"I have a gut feeling"

Have you been on a first date? Did you get "butterflies in your stomach"? Or what about backing out of a plan because you "had a gut feeling" it would not go as planned? I am sure you did it. I did it too. I believe everyone has. But, perhaps the words used to describe such situations are not mere idioms. There might actually be science behind "gut feelings"

Research over the past decade has shown that there is actually a small brain in our digestive system. And this secondary nervous system, named the enteric nervous system (ENS), is thought to influence digestion, mood, health, and even thoughts and behaviours. 

However, the ENS does not directly control mood or behaviour like our main brain does. Its main job is to control digestion, which includes the ingestion of food, the release of enzymes, and absorption and elimination. To do this, it communicates intricately with the brain, thus having an indirect influence on brain functions. 

I have a very faulty digestive system. I have frequent digestive problems. And I often remained irritated during those periods. And it is not only me. The condition of the gut does influence the condition of the brain. While it was known that anxiety and depression can trigger digestive problems like constipation, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome etc, scientists now believe that these conditions can trigger specific mood states in the affected person as well. 

Well, maybe what they say is true. Following your gut might be a good choice at times, especially since we know that the gut does influence the brain. 

Visit for more: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection