What if things like “butterflies in your stomach” are more than just cutesy cliches? Scientists are discovering that our guts are more complex and influential than we had fathomed. Our stomachs don’t merely send messages to our brain regarding digestion or if we’re hungry. The signals can have a fundamental impact on how we feel throughout our bodies. The gut is now being called the body’s “second brain,” and understanding its secrets can help us boost our mood, sharpen our memory and even live longer. (OK, it can also keep us regular.)
Written by Jeff Wilser; read by Katie Tortorice