A healthy gut is key to your physical and mental well-being, doctor says: 'It is literally the engine for everything'

An unhappy gut can significantly impact both your mental and emotional health, experts say, affecting your mood and overall well-being.

When your gut is in poor health, you may experience bloating, gas, constipation, abdominal discomfort, mood swings and even acne.

On a recent episode of the 10% Happier podcast, host Dan Harris discussed the connection between gut health and mental health with gastroenterologist and author Dr. Robynne Chutkan.

Harris opened the episode with a brief explanation of the gut-brain axis, which simply put, is a “two-way communication system involving nerves, hormones and immune signals,” he says.

The gut-brain axis links your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) with your enteric nervous system (the nervous system of the gut). This two-way street allows your brain to influence your gut’s functions—like motility, secretion, and immune responses. In turn, your gut influences your brain’s emotional and cognitive centers.