Your digestive system could be related to your anxiety and depression

Our in-house nutritional therapist, Liz Sheehan, explains how your digestive system could actually be causing you to feel unwell, depressed or anxious.

‘Your digestive system is more complicated than food in, waste out! It forms a large part of your nervous system (enteric nervous system or second brain) – it makes more neurotransmitters than you brain and has more nerve endings than in your spine.

‘95% of your serotonin is made in your gut along with Dopamine and Gamma Amino Butyric Acid and other mood balancing neurotransmitters. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and make’s you feel happy. Your doctor may prescribe an anti-depressant called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), but if your gut is ‘leaky’ or you have ‘dysbiosis’ and you are not digesting your food properly, then neurotoxins can be made.

‘These send faulty signals and cause inflammation which can lead to mood disorders such as low mood, depression, anxiety, ADD, autism and dyslexia. Stomach upsets such as diarrhoea, constipation, IBS, stomach cramps, bloating and Crohns disease can also be felt. Other symptoms such as autoimmune diseases, asthma and eczema can also be caused.

‘So I use digestive stress management techniques such as removing food sensitivities from your diet and recommending an anti-inflammatory blood sugar balancing diet as well as a 4R gut healing protocol, but the story doesn’t end there. The gut/brain connection is a two way street. If you are stressed emotionally or not sleeping well, are anxious and depressed then that can also cause low grade inflammation of your gut and you get all the symptoms mentioned above.

‘I’m sure you know the feeling of ‘butterflies’ in your tummy and how it makes you go to the toilet more. This is because it is causing low-grade inflammation and changing your biochemistry causing a loose bowel.’

Liz is in store every Friday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm if you would like to know more on how to help your digestive system and any other health issues.