Learn how connected your brain and stomach really are

You are what you eat and drink, really — at least in terms of how you feel. Do you feel groggy after eating processed foods like crackers, chips or cereal? Does eating whole, unprocessed foods like apples or carrots make you feel more alert? If so, that's because your body breaks down these foods differently.

How does food break down?

Your gut or stomach is filled with more than 300 types of bacteria. Altogether, this collection of bacteria — called the microbiome — helps with digestion. Like a fingerprint, everybody’s microbiome is unique to them. What some people can eat may upset your stomach and vice versa.

Our gut bacteria changes as we age or because of what we eat and drink. It also changes from antibiotic use and exposure to bacteria. Something that may have caused your belly to be upset when you were younger, like black beans, may be digested more easily now.

What is the gut-brain axis?

Researchers believe that there is a connection between our stomachs and our brains. This is called the gut-brain axis.

Do you find yourself reaching for comfort foods when bored or craving an alcoholic beverage when stressed? This is part of the link between our brain and gut. Higher levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, can increase our appetite and cravings for high calorie foods.

How is it connected to how you feel?

Foods can cause inflammation in various parts of our body, including our brain. Studies have shown that long-term inflammation of our brain may increase the chance of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

You can keep inflammation at bay by choosing high-fiber foods. This includes fruits, vegetables and nuts or seeds like almonds or pistachios. This may reduce the inflammation or swelling.

Additionally, yogurt or fermented foods like kimchi may help. These foods contribute to the good bacteria in our gut that breaks down what we eat.

In general, a healthy diet emphasizes limiting consumption of processed and red meats, unhealthy fats, sugar, excessive sodium and alcohol.

When to talk with your doctor?

An occasional upset stomach may not be cause for concern. But if you often have digestive symptoms that are uncomfortable, you may want to check with your doctor. This includes digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, or feeling full before you’ve finished a meal.

Your doctor might suggest that you try an elimination diet to better understand what’s causing your discomfort. This involves removing certain types of food from your diet for a while and tracking how you feel. If your symptoms don’t change, you can add the foods back in.

Once you know more about the brain-gut connection it may help you modify your lifestyle to feel better more often and have more energy.