Post created by Breanna and Simona
The Enteric Nervous System has become to have a greater effect on our gastrointestinal system then once thought. Many people know of the small voice or feeling that one gets when they are making a decision or just have an inclination to an event that has or is occurring. The ENS has its own major nerve supply to the GI tract that controls the motility throughout it. The movement of food is conquered by smooth muscle contraction. The ENS directs traffic of incoming decisions and actions the body needs to follow.
Signals to the brain are stimulated by irritation to the gut and therefore lead to possible mood swings. The John Hopkins Medicine research started identifying a correlation between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to the oncoming depression and the ENS. The ENS sends signals to the Central Nervous System that lead to an irritated gut. The strange part about this system is that the signals to the brain seem to lead to a mental disruption in the form of depression or anxiety. The goal of treatment for the ENS is to take medicine for anxiety and depression instead of stomach meds because the brain has mentally been affected.
The interesting thing about the ENS, is now studies are finding that certain neurotransmitters are being stored or made in the gut. Up to 90% of the serotonin found in the body is located in the gut. This chemical is famously responsible for mood regulation (Your). Taken this information, it is important to recognize the effect that food must have by correlation to functions like mood. Scientist has now discovered that some bacteria in the gut microbiome can actually produce neurotransmitters. This means that keeping healthy gut bacteria keeps significantly healthier gut-brain communication. For example, foods high in protein and fat such as salmon, certain seeds and eggs encourage the production and uptake of serotonin. Thus, giving you a mood boost.
The implication here, of the impact food, has on your gut is a huge development in science and specifically psychology. Now more than ever, studies are finding that depression or conditions like bipolar disorder can be treated by changing the diet of patients, or supplying them with probiotic supplements that encourage the uptake and production of chemicals that make us feel good! This means that more than ever, patients will have little to no side effects when taking supplements, rather than taking medication that makes them feel foggy or increasing dosage as the patient's body becomes resistant to potent medications.
This development also helps us understand how conditions like obesity, or the food we eat affects us mentally. I have found in my own life that my mood or attention span will be much better when I eat snacks like nuts and dried food rather than a bag of chips which almost always makes me tired or groggy. Something to think about next time we students are pulling an all-nighter when studying for our A+P exams!
References
“Your Gut Can Influence How You Feel: It All Starts with GABA and Serotonin.” The Body Ecology, 17 Jan. 2020, bodyecology.com/articles/your-gut-can-influence-how-you-feel-it-all-starts-with-serotonin/.