Trust Your Gut: How Your 'Third Brain' Shapes Your Physical Intelligence

Your brain talks to your gut, and your gut talks back. And, believe it or not, you are very much aware of this 'chatter.' It's that unique 'gut feeling' you probably experienced at least once in your life.

Whether it's the 'butterflies' in your stomach before an exciting event or the 'gut-wrenching dread' of something unpleasant, these sensations are your body's way of signaling your Head [1st Brain].

It's the 'My gut tells me' sensation that, according to ongoing research, is not just based on intuition but rather on a strong brain-gut axis (connection).*¹

The brain-gut connection transmits more information than any other pathway in the body.*

How so? Your Head [1st Brain] brain communicates with the entire body (including with the Heart [2nd Brain]) via the vagus nerve—part of the nervous system.

Still, its connection with the gut is especially significant. It's quite unique, actually. Why? Because your head and your gut share information on everything from physical sensations to emotional states.*²

Our Head [1st Brain] and Gut [3rd Brain] are connected by an extensive network of neurons and a highway of hormones and chemicals that constantly provide feedback about how hungry we are, if we've ingested a disease-causing microbe, or whether or not we're experiencing stress, to name a few.*

Digestion is required for survival. We do it every day, but also, if you really think about it, it sounds very foreign and alien.

Breaking down food requires coordination across dozens of cell types and many tissues—from muscle cells and immune cells to blood and lymphatic vessels.

The gut's own network of nerve cells, the Enteric Nervous System (ENS)—home to 500 million neurons, nearly as complex as the brain of a small animal—is heading this effort.*

ENS weaves through the intestinal walls from the esophagus down to the rectum. It's a complex network that can function nearly independently from the Head [1st Brain].

But that doesn't mean the Head [1st Brain] can't exert a direct effect on the stomach and intestines (especially the small intestine, where most of the nutrient absorption happens).*³

For example, just thinking about eating can trigger the release of stomach acids before you take the first bite.

What does this mean for the link between psychological and physical health? It means the connection can go both ways.*

Just as a troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, a troubled brain can influence the gut. Hence, a person's stomach or intestinal distress may cause or result from uneasiness, stress, or sadness.*

If you really think about it... it becomes easier to understand why you might feel nauseous before giving a presentation or may feel intestinal pain during times of stress or anxiousness.*

Roughly 95% of our body's serotonin is produced in the gut.*

For decades, researchers have believed that your Head [1st Brain] was the only organ responsible for producing neurotransmitters (chemical messengers involved in a variety of functions in your body).

Surprisingly, appreciable evidence shows that your gut microbiome can influence the production of some neurotransmitters (and their precursors).*⁴

In fact, the gut produces as much dopamine (our 'feel-good neurotransmitter' associated with reward and pleasure) as the head-brain. Your gut can also make nearly 95% of the serotonin (responsible for maintaining mood balance) and some amounts of gamma-aminobutyric acid (or GABA, which is important for emotional well-being).*^5,6

Take serotonin, for example. It's no secret that serotonin is important for many processes in your Head [1st Brain] (like regulating mood and sleep).*

What most don't know is that serotonin can also play a role in digestion.⁷ Interestingly, the changes serotonin induces in the gut can also send signals to the brain, influencing neurotransmitter production there.*

Studies suggest that GABA may follow a similar 'trend.' Boosting "good" gut bacteria may increase the production of GABA.⁸ In other words, beneficial bacteria in the gut can influence the brain's chemical environment.*⁹

Researchers have also looked into how certain psychosocial factors not only influence gut physiology but also its symptoms.

In essence, the Gut [3rd Brain] acts as a 'Physical Intelligence Center' where stress, anxiousness, or other psychological factors may impact the movement and contractions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Study 1 → A 2017 study published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society found a link between gut microbiome composition and cognitive performance in seniors.*¹⁰

The study concluded that seniors with higher proportions of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia and lower proportions of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria performed significantly better on tests associated with attention, learning, and memory.*

Study 2 → According to a more recent study published in Nutrients in 2023, poor gut health may play a role in the development and progression of mental health issues (including anxiousness and mood challenges).*¹¹

The study found that individuals experiencing more sadness had higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae and Alistipes (considered ‘bad’ bacteria) while having lower levels of Faecalibacterium (‘good’ bacteria).*

The study also revealed a decrease in the diversity of gut bacteria among those with mental health challenges, as well as a reduction in the production of short-chain fatty acids by the bacterial flora.*

As well known neuroscientist John F. Cryan, Professor & Chair, Dept. of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, once said:

"It's important to remember that the microbes were here before humans existed, so we have evolved with these 'friends with benefits.'"

Get started on a more balanced gut.

The ongoing research into the head-heart-gut axis on the head-heart-gut axis and its role in our overall health and wellbeing can significantly impact how we take nootropics.¹²

At HCF®, we believe that true cognitive enhancement extends beyond just supporting the head-brain. To us, it's evident that an integrative approach can help enhance the bidirectional communication between our three 'brains.'*

Optimal brain health may require harmonizing the interconnected trio of intelligence centers: Head (Logic & Intellect), Heart (Emotions & Feelings), and Gut (Instinct & Intuition).*

Our cutting-edge nootropics feature advanced time-release microbead neuro-nutrients, meticulously designed to enhance cognitive performance. This innovative approach supports all three ‘brains,’ helping each function at their peak and promoting a balanced state of well-being.*