The Gut: Our Second Brain

The relationship between the gut and the brain is explored, highlighting how they communicate through various systems in the body. Research has shown that the gut houses approximately 100 million neurons, allowing it to function independently from the central nervous system, a feature that supports the idea of the gut as a 'second brain'. Historical figures like Galen have long recognized the belly's role in our emotions and instincts, viewing its growls as signs of an intelligent organ capable of sensing hunger and influencing behavior. This connection reaffirms the growing scientific perspective that mental processes might not solely reside in the brain, but also involve significant contributions from the gut.