A particularly stressful time, a difficult relationship, a test to overcome, put a strain on our mental health. Let’s try to think locally and we will notice that common pathologies such as gastritis, colitis and all problems involving the digestive system are linked to stressful periods.
Somatizing stress is a natural process that our body carries out according to the state in which our mind is. But science is clear, there are two organs connected to each other that have a very close bond.
Unbelievable but true, the human body has two brains and science says so
Incredible but true, in our body there is in fact a second brain and it is located in the abdominal system. We refer to the stomach which, in terms of composition, contains neurotransmitters in its tissues, just like brain tissue.
Not surprisingly, serotonin, the wellness molecule that makes us feel pleasure, certainly acts in our brain, but 95% is produced in the stomach! For example, when we eat something good, the intestine activates its receptors and increases the presence of serotonin, which will be processed in the brain.
Conversely, when there is inflammation in the intestine we produce an excess of serotonin, the brain is able to break it down through an enzyme, making us feel a sense of sadness.
But that’s not all, let’s find out what else our second brain can do
According to scientific studies, the stomach is even equipped with memory. This means that the stress immediately would not be eliminated, but would settle, settle down and could have effects even years later. An example are children who suffer from colic in childhood and who, as adults, would have been found to have a propensity to develop diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Emotions, therefore, would interact and influence the health of our digestive system and in particular of the stomach. When we are particularly tense, we tend to ingest a lot more air than normal and failing to expel it from the nose and mouth, we cause abdominal swelling.
Therefore, learning to listen to your body is necessary to avoid somatizing stress and having long-term effects and consequences. Nutrition also clearly plays a fundamental role in this.
Who would have ever imagined it? So it’s incredible but true, the human body has two brains and science says it!