Digestion & Mood: Anatomy & Physiology of the Digestive System

The gut is often called the second brain and is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being.

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) is a system of nerves located in the abdomen.
The ENS communicates with the brain and can act independently of it.
It is often referred to as the “second brain.”
Ninety percent of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of happiness and well-being, is produced in the second brain.

Thus, as Elise Museles notes, “when you improve your gastrointestinal health, you’re simultaneously improving your mental health, too!”