Gut Health Starts in the Nervous System: The Real Cause of Bloating and IBS
Your gut and nervous system are in constant conversation. If you're stuck in fight-or-flight, digestion shuts down, inflammation rises, and serotonin drops. Discover the gut-brain connection, symptoms of dysregulation, and how to activate healing mode again.
How to fix the gut-brain connection for better digestion, mood, and immune health
Up to 90 percent of your serotonin is made in your gut. But if your nervous system is stuck in fight or flight, digestion shuts down first, serotonin drops, and suddenly you are bloated, anxious, and feeling like everything is falling apart for no logical reason.
This is not “just stress.”
This is biology telling you your body does not feel safe enough to heal.
Let’s fix that.
Your Gut Has a Mind of Its Own
Your gut has its own nervous system called the enteric nervous system.
It is often called the second brain because it:
- Produces most of your serotonin
- Sends signals to your brain through the vagus nerve
- Controls digestion, motility, and nutrient absorption
- Communicates through neurotransmitters just like your brain
Here is the plot twist most people miss:
The gut talks to the brain more than the brain talks to the gut.
When the gut is inflamed or stressed, your brain feels it as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Mood swings
Gut issues are also nervous system issues.
Fight or Flight: The Fastest Way to Mess Up Your Digestion
When your sympathetic nervous system takes over:
- Blood flow is pulled away from your gut toward your muscles
- Stomach acid production drops
- Digestive enzymes shut down
- Food ferments and causes gas and bloating
- Nutrient absorption goes down
- Toxins don’t move out
- Immune system gets confused and overactive
Result:
IBS, bloating, reflux, constipation, and food sensitivities.
Your gut is not the problem.
Your nervous system is the one freaking out.
How to Know If Your Gut is Dysregulated
You may see yourself here:
- Bloating after almost every meal
- Constipation or loose unpredictable stools
- Anxiety or irritability for “no reason”
- Brain fog after eating
- Cold hands and feet
- Cravings, especially sugar or carbs
- Skin flares or rashes
- Feeling wired but tired
- Lightheaded when standing
- Food sensitivities showing up overnight
These are signals, not failures.
Your body is asking for safety.
Three Ways to Help Your Gut Feel Safe Again
Small actions create a big shift.
1. Stimulate the Vagus Nerve Before Eating
Try 60 seconds of:
- Deep nasal breathing
- Humming
- Splashing cool water on your face
Why it works:
The vagus nerve controls digestion.
When you activate it, your body switches into rest and digest so food can actually process.
2. Chew Slower and Add Minerals
Digestion starts in your mouth, not your stomach.
Slow chewing increases digestive enzymes and reduces bloating.
Minerals (like sodium, potassium, magnesium) support nerve signaling so your gut and brain stay connected.
3. Train Safety Into Your System Daily
Do one of these for 2 to 3 minutes:
- Hand on heart
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Gratitude breathwork
Why it works:
These increase parasympathetic tone and stabilize cortisol, helping the gut calm down so repair can begin.
What Happens When the Gut and Nervous System Are in Sync
The magic returns:
- Smooth digestion
- Stable mood
- Deep sleep
- Better focus
- Hormones balanced
- Stronger immunity
- Less inflammation
Your body finally says: I am safe.
And healing becomes possible again.
🌿 Reconnect Your Energy and Feel the Difference
Your body is not broken.
It is overwhelmed — and trying to protect you.
When your drainage pathways are sluggish and your nervous system is stuck in high alert, your energy has nowhere to go but down.
The fix is not another supplement or a stricter diet.
It is giving your body permission and support to finally release what has been weighing it down.
✅ More energy
✅ Better digestion
✅ Brain that actually turns on again
✅ A body that feels safe enough to begin healing
Let’s make it simple.
👇 Download your free 3-Day Drainage & Energy Reset
and give your cells a fresh start:
Start the 3-Day Energy Reset
Because you deserve to feel like YOU again- not just survive the day.
In Case You Skimmed
- Your gut and nervous system communicate constantly through the vagus nerve
- Stress and survival mode shut down digestion first
- Low digestion means low serotonin, poor nutrient absorption, and more inflammation
- A dysregulated nervous system is often the real cause behind gut issues
- Safety must come before healing: the parasympathetic system has to be online
- Drainage, detox, and a gentle gut reset help restore balance and repair
Jamie Shahan, MSN, CRNA, RN
Empowering Holistic Health
Curator of forgotten wisdom with a modern understanding of why it works.
🌐 Connect with me on Social Media:
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