Yes, your bowel makes more serotonin than your brain does and some people call the bowel your second brain because it has more serotonin receptors too, than your brain. I have helped to resolve many peoples symptoms of anxiety, depression, learning disability, irritability and paranoia with focusing on healing the bowel, first. If you have been reading my blog, you know I mean the GAPS diet. The science that shows there is an association with improper growth of organisms (called dysbiosis) in the bowel and illness is very strong. There are many causes of dysbiosis: vitamin D deficiency, mother's use of birth control, birth by C/S, use of antibiotics without enough probiotics, stress, refined carbohydrates in the diet especially wheat, toxins in our food and drinking water, and foods that are devoid of healthy bacteria (diets without naturally fermented foods). So you see normal life in a western society can easily lead to dysbiosis.
And the consequences of the damaged bowel, and there are many: poor absorption of nutrients, mental health issues from mild to severe, autoimmune disorders, inflammation and more. A short list and the remedies are listed here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/18/mcbride-and-barringer-interview.aspx
Here is a quote from the same article:
Your gut serves as your second brain, and even produces more serotonin—known to have a beneficial influence on your mood—than your brain does. It is also home to countless bacteria, both good and bad. These bacteria outnumber the cells in your body by at least 10 to one, and maintaining the ideal balance of good and bad bacteria forms the foundation for good health—physical, mental and emotional.
Most disease originates in your digestive system. This includes both physical and mental disease. Once you heal and seal your gut lining, and make your digestive system work properly again, disease symptoms will typically resolve
The GAPS protocol is designed to restore the integrity of your gut lining by providing your body with the necessary building blocks needed for health enterocyte reproduction, and restoring balance to your gut flora. Basic dietary details are included.
But the good news is that the bowel can be healed, in your own home, without toxic chemicals or expensive therapeutic medical expenses.
One of the super healing foods is Sauerkraut and here is one of my articles on Sauerkraut and a super easy recipe for it:
To your health,
Dr. B
