Your hidden second brain is your awesome superpower
Your big brain is always talking to your little brain
I have a gut feeling that this may surprise you - you have a second “little” brain that your big brain is always depending on.
Actually your second brain is really not so little. It’s called your Enteric Nervous System (ENS) and it consists of 100 million nerve cells hidden in two thin layers of your intestinal system. It actually contains about five times the number of neurons more than your first (cognitive) brain.
Yes, lurking in the walls of your gut is your second brain.
If you’ve ever had a “gut reaction,” “gone with your gut,” or even felt butterflies in your stomach during a rush of emotion, you’ve felt your second brain doing what it’s supposed to do.
Knowing about the power of your second brain brings new focus on your nutrition and digestion and its link to your thinking patterns and habits, your memory, your emotional responses, your immune system and general mood and health.
Research shows, unlike the brain in your head, your second brain doesn’t handle as many complex tasks. Your ENS controls and responds to your digestive process from the moment you begin to consume food or drink. From swallowing to the breakdown of food enzymes into your blood, then to elimination, your ENS controls your digestion from start to finish.
The flow of your digestive process causes your ENS to send non-stop signals to your cognitive brain (in your head). Your second brain is always communicating with your first brain.
Anything that may disrupt or complicate your digestive flow will cause your ENS to fire off unhealthy or toxic thinking patterns and emotional shifts for you.
Your gut brain and first brain are also connected through chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters produced in your brains control your feelings and emotions.
Don’t let your gut get you down.
If you struggle with any bowel problems, including IBS, your second brain is sending signals to your first brain (through your central nervous system) which causes mood swings for you.
Your troubled second brain is stressing out your first brain. Your anger, anxiety, depression or sense of low self esteem starts in your gut.
It’s time to soothe your second brain. Your belly can help your emotions and moods.
Ever remember a time when you were “hangry” - you’re angry due to being hungry?
That’s your gut screaming for attention and dysregulating your mood.
The microbes that live in your gut are controlling your focus, memory, thinking habits and emotional swings. Your gut microbes make other neurochemicals that affect your cognitive brain.
I’ve recently made some significant changes to my daily food consumption and feel a shift in my moods and focus. You can be empowered to soothe your gut, too!
Here are some things you can do to improve your gut and soothe your ENS:
Eat protein within 30 minutes of waking up
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Eliminate processed foods
Reduce sugar, carbs, dairy intake
Add probiotic yogurt
Stay hydrated - lots of water
Limit or eliminate caffeine and alcohol
Eat more prebiotic foods:
Apples
Artichokes
Asparagus
Bananas
Barley
Berries
Dandelion greens
Flaxseed
Garlic
Green vegetables
Leeks
Legumes (peas and beans)
Oats
Onions
Tomatoes
Soybeans
Wheat
Eat more probiotic foods:
Yogurt
Kefir
Kombucha
Sauerkraut
Pickles
Miso
Tempeh
Kimchi
Sourdough bread
Exercise can change the composition of your gut microbiome and improve your gut health!
In a study from the University of Illinois, researchers found that exercising for just six weeks could have a significant impact on your gut’s microbiome.
Simple daily exercise like walking and stretching can have a healthy impact on your second brain.
And let’s go to Vagus!
Your two brains are connected by your Vagus nerve, which travels through your central nervous system. You can do some simple things to help stimulate your Vagus nerve and help communication between your two brains.
Your Vagus nerve activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps calm you when you feel stressed. This “rest and digest” part of your nervous system affects your breathing and heart rate.
Here are some simple ways to increase your Vagal tone, which will help you calm down when stressed:
Cold exposure - go outside in the cold air (cold temperatures in short sleeves?), take a cold shower, splash cold water in your face
Deep intentional breathing - slow, deep “belly” breathing down to your diaphragm
Singing, humming, chanting, gargling - your Vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords
Meditation - connecting to your brain’s theta waves significantly increases your Vagal tone
Massage - Foot massages and neck massages are best for your Vagus nerve
Socializing and laughing - the release of neurochemicals dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin will increase your Vagal tone
What are you going to do for your second brain today?