Do 'Gut Feelings' Really Exist? | HuffPost Life

The science behind the 'second brain' explained.

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Life Editor at HuffPost UK

We often talk about going with our “gut feeling” when making a difficult decision or meeting someone we’re no sure of, but does the sensation exist in a scientific sense?

According to Amy Shira Teitel from D News, we really do “feel things” from our gut.

Shira says our bodies are teaming with bacteria, most of which lives in our gut.

This bacteria regulates digestion and metabolism and helps programme the body’s immune system. It also plays an integral part in our experiences of “gut feelings”.

m-imagephotography via Getty Images

The gut bacteria is so sophisticated that it’s evolved into a complex neurological network, called the enteric nervous system, which is sometimes referred to as the “second brain”.

Scientists believe the gut and the brain are connected, influencing each other in both positive and negative ways.

For example, gut bacteria produces chemicals which regulate basic mental processes, influencing things like memory and mood.

Meanwhile psychological stress has been shown to affect the gut, by suppressing certain helpful bacteria and making us more likely to get sick.

This link between the gut and the brain helps us process things like body temperature, breathlessness and heart rate and helps our body react in an appropriate way, for example, drinking when thirsty and processing water.

“Whether or not we’re aware our body is sending these signals, they happen, particularly when we’re making risky decisions,” Teitel explains.

“They send information to the brain and affect the way we make decisions, so what you think of as a ‘gut feeling’ is actually you responding to those subtle cues.”

So there you have it, gut feelings do exist. Whether or not you should follow them is another matter.

14 Ways To Maintain And Sustain A Happy Gut

Don't Dilute(01 of14)

Drinking water is always a good idea, but too much can dilute the natural acids and enzymes in your stomach. "Drinking large amounts of water immediately prior to, or during, meals makes it harder to digest food," says Vancouver-based naturopathic doctor Jason Marr of Evoke Integrative Medicine Ltd. To keep your gut bacteria in good shape, try adding a fresh squeeze of lemon in your water. (credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)

Concentrate Your Enzymes(02 of14)

Eat more sour and bitter foods. "Our digestive enzymes function on a feed-forward mechanism, and anything that makes you salivate is generally stimulating the rest of your digestive tract too," Marr explains. Consider adding apple cider vinegar or a few drops of bitter herbs to your diet to get your digestion “engine” going. (credit:2002lubava1981 via Getty Images)

Eat Your Salad First(03 of14)

Salads tend to contain both bitter greens and sour dressings which kick off the churning action of your stomach and intestines (this is called peristalsis, Marr adds). (credit:Elena_Danileiko via Getty Images)

Sit Down, Slow Down And De-Stress(04 of14)

"Your body’s nervous system needs to realize it’s time to eat, and shift into 'parasympathetic' mode in order to digest, and divert blood to your digestive tract to absorb your food," Marr says. So make it a habit to sit down while you eat. (credit:imagenavi via Getty Images)

Eat Nutrient-Dense Foods(05 of14)

"Empty calories" refers to foods that not only lack nutrients, but foods that require you to expend more nutrients than you are consuming. To keep your gut happy, always ask yourself what vitamins and minerals are in the foods you are eating. (credit:vicuschka via Getty Images)

Diet Does Not Equal Nutrition(06 of14)

Digestion is a lot more complicated than just eating and chewing, Marr says. "In order to get the full benefits of the foods we eat we must absorb it into our blood stream, transport it around our body, and deliver it into each of the trillions of cells in our body. Then, we’ve got to get rid of the waste product before they do damage to our body." (credit:Lea Roth via Getty Images)

Keep A Routine(07 of14)

As much as possible and within reason, Marr recommends waking up, eating, sleeping, going to work and exercising at approximately the same times each day. "The idea here is to train your body to know, and expect, when it will need to release certain hormones, digestive enzymes, and other chemicals to make your day run smoothly," he explains. (credit:Tatomm via Getty Images)

Don't Graze(08 of14)

Contrary to the popular diet trend of eating frequent meals, Marr says this is actually a bad idea for your gut. "Your digestive system requires about four hours between meals to clear your small intestine of food particles and bacteria," he explains. "If it’s unable to do this, the leftover food and bacteria can begin to ferment, causing gas, bloating and clog up the gut." (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)

Savour And Enjoy(09 of14)

Truly enjoying your food and tasting all of its flavours is sure to make your mouth water, which kicks off the feed-forward digestive process, Marr adds. (credit:Pascal Broze via Getty Images)

Fermented Fun(10 of14)

You may have already noticed certain foods, especially those that are plant-based, can cause gas and bloating. Marr credits the “anti-nutrients” in these foods, such as lignans or phytates for disrupting the digestion process. "The ancient process of fermentation not only breaks these anti-nutrients down, but the process also imparts better flavour, texture, and access to nutrients in those foods," Marr notes. If kimchi, saurkraut and kefir aren't for you, try fermented supplements and functional foods like greens and protein powders. And even if you aren't experiencing gut problems, Marr recommends regularly consuming fermented foods to maintain optimal gut health. (credit:marekuliasz via Getty Images)

Take The “Dairy Dare”(11 of14)

Got an issue with milk? You aren't alone. According toMarr, milk and dairy products are the most common food sensitivity and intolerance. To improve your digestive health, Marr challenges his patients to eliminating 100 per cent of all milk and dairy products for a two to four week period. Yes, that means all cheese, yogurt, and coffee cream too. (credit:Lise Gagne via Getty Images)

Identify Trigger Foods(12 of14)

Food intolerances and sensitivities, are not the same as food allergies. Intolerances are often the culprit for uncomfortable gas and bloating, these can be difficult to identify because trigger foods often to cause noticeable symptoms until up to three days later.
Food sensitivities, on the other hand, can be tested reliably for via blood antibody testing, but according to Marr, the gold standard is elimination of those foods, and then a process of reintroducing those foods in a “challenge” phase. (credit:Paul Bradbury via Getty Images)

Reinoculate with Probiotics(13 of14)

"As far as reactive treatments, probiotics may be the most likely natural health product to quell symptoms of gas and bloating," Marr says. But not all probiotics work the same. Speak to an experienced healthcare practitioner about whether probiotics would be right for you, and if so, what dosage would be best in your situation. (credit:IAN HOOTON via Getty Images)

Repair(14 of14)

To relieve gas, bloating at other digestive disorders, Marr suggests consuming supplements like L-glutamine, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) from green tea, bioflavonoids like quercetin, protective, coating herbs like slippery elm, and anti-inflammatory herbs like Boswellia (frankincense). "[These] supplements promote proper and healthy growth of the intestinal lining to ensure long-term and sustainable results," Marr notes. (credit:Clive Champion - Champion Photography Ltd. via Getty Images)

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