If food falls to the stomach, why is the brain affected?
The process that starts in the stomach can echo in the brain, and a signal generated in the brain can alter the activity of the stomach.
How does this happen?
The human organism is designed in such a way that nothing happens independently here.
No organ carries out its function alone.
The human body is a whole system.
All organs are constantly in communication with each other.
One of the most interesting and important examples of this interaction is the signal exchange between the stomach and the brain.
This communication is carried out through a very complex network of connections established between the intestine and the brain via neural, hormonal, and immune mechanisms.
The food we eat directly changes the composition of bacteria in the intestine.
These bacteria produce neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids, and various signal molecules that affect the brain.
The main communication line of this perfect system is the nerve called the "vagus".
This nerve sends signals from the stomach to the brain or, conversely, affects the stomach from the brain.
Research conducted in recent years shows that gut health is closely related to a person’s emotional state, memory, stress tolerance, and even decision-making ability.
Let’s look at how stress affects digestion.
It should be known that during stress, signals coming from the brain change intestinal motility.
This is precisely why some people often experience stomach pain, bloating, and digestive problems in stressful situations.
In other words, stress increases acid secretion in the stomach through these signals and can accelerate or slow down intestinal movement.
For example, the composition of the gut microflora changes in people under long-term stress.
As a result of this change, the production of serotonin, known as the "happiness hormone" synthesized about 90% in the intestine, decreases, and as a result, the person becomes tired more quickly, irritable, and has reduced motivation.
Another example.
The uncontrolled long-term use of antibiotics reduces beneficial bacteria in the intestine.
This can manifest in some people as attention deficit, memory impairment, and even mild depressive symptoms.
Thus, inflammatory processes occurring in the stomach send signals to the brain, affecting mood. This is often observed as a disturbance of emotional stability in the brain.
This mechanism shows that the connection between the stomach and the brain is not only biological but also related to psychological outcomes.
Let’s imagine this communication in a very simplified way.
The stomach calls: "The situation here is not good, sugar is needed."
The brain replies: "Okay, I am creating the desire right now. Sugar will come."
Or there is: the brain screams, the stomach hurts - or the stomach screams, the brain hurts.
Probably there is no need to explain which type of communication is better.
Well, where should we look for a way out?
The way out is not just one direction here, but a systematic approach.
Because the problem does not arise from a single cause.
Again, everything comes down to healthy food, proper nutrition sequence, and habits.
The main principles of balancing the communication between the stomach and the brain should be as follows:
- Correction of nutrition
Here, foods that support the gut microflora are essential.
For example, fibrous foods, fermented products, natural and minimally processed foods.
Note that observations in people who eat probiotic- and fiber-rich foods show that their reactions to stress are more stable, and their behavior during decision-making is calmer and more balanced.
- Management of stress
Digestion cannot fully improve without reducing stress.
For this, attention must be paid to breathing techniques, light physical activity, and sleep routines.
Because if the brain does not calm down, the signals it sends to the intestine remain chaotic.
- Restoration of the intestinal barrier
Long-term stress and poor nutrition weaken the intestinal wall.
To restore this, proper nutrition, enough water, and avoiding foods that increase inflammation are necessary.
- Attention to antibiotics and medications
Unnecessary use of antibiotics disrupts the intestinal microflora.
When this balance is disturbed, both digestion and emotional state are affected.
Therefore, such treatments must not be done arbitrarily but only under medical supervision and prescription.
In the end, looking at this entire mechanism, one more truth becomes clear: the human body is not a collection of separate parts. It is a perfect unified system that communicates and influences itself.
This delicate connection between the stomach and the brain should constantly remind us of one thing: we need to think more deeply about what we eat, how we live, and what habits we form.
Sometimes the problem is neither only in the stomach nor only in the brain.
The problem arises in the imbalance of the thought formed between them.
Let’s not look for a miracle to change this system.
Just the correct choice, the right direction, and proper supervision can give us a precise answer.
Elnur Nematov,
Technical Director of the Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Clubs Public Union
