Mood can affect gastrointestinal health

Mondo Health Updated on 2024-03-01

In China and even in the world, gastrointestinal cancer is a very common cancer and the most important type of fatal cancer. According to data disclosed by the World Health Organization's Cancer Research Agency (IARC), colorectal cancer has risen to the second leading cause of cancer death in the world in 2020; In terms of gastric cancer, the number of cases in China accounts for nearly half of the world, which seriously affects the health of the population. Therefore, the prevention of gastrointestinal cancer needs to be paid attention to by everyone.

The gastrointestinal system is known as the second brain of the human body. There are as many as 20 billion to 60 billion neurons in the human enteric nervous system, and the gut and brain are closely connected to each other through a complex brain-gut axis bidirectional communication system. It is worth noting that this connection is bidirectional, that is, when we have mood swings, we can stimulate the emotional center of the brain to regulate gastrointestinal motility, secretion, intestinal mucosal permeability and the release of signaling molecules in the intestinal lumen through the descending pathway. In turn, the stomach and intestines affect brain function with the help of ascending pathways, which in turn affects people's mood. As a result, it is easy for bad mood and gastrointestinal diseases to fall into a vicious circle, which is difficult to extricate from.

A study by the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that disturbances in the gut microbiota may trigger depression by affecting the brain's neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin, dopamine, etc. The intestinal microbiota and the nervous system are two-way interactions and multi-pathways, and some studies have found that intestinal microbiota disorders may cause early onset of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Psychological factors can easily trigger functional gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, which can cause recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and other symptoms. Excessively high emotions can also easily cause gastrointestinal hyperdynamic response, which increases gastric acid secretion, frequent gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, and also causes abdominal pain, diarrhea and other discomforts.

Jasmine has a sweet and spicy taste, warm nature, can help the digestion and absorption of food, relieve stomach pain, and has a good effect on diarrhea and abdominal pain. Therefore, jasmine tea is known as "stomach protection tea". In addition, jasmine also has a calming effect on the spirit, which can make people feel stable and comfortable. Soda crackers can be eaten when stomach pain attacks because they are alkaline and neutralize the stomach acid that triggers stomach pain.

When we are depressed and sluggish, we will have no appetite and no appetite; When the mood is high and the mood is happy, the appetite is doubled. Therefore, the emotional changes of the human body are equivalent to the "barometer" of the stomach and intestines, and there is a close relationship between the emotional state and the stomach. Eating with anger will affect people's nervous regulation, thereby affecting the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract and the secretion of digestive juices, resulting in incomplete digestion and absorption of food, which can easily lead to indigestion. At the same time, eating and drinking when angry will stimulate the secretion of adrenaline, thereby destroying the gastric mucosal barrier, and it is very easy to develop gastritis, gastric perforation, gastric ulcer and other diseases. So, don't force yourself to eat and drink when you're angry.

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