Wellness Wednesday: Health Tips for Your Second Brain

Kinetiq Health has started a new series called, Better Health in 90, to bring you health tips in 90 seconds or less from our expert clinical team.

In this Better Health in 90 video, Kinetiq Health Program Manager Kassee Lamm discusses our “second brain”, or our gastrointestinal system. She explains the importance of our GI system and how to keep it on a healthy track.

Read on for more information!

Have you ever heard someone refer to your gut as your second brain? They wouldn’t technically be wrong in saying that! Your gut includes every organ involved in digesting food and processing it into waste – and that’s why the lining of your gut is commonly referred to as the second brain.

Your brain has a direct effect on your stomach. This connection goes both ways. A troubled intestine can send signals to your brain just like a troubled brain can send signals to your gut. Your stomach and intestines can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress and even depression because the brain and GI system are intimately connected.

A healthy gut communicates with your brain through nerves and hormones which help maintain general health and well-being.

Your body will start showing signs if you have gut health issues including abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, nausea and even vomiting.

To avoid poor gut health, you can make small changes like eating more fruits and veggies and avoiding fried foods. Consuming alcohol and caffeine in moderation, avoiding excess sugar and soft drinks, avoiding antibiotics for conditions like the common cold or sore throat can help prevent poor gut health as well. The common cold and sore throats are usually due to viral infections that don’t respond to antibiotics anyway, and the antibiotics will wipe out all the good bacteria you need in your gut.

You can also start a food diary where you write down all the foods you are consuming for a couple of weeks. This will help you pinpoint the foods that are causing ongoing distress.

If you have gut problems like an upset stomach or unusual bathroom habits that don’t go away, it is important to see a doctor, starting with your primary care physician.

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