"The Gut Is the Second Brain – Between Flora and the Soul"

Introduction – It Works Silently
It works in silence. It accepts food, digests, and cleanses. But you only notice it when discomfort arises — bloating, gas, pain, or constipation.
You might find it strange, but the gut is not just a food tube — it’s like a brain. It feels, decides, responds. Sometimes, it knows what you feel before you do.

In this article, we’ll explore how the gut is a “second brain,” how its flora affects mental health, and why gut balance is vital for emotional well-being.

1. The Gut Brain: What Is the Enteric Nervous System?
There are over 100 million neurons in the human gut — more than in the spinal cord.
This system is called the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), and it can function independently of the brain.

ENS:

• Regulates digestion

• Produces hormonal signals

• Influences immunity

• Responds to stress

It sometimes speaks its own language without us realizing.

2. Flora – Our Invisible Friends
The gut contains around 1.5–2 kg of microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, and viruses — known as the gut flora.

Main roles of flora:

• Breaking down food

• Producing vitamins (especially K and B groups)

• Activating immune cells

• Detoxifying the body

• Maintaining hormonal balance

But most fascinating: flora sends messages to the brain.

3. A Two-Way Connection Between Gut and Brain
The gut and brain are directly linked via the vagus nerve.
Through this link, gut health affects our mood.

Examples:

• Dysbiosis (bad bacteria overgrowth) → anxiety and depression

• Healthy flora → increased serotonin and dopamine

• Poor digestion → higher risk of panic attacks

If your body isn’t at ease, your mind isn’t either.

4. Psychological Disorders Rooted in the Gut
Science proves a direct connection between gut flora and certain psychological disorders:

A disrupted gut — “leaky gut syndrome” — impacts both physical and psychological states.

5. Nutrition – Choices That Alter Brain Chemistry
Every bite either calms or disturbs the brain.

Good for flora:

• Probiotics: yogurt, kefir, pickles, kombucha

• Prebiotics: banana, onion, garlic, flaxseed

• Fibrous foods: raw veggies, oats, lentils

Harmful to flora:

• White sugar

• Fizzy drinks

• Artificial sweeteners

• Fried oils

“You don’t become what you eat — what you eat shapes how you feel.”

6. Stress and Flora – Friends That Harm Each Other
Under stress, the gut switches to “fight or flight” mode.
Digestion slows, blood is redirected, flora weakens.

Chronic stress:

• Increases inflammation

• Disrupts bacterial balance

• Causes constipation or diarrhea

• Affects mood and sleep

When the mind is calm, so is the gut.

7. Gut-Related Disorders With Psychological Roots

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): closely linked to anxiety and depression

• Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis: flare up with emotional stress

• Food sensitivities: gut tissue damage and immune reactions

8. Restoring the Gut – Healing the Soul

• Courses of probiotics (e.g., bifido and lacto strains)

• Calm, fiber-rich, natural diet

• Regular routine and stress management

• Meditation and breathing exercises

• Rebuilding flora after antibiotics is essential

9. Finally – That Voice From Within... Is the Gut
The body answers you.
When the soul is restless, knots form in your belly.
When emotions are tangled, the gut tightens, bloats, falls silent.
And in the end... the body speaks. If you listen, healing begins.

Question – SHEFEQ.COM asks:
What did you eat today — and how did you feel?
How is your digestion “responding” to you?
Do you believe there’s truly a link between gut and emotions?

Leave a comment – your thoughts matter:
What new perspective did this article give you?
What daily habits have you adopted to support your gut?
Share your views — you might touch someone’s soul.