- April 3, 2025
You might be surprised to learn that you have a second brain located in your gut. Known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), this network of millions of neurons plays a crucial role in keeping your colon moving. Recent research from Australia has shed light on how these neurons work, revealing that synchronized electrical charges help pass waste out of your body.
To understand the workings of the ENS, researchers from Flinders University studied the large intestines of euthanized mice, each containing over 400,000 neurons. Using high-resolution neuroimaging technology and electrodes to measure electrical impulses, they discovered rhythmic electric pulses in the intestines. These pulses cause gut contractions that move waste through the intestines and out of the body.
“This represents a major pattern of neuronal activity in the mammalian peripheral nervous system that has not previously been identified,” noted the study authors in the journal *Neuroscience*.
This neuronal activity is linked to a larger system called the colonic migrating motor complex (CMMC). Commonly known as the rumbling in your gut when you’re not eating, CMMCs move indigestible material like fiber through your body. They also help shuttle bacteria to different parts of the bowels, allowing good bacteria to perform housekeeping tasks and bad bacteria to be expelled.
The findings on gut motility — the electric movement of your second brain — make the gut-brain connection more concrete. “Now that we know how the ENS is activated under healthy conditions… we can use this as a blueprint to understand how dysfunctional neurogenic motor patterns may arise along the colon,” say the researchers. Chronic constipation, which affects a large proportion of the global population, often arises from improper colonic transit.
Since neurotransmitters like serotonin are synthesized in the gut, it’s clearer how backed-up bowels can affect your mood. While your two brains are distinct, they are both electrically wired. Constipation signals dysregulation in your gut, affecting neurotransmitter levels. Therefore, keeping the electrical circuits of both brains moving is key to your happiness.
Maintaining a healthy digestive system is crucial for keeping both brains in sync. Here are some tips to combat constipation and improve digestion:
Aim for at least half a liter of water each day, and double that if you’re on a keto diet.
Consume 1-2 teaspoons of pink Himalayan salt daily.
Start with around 100 mg per day and never exceed 350 mg per day of magnesium citrate.
The least toxic source of resistant starch is from plantains. You can work your way up to 4 tablespoons (48 grams) of plantain flour per day, providing about 32 grams of resistant starch.
A good multi-strand probiotic can be found at your local health food store.
The ENS is a network of millions of neurons in your gut that helps regulate bowel movements through synchronized electrical charges.
The ENS controls gut contractions that move waste through the intestines, helping to maintain regular bowel movements and overall gut health.
CMMC is a system that moves indigestible material like fiber through your body and helps shuttle bacteria to different parts of the bowels.
Constipation can signal dysregulation in your gut, affecting neurotransmitter levels like serotonin, which can impact your mood.
Improving digestion can be achieved by drinking plenty of water, increasing salt intake, supplementing with magnesium, consuming resistant starch, and taking probiotics.
Understanding the role of the ENS and the gut-brain connection can help you take better care of your digestive health, leading to improved overall well-being.
nataly@bioupgraded.com
@bioupgraded
Dallas, TX, USA
