Why is the intestine our second brain and how do you take care of it?
“Feel sick to your stomach”, “have your stomach in knots”, “digest information”... there are so many expressions which reveal the importance of the digestive system in our everyday life. And it’s no coincidence that the intestine is rightly considered to be our “second brain”.
What role does our intestine play? What connects the brain with the digestive system? And above all, how do you take care of your intestinal flora? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about our “second brain” 👇
The role of the intestine
The intestine plays an essential role in our organism. It’s also one of the most important organs in our body because it carries out many vital functions including:
- digesting food
- absorbing essential nutrients
- sorting toxic foods
Here are three key figures to know about our intestine:
- It’s 8 metres long and produces 95% of the serotonin made by our body.
- It contains no fewer than 100,000 billion bacteria that are essential for the functioning of our organism.
- It has around 200 million neurons - as many as in the brain of a cat or dog!
With the number of neurones it holds, the intestine is a nervous system in its own right: the enteric nervous system. It’s the second nervous system in the organism; hence its name of “second brain”
Link between the intestine and nervous system
Are you familiar with the expression “gut feeling”? It’s far from meaningless... The digestive system also acts on our emotions and cerebral activity.
There’s a strong link between the nervous system and the intestine. The exchange goes both ways! For example, facing situations of stress or anxiety, our brain sends messages to our intestine. As a result, the latter will contract to cause spasms, which alters the intestinal transit.
Do you want to understand the impact of diet on stress management? Read our article which explains everything you need to know!
How to boost your intestinal flora?
The intestine doesn't do the work alone, you also have a key role to play! We share three simple and effective tips to take care of your “second brain”:
1. Eat fibre! It can never be repeated enough, but fruit and vegetables are your best allies to maintain an intestinal flora in good health. You can even choose whole cereals that are rich in fibre, nuts and dried fruit.
Good to know: fibres guarantee the smooth functioning of the transit and the slowdown of sugar absorption.
2. Adopt a balanced diet! Make sure that you limit your intake of processed food which is poor in fibre and often too greasy, too salty, and too sugary! Drink enough water - good daily hydration is essential, because water facilitates the intestinal transit.
Good to know: it’s better to drink small quantities of water regularly instead of too much all at once!
3. Get into good habits! To boost your intestinal flora, it’s not just food that’s important.
It's true, taking the time to chew and having a healthy lifestyle can make all the difference.
Eating slowly makes your feel fuller. And did you know that a short walk after a meal uses the organs that are active in the digestion process?
Now, you know why the intestine is considered to be our “second brain”. Thanks to this article, you hold all the keys to boosting the health of your digestive system. To find out lots of advice about healthy, balanced and tasty meals, check out our other blog articles.
What about you, did you know all these fascinating facts about the intestine? What are your healthy habits and tips to take care of your intestinal flora? Tell us on your social media by tagging our Facebook page or our Instagram account.
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