Gut Brain Axis

The Gut and Body Connection

It’s amazing how profoundly our gut influences our overall health. In fact, it can be considered the very foundation of our well-being. The connection between our gut and brain is called the “gut-brain-axis”. The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication network that links the gut and brain through a combination of nerves, hormones, and immune signals.

The gut is directly affected by the brain. For example, just thinking about food can make the digestives juices flow before the food even gets there. Through millions of nerves, most notably the vagus nerve, our gut and brain are physically connected. In addition to regulating inflammation, the gut and its bacteria produce a range of hormones like serotonin, and GABA, that have an impact on mental health.

The Gut-Brain Link

This connection and link works both ways. When our mind or brain is upset, it can send signals to our gut, and the same is true when the gut is upset. Therefore, anxiety, stress, and even depression can cause or be caused by a person’s gut or microbiome problems. That’s because the brain and the gut are closely connected to each other.

Let’s explore the gut-brain-axis a little deeper:

Gut-Brain-Axis Link Points:

The gut doesn’t just affect physical health—it also deeply impacts our emotions and immune function. When our gut is compromised, particularly by harmful bacteria, it weakens our immune system and even affects our emotional resilience.

The Two-Way Gut-Brain Link

The connection between the gut and brain is more direct than many people realise. For instance, simply thinking about food can trigger digestive juices to start flowing even before eating. This happens because the gut and brain are physically connected through millions of nerves, with the vagus nerve playing a key role. Beyond communication, the gut and its bacteria also produce important hormones, like serotonin and GABA, which directly influence mental health.

Food, Mood, and Gut Health

This gut-brain relationship works in both directions. When the brain is stressed, it sends signals to the gut, and when the gut is imbalanced, it sends signals to the brain.

This bi-directional communication explains why anxiety, stress, and depression are often linked to gut problems like Candida overgrowth, SIBO, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease.

In many cases, disturbances in the gut microbiome can contribute to stress, emotional, or mental health issues, and vice versa (Xiong et al., 2023). This is especially evident in cases where gut problems have no obvious physical cause. Over the years, I’ve commonly seen in our clinic that treating functional gastrointestinal disorders requires addressing triggers such as stress and emotional factors. Without managing these effectively, it can be nearly impossible to heal a troubled gut.

A study from the British Medical Journal highlights that anxiety and depression are often linked to gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria) and inflammation. The foods we eat influence blood sugar levels, immune function, and the gut microbiome, all of which affect mood (Firth 2020).

In recent years, probiotics have been shown to improve mental and cognitive health. By restoring the balance of gut bacteria, probiotics can help manage and even prevent anxiety and depression (Clapp 2017). Gut health plays a key role in supporting immune function, therefore our health (Clapp et al., 2017).

The Gut And Our Immune System

Our immune system plays a crucial role in the gut-brain axis. Think of the gut as the body’s border control, regulating what enters and exits the body. The microorganisms in the gut help strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and influence both physical and mental health (Rooks 2016).

However, when the immune system becomes overactive, it can lead to inflammation, which has been linked to mental illnesses such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease (Lucas 2006). Gut microbiome imbalances lead to auto-immune diseases (Wu et al., 2012).

Key Points:

The Appetite and Metabolism Link

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining health by influencing appetite, food intake, and overall metabolic function. Individual species of bacteria within our gut compete for survival by fermenting dietary nutrients and creating “metabolites”, natural substances which can directly impact appetite regulation through neuroactive compounds and short-chain fatty acids (Liu et al., 2022).

These microbes also interact with the immune system, manipulate our intestinal barrier, and affect bile acid metabolism, all of which indirectly influence eating behaviour.

Gut bacteria’s impact on nutrient sensing, appetite, and satiety-regulating systems is increasingly recognised in conditions like obesity, anorexia nervosa, and malnutrition (Han et al., 2022).

Research into the gut microbiota’s role in these processes may offer new treatment strategies for disorders like obesity and anorexia, potentially leading to novel therapies targeting the microbiota to restore balance in appetite and metabolism. (van de Wouw et al., 2017).

Key Points

The Gut and Sleep Link

Did you know that inflammation in your gut can lead to sleep problems? Reducing inflammation, especially in our digestive system, can significantly improve the quality of our sleep.

Sleep disorders significantly affect gut diseases, and many gut issues, in turn, disrupt our sleep-wake cycle and sleep quality. This link has often been overlooked in the past (Khanijow et al., 2015).

Good sleep is crucial for overall health, and improving gut health can help resolve insomnia. For example, people who quit even moderate drinking often notice an improvement in their sleep patterns. However, healing your gut and restoring balance takes time, so be patient with the process.

Gut Flora and Our Internal Clock

Just as our gut health affects sleep quality, our sleep schedule also influences the balance of the gut microbiome. When we make positive changes to our gut health, we’ll often notice improvements in our sleep patterns as well (Frazier 2019).

Research shows that the gut microbiome is closely connected to the circadian rhythm—our internal body clock that regulates sleep (Voigt et al., 2016).

This clock influences two of our key hormones:

Cortisol and melatonin balance are essential for a healthy sleep, are regulated by our gut bacteria. (Sejbuk et al., 2024)

Key Take-Away

The Gut and Hormone Connection

Hormones, produced by our endocrine glands, serve as chemical messengers that regulate vital functions like mood, appetite, sleep, reproduction, and growth.

