, the feedback between ENS and brain can influence your mood, stress level, hormones, etc. - basically, your overall mental health (!) ☀️
4. Physical health. Disease can potentially spread from the gut to the brain! Diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or ALS come with both measurable neurological and gastrointestonal consequences. ENS and brain can also communicate through immune signalling. 🦠
5. Complexity. Both, the ENS and brain nervous system are highly complex and thus we don’t understand them fully yet. Thus, we think that they’re equally fascinating and undoubtedly equally important for thriving! 🚀
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