MHM Magazine

12 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2024 | Issue 6 MHM Whether it’s feeling butterflies in our stomach, or having a “gut feeling about something, the English language has long acknowledged that the head and the heart aren’t the only places we feel emotions. In the past few years, the scientific community has been focussing on evidence to back up what our language has been hinting at, and the link between our digestive system (what we eat), and our mental health, has been getting a lot more attention. This link has been called the “gut-brain axis", describing how gut bacteria influence much more than how well we digest our food, but also our mood, thoughts, and overall well- being. “What we eat directly affects how we feel,” explained dietician Christine Stent Pinha in a recent Masiviwe webinar on the connection between gut health and mental well-being. Gut problems aren’t limited to digestive symptoms like bloating or constipation. Poor gut health can also manifest as: • Frequent infections or poor immunity • Skin issues like eczema • Joint pain and general inflammation • Cravings for sweets • Mental health issues such as brain fog, mood swings, and mental health conditions. It’s estimated that 60-80% of patients with depression or anxiety have gastrointestinal problems. However, Pinha is optimistic about what the science of nutrition is bringing to the mental health space. “We can eat in a way that can boost our gut health and brain chemicals, which can improve our mental health. This is very exciting, as it gives us more control over how we feel,” says Pinha. Chronic stress impacts both our brain and digestive system or gut, which has in recent years been termed our second brain because of the findings around the importance of the gut to the state of our health. Stress can mean we have difficulty concentrating, have increased anxiety, depression, irritability, mind fog and fatigue. In terms of our gut, stress can cause constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, bloating, pain and discomfort. It can also affect our ability to take in nutrients. “We can’t easily change our stressors, but we can build our body to be stronger and more resilient to cope better. This can reduce the side effects and symptoms associated with stress,” says Pinha. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter By Jennifer Charlton, Masiviwe* Communications team project lead Johannesburg jennifer@heartlines.org.za Based on a Webinar by dietician Christine Stent Pinha MORE THAN JUST A “GUT FEELING” MHM | 2024 | Volume 11 | Issue 6 | More than just a “gut feeling” MHM