Why does your stomach hurt when you are nervous? What is the second brain that connects the gut and the mind?

Before an important presentation, in the waiting room for an interview, or just before a confession.

Even though you haven't eaten anything yet, your stomach starts to ache with a sharp, twisting pain.

Many of you have surely experienced that strange sensation. In fact, it is neither just in your head nor a sign of weakness.

It is proof that your gut and your mind are connected by an invisible, thick pipe.

Today, I will unravel the deep relationship between the gut and emotions, which is something that those who incorporate gut health into their daily lives should definitely know.

The real reason why your stomach hurts when you are nervous

When people feel strong stress or tension, the brain sends out a signal of emergency.

Then, the sympathetic nervous system, a part of the autonomic nervous system, kicks into high gear, making your heart race, your hands sweat, and your gut contract tightly.
Even in an empty gut with no food in it, this contraction occurs mercilessly.

That is why you feel sharp pain or stabbing discomfort even on the day of an exam when you skipped breakfast, or before an interview while clutching your smartphone in the waiting room.
The gut is not just a pipe for digestion.

It is also a very delicate sensory organ that is the first to receive the surges of emotion.

The gut is a partner of the mind, often called the second brain

The gut is densely packed with nerve cells, second only to the brain in number.

That number is over 100 million.

This neural network is nicknamed the second brain because it can think and act on its own without waiting for instructions from the brain.
Even more surprising is the fact that about 90% of serotonin, known as the happiness hormone, is produced in the gut.

The switch to keep your mind calm was actually sleeping inside your stomach, not in your head.
In other words, if your gut is healthy, your mind is more likely to be calm, and if your gut is tired, your mind is more likely to be restless.

The gut and the mind are inseparable, two sides of the same coin.

Why your heart races when your gut is out of balance

When the gut environment is disrupted, reactions to stress can become more intense.

From the gut to the brain, and from the brain to the heart.

This triangular relationship between the gut, brain, and heart continues in your body without rest every single day.
When bad bacteria become dominant in the gut, inflammatory substances and signals that amplify anxiety are sent to the brain, making it easier for the balance of the autonomic nervous system to collapse.

As a result, even in minor situations, your heart beats as if it's jumping, your breathing becomes shallow, and your mind goes blank.

The cause of palpitations is not just the heart; it is actually hidden in the condition of the gut deep inside.

Whether or not you can adopt this perspective will greatly change how you interact with your body.

Why eating while nervous leads to indigestion

When the sympathetic nervous system is heightened, the movement of the gut is put on the brakes.

Blood gathers in the muscles and brain, and blood flow for digestion is significantly reduced.

If you eat in a hurry while in such a state, your stomach will feel heavy, your gut will not function well, and it will easily lead to unpleasant symptoms such as gas, constipation, and diarrhea.

Having lunch while feeling irritated or dinner while feeling angry is quietly accumulating damage to your gut.
Take a breath before you eat.

Chew well, savor the taste, and enjoy the aroma of the steam.

That small moment of space becomes the strongest habit to protect your gut and calm your mind.

Gentle habits to regain peace of mind through gut health

Rather than trying hard to strengthen your mind, gently caring for your gut might actually be a shortcut.

This is because gut health is self-care for the mind itself.

Add one fermented food item to your daily table: miso soup, nukazuke pickles, yogurt, kimchi, or natto.

Living lactic acid bacteria will support the good bacteria in your gut.

Vegetables and seaweed rich in dietary fiber, as well as onions and bananas containing oligosaccharides, are also favorites of these bacteria.
And deep breathing, a warm bath, and a walk while bathing in the morning light.

These gently stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and help restore gut movement.

To regulate the gut is to regulate the mind.

It brings a quiet and certain sense of security to our daily lives.

Living by listening to the voice of your stomach

Your stomach hurting is not because your body is weak.

It is another version of yourself—your gut—delivering an important sign.If you want to get along well with nervousness, first take care of your gut.

If you want to keep your mind calm, first warm your stomach.
I believe that gut health is not just a health method, but a way of life that treats oneself with care.

May today's bowl of miso soup gently support your mind tomorrow.

In conclusion

The more I learn about the gut, the more I realize how important small daily habits are.

If you feel like "doing it all at once is impossible...", start with just one thing.

As a morning habit, I have incorporated
"ReChest," which contains fermented garlic egg yolk and lactic acid bacteria derived from plum blossoms (Patent No. 6913898)
.

I like that it is easy to continue even on busy days.

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Thank you very much.