Contributing Writer forWake Up World
Attitude and outlook may not all be in the head. Researchers have found that the gut can function like a second brain — influencing the nervous system and behavior. High fat intake has been shown to affect this gastrointestinal nervous system, helping to improve emotional balance. But not any fat will do — specific fatty acids are the key to unlocking a bright and stable frame of mind.
The gut isn’t just about digesting food — it also regulates our emotional climate throughout the day. A specialized field of study dubbed neurogastroenterology links the workings of the gastrointestinal tract with mood and emotional health. According to Michael Gershon, professor of pathology and cell biology atColumbia University, “The gut can work independently of any control by the brain in your head – it’s functioning as a second brain.” Through a network of 100 million neurons in the gut called the enteric nervous system (ENS), over 30 neurotransmitters are produced that are identical to those found in the brain — one of which is serotonin. Incredibly, 90 percent of all serotonin is located in the gut. Remember, serotonin is an important feel-good hormone that regulates sleep, appetite and mood. Gershon continues,”Tinkering with the second brain in our gut has lately been shown to be a potent tool for achieving relief from major depression.”
The results of a Belgian study confirm Gershon’s theory. Researchers bypassed the pleasures of eating by inserting a nasogastric tube into the stomach of healthy volunteers. They were then given either a saline or fatty acid solution through the tube. At the same time, each person was exposed to melancholic or neutral music along with sad or innocuous images. Feelings reported by participants as well as MRI brain scans showed that those who received the fatty acid infusion had about half the sadness compared with the saline group.
Feeding joyful emotions
For maximum emotional benefit, certain types of fat are more effective than others. Saturated fat from animal products like dairy, red meat and pork tend to cloud the brain, provoke aggression and trigger depression. Trans fats, which are found in foods like margarine, shortening and many fast foods, are anothermoodkiller. A happier, more positive choice would be omega-3 rich foods like salmon and other cold water fish, walnuts, flax and chia seeds. These fatty acids ‘feed’ the gut and emotions in a constructive way — helping to nourish a sunny and balanced disposition by directly supporting the enteric nervous system’s production of serotonin.
Article Sources
Mental and Emotional Effects of Fatty Foodsutne.com/mind-body/effects-of-fatty-foods
Your Backup Brainpsychologytoday.com/articles/201110/your-backup-brain
Fatty acid-induced gut-brain signaling attenuates neural and behavioral effects of sad emotion in humansjci.org/articles/view/46380
Healthy eating and your mood: How eating healthily can improve your mood and behaviour realbuzz.com/articles/healthy-eating-and-your-mood
Boost Brain Power with Good Fats 360-5.com
Essential Fatty Acids – Improving Fertility and Moodiaac.ca
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About the author:
Carolanne enthusiastically believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, Carolanne has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of organic living, gratefulness and joyful orientation for over 13 years. Through her website Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people from around the world who share a similar vision. Follow Carolanne on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
'More Than Just a Gut Feeling – How Mood and Emotions are Influenced by the ‘Second Brain’' have 2 comments
February 2, 2014 @ 6:03 pm Bernard
This article is partially correct. It makes a gross assumption that everybody on the planet are metabolically the same. Which is a gross generalization and incorrect.
Slow oxidizers have difficulty digesting protein and fat from Red meat and Poultry. Their digestive system tend to be weak and only do well on “light” type of food, leafy vegetables and fish.
Fast oxidizers on the other hand are those with strong digestive system, they NEED heavier form of food such as red meat and root vegetables.
Balanced oxidizers are somewhere in between, the do well on poultry and a variety of vegetables both roots and leafy ones. They can also tolerate a moderate amount of red meat and fat.
February 9, 2014 @ 9:59 am Randy H
I do not agree with her view on saturated fats. Also do not agree with her view on Omega 3’s being beneficial. My mood is consistently worse whenever I have taken fish oil which is why I stay away from it.