Both digestion and metabolism are strongly influenced by hormones, and any hormonal changes can either speed up or slow down these processes (Lean et al., 2015).

The Gut Microbiome and Obesity

Research shows a strong connection between gut bacteria and body weight.

Studies have found that obesity is often associated with a higher ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes bacteria in the gut. For example, a 2020 study confirmed this imbalance in individuals with obesity, further emphasising the role gut flora plays in metabolic health (Magne 2020).

Improving gut health often leads to better hormone balance, which can result in:

Gut Health and Metabolism

An imbalance in gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, has been linked to various metabolic issues, including obesity, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Naturopaths frequently observe weight loss and improved metabolic health in patients after addressing bacterial and yeast imbalances in the gut. Dysbiosis has been shown to be a contributing factor in colon, gastric, oesophageal, pancreatic, laryngeal, breast and gallbladder cancers. (Sheflin 2014)

There is also growing evidence that a healthy diet and probiotics can promote beneficial gut bacteria, which may help reduce high blood sugar—often a sign of pre-diabetes or diabetes.

By focusing on gut health, you can influence not only digestive function but also hormonal balance, metabolism, and overall well-being.

The Gut and Sex Hormones Connection

Your gut bacteria play a vital role in the breakdown and removal of hormones from your body, particularly sex hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. Many women could benefit from paying more attention to how their gut health influences hormone balance.

While not widely known, research shows a strong link between gut bacteria and hormonal function. Issues like oestrogen dominance, which occurs when hormone clearance is inefficient, can lead to symptoms such as bloating, mood swings, and other health issues.

Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, including rising and falling levels of oestrogen and progesterone, can directly influence how the gut functions. For example, some experience slower digestion and bloating when oestrogen levels are high, while others may face digestive disturbances such as diarrhoea or constipation due to hormonal changes around menstruation.

Key Research Findings

These studies underline the important role that gut health plays in managing hormonal fluctuations and their associated symptoms.

The Gut and Stress Hormones Connection

Have you ever noticed “butterflies” in your stomach before a challenging event, or felt your stomach “tie in knots” after an argument? This common experience is a clear reflection of the powerful link between your gut and your brain.

The gut, packed with nerves, is the largest nerve centre outside of the brain. These shared neural pathways between the gut and the brain mean that stress, whether short-term or chronic, can have a significant physical impact on your digestive system.

Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline surge during anxious moments, directly affecting gut function. In fact, stress can trigger or worsen several chronic digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), and peptic ulcers (Konturek et al., 2011).

Stress doesn’t just affect digestion—over time, it can weaken the gut barrier, increase food allergies, and trigger other immune responses.

Key Research Findings

Managing stress effectively can reduce its harmful effects on the gut. This may involve lifestyle changes such as exercise and relaxation techniques, but consulting with a healthcare provider is also important if digestive symptoms persist.

The Gut and Skin Connection

Naturopaths such as myself have long believed that the condition of the skin reflects the health of the gut. Now, scientific studies back this up, showing that many skin issues improve once bacterial or fungal overgrowth in the gut is treated.

When the gut is cleared of harmful organisms, inflammatory foods are eliminated, and gut health is restored, the skin often begins to clear up naturally.

This underscores the idea that many skin conditions cannot be resolved by topical creams alone, as dermatologists often suggest.

The Gut-Skin Axis

The gut and skin microbiomes work together to regulate the immune system. When dysbiosis occurs, it compromises immune function, allowing skin problems to surface or worsen. Chronic skin conditions, such as psoriasis, are now seen in a new light, with research suggesting that gut microbiota could be key to understanding their development.

Research highlights a strong connection between the gut microbiome and skin health, known as the gut-skin axis. This bi-directional relationship is influenced by the immune system and inflammatory mediators, which can directly impact skin conditions (Thye 2022).

For example, skin disorders like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne rosacea have been associated with imbalances in the gut’s bacterial population, also called dysbiosis (Buhas 2022).

In conclusion, improving gut health can lead to a profound positive effect on skin conditions, making gut healing an essential step for those struggling with chronic skin issues.

Gut Brain Axis Supplements

Our human digestive system contains trillions of microbes that play a vital role in digestion and maintaining overall health. These microbes not only help break down food but also communicate with other parts of the body, including the brain, through the gut-brain axis (GBA).

This connection is facilitated by nervous system, hormonal, and immune pathways, and has been linked to various neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and autism. Certain supplements, such as probiotics and gut cleansing supplements, can influence the gut microbiota and have shown potential in treating conditions like Candida overgrowth, SIBO, IBS, and IBD.

Yeastrix Cleanse: A Comprehensive Antifungal Solution

For those looking for an all-in-one solution to cleanse the gut & tackle Candida and other fungal or bacterial infections, consider Yeastrix Cleanse, our 3rd generation antifungal supplement.

This product combines several powerful antifungals, creating a balanced and effective cleanse for yeast overgrowth.

Yeastrix Cleanse includes:

With Yeastrix Cleanse, you can simplify your antifungal regimen by getting the benefits of natural ingredients that promote gut health and combat yeast infections. Made with the highest-quality, non-GMO, and vegetarian ingredients, it’s designed for those looking for a natural, safe, and effective approach to Candida management.