Emeran Mayer

Research is proving that "listening to your gut" is more than just a metaphorical saying. The combination of our gut biome and its interaction with the rest of our body creates a second brain, or perhaps a second half of a brain system. The two-way communication works through the vagus nerve, hormones and directly through molecules that make it into our blood stream. Our gut-brain connections are imprinted pre-birth and in our early years. This process includes both brain patterns and the default ecosystem of microbiota. Stress, antibiotics and food influence our gut health and in turn our immune and stress responses. Anxiety, depression and other mental issues can all be influenced by gut health. The balance of microbes reach stabilization points that can be dramatically affected by negative events and also cultivated by healthy behaviors, especially by consuming natural foods low in animal fats and with regular additions of pre and pro-biotic foods… (más)

The best part of this book was the last chapter which described what optimal health is and recommended ways to achieve it. And the next best was the section about gut feelings, how the gut's signals to the brain are stored and later accessed when making decisions. The rest focused on the digestive system biome and how it affects the nervous system as a whole. Although the case histories and anecdotes in this were interesting, overall it seemed a little repetitious and based more on opinion than fact. Maybe I was underwhelmed because I’d just finished I Contain Multitudes, an excellent book on the same subject and a hard act to follow.… (más)