Gut-Brain Axis
For a long time, it was assumed that the intestine was only a digestive organ without any further significance. Today we know that such a view vastly underestimated this organ because our intestines also protect us from diseases. Modern-day research has focused on the nerve connection between the gut and our brain, the so-called gut-brain axis.
Contents
What is the Gut-Brain Axis?
The gut-brain axis is the close connection and intensive exchange of information between the intestine and the brain, in both directions. A central element of the communication between the intestine and the brain is the nervous system. There are about 100 million nerve cells in the digestive tract – about four to five times as many as in the spinal cord – which is why the intestine is also called our second memory. This so-called enteric nervous system, our “abdominal brain”, in cooperation with the “head brain”, regulates, among other things, intestinal motility (i.e. the movement of the intestinal muscles), the blood flow in the digestive tract and also the immunological function of the intestine.
Probiotics influence the performance of the brain
The gut-brain axis is increasingly becoming the focus of scientific interest: there is a constant biochemical and nervous exchange of information between the brain and the digestive tract – in both directions – which influences us in many ways. Current studies impressively show that many different functions of the brain can be positively influenced by means of scientifically formulated multistrain probiotics.
What influence does your mental health have on the gut?
Improving psychological well-being through gut health – a goal set by the cooperation of Instahelp, the platform for psychological counselling online, with Institut AllergoSan! A Styrian cooperation that focuses on health around the psyche and the gut: It is well known that not only the psyche can affect the stomach, but also the intestine influences one’s mood. We are therefore very pleased to announce that we – the Centre for Microbiome Research – are working together with Instahelp on this point in order to be able to make a contribution to improving people’s holistic health.
