Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health—and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More

by Christopher M. Palmer

Gut bacteria get first dibs on all the food we eat. They produce a variety of metabolites, neurotransmitters, and hormones that they secrete into our guts. These get absorbed into our bloodstream and can affect our metabolism and brain function. A second way that signals get sent from the gut to the brain is through hormones and neuropeptides that are produced in the cells that line the intestinal tract. These, too, are known to travel throughout the body, including to the brain, and have widespread effects on metabolism and brain function. Finally, the gut has an intricate nervous system unto itself that communicates directly with the brain and vice versa.