10 Steps to a Healthy Digestive System

8. The Brain, Our Emotions, and the Digestive System

A "second brain" located in the walls of the digestive system is called the enteric nervous system, or ENS. These two thin layers of more than 100 million nerve cells, found in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, control much of the digestion process. A high number of people who experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also experience depression and anxiety. Researchers believe irritation in the gastrointestinal system could be sending signals to the central nervous system via the ENS causing mood changes. For years, experts believed the opposite was true -- that depression and anxiety cause digestive issues.

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