The gut is the second brain: how the microbiota affects mood and the state of the nervous system
Our gut is much more than just a digestive organ. It contains over 100 million nerve cells, which is why scientists call it the “second brain.” And this is not a metaphor — the gut really affects our mood, sleep, anxiety levels, and even our ability to make decisions.
About 90% of serotonin, the feel-good hormone, is produced not in the brain, but in the gut. Therefore, if the microbiota is disturbed, serotonin becomes less — and we feel apathy, irritability, sleep problems, or depression.
Bacteria in a healthy gut produce special substances — short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). They reduce inflammation, support immunity, and help the nervous system function stably. But if the microbiota is unbalanced, the intestinal barrier weakens, SCFA is produced less, and latent inflammatory processes are triggered in the body.
The gut and brain are constantly “communicating” through the vagus nerve. This is a kind of information cable that transmits signals literally in seconds. If digestion is stressed, the vagus instantly reports this to the brain. This creates a vicious cycle:
STRESS → PROBLEMS WITH MICROBIOTIA → INFLAMMATION → MORE STRESS.
Fortunately, this cycle can be broken. Scientific studies show that regular consumption of products with prebiotics and probiotics significantly improves emotional state. When the microbiota is restored, the body regulates stress better, sleep becomes deeper, and thoughts are clearer.
Gut restoration is not just about food. It is about restoring balance throughout the body: in hormones, the nervous system, immunity, and energy levels. That is why today the microbiota is one of the hottest topics in modern health science.
