Dr. Trisha Pasricha

It talks to the rest of the body, so it helps coordinate the entire response.

But you can think about it like we think of the skin as being that first barrier against the outside world, but really the gut, if you look at the cross-sectional area of your gut, I

It's huge.

If you were to spread it all out, it's huge.

It is in contact all the time with things that we've come from the outside world.

And so it's protecting you against the outside world.

The gut is also doing more.

It's also producing hormones.

And so it's responsible for the hormones that regulate your blood sugar, for example, and also influence your mood.

And then the other big thing, which I talk about all the time, is that your gut is a brain.

It is the home to the enteric nervous system.

Enteric nervous system?

Enteric nervous system.

You've probably heard of the central nervous system.

That's the brain in your head.

But your gut has its own nervous system.

Millions of nerve cells that are in communication with each other.

They're in responding to signals from the outside world.

And then they're communicating with the brain in your head through this long, I want you to imagine a long, windy nerve.

coming down from the brain, making its way to every organ inside your chest cavity, your abdominal cavity, and all through your gut.