Although serotonin is well known as a brain neurotransmitter, it is estimated that 90 percent of the body’s serotonin is made in the digestive tract. It is produced in the digestive tract by particular types of immune cells and neurons.
The central nervous system (CNS), which is found in the brain and in the spinal cord, evolved from what is called the enteric nervous system (ENS), or the nerve tissue and neurotransmitters belonging to the gastrointestinal tract.both the brain and the gut share much of the same tissue, there is an uncanny relationship between the nervous system and the digestive system.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are sometimes prescribed for bouts of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). SSRIs are typically used to treat depression. However, physicians have discovered that when treating depression in patients with IBS, that these patients also find relief from irritable bowel symptoms when they take an SSRI drug. These findings have been confirmed with MRI imaging: there is a clear relationship between gut function and brain function.
What exactly is going on?
Seratonin is a neurotransmitter. It is responsible for regulating things in the body like mood, appetite, and sleep. The right amount of serotonin in the brain produces a relaxed and positive feeling
Gut bacteria have also been found to play a significant role in the communication that goes on between the brain and the gut.
Because the tissue in the gastrointestinal tract is largely nerve tissue, it follows that the friendly microorganisms in the gut would not only benefit the digestive system but also the nervous system.
TAKE AWAY POINTS……
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Scientists have discovered in the past several decades that there is direct communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract.
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90% of the serotonin produced in the body is found in the gut, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating appetite, mood, sleep, and relaxation.
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Gut bacteria significantly influences the communication between the brain and the gut. When the gut is full of healthy bacteria, it has the potential to regulate mood and positive feelings.
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Beneficial bacteria in the gut will increase GABA receptors in the brain to alleviate mood disorders like chronic depression.
