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Head, Heart, and Gut - Three Brains Are Better Than One

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Oct 14, 2021
  • 3 min read


We work so hard to take care of our brains and that hard work can bring about amazing changes. What if I told you we have three brains?! You are familiar with the three brains we possess, but probably not in a manner that you thought of them each as a brain. All three brains are vital to our health and wellbeing.


Enough of the suspense already – here are our three brains: the head, heart, and gut.


Our three brains are now considered functional brains, and science has shown us that there are complex neural networks in all three. You probably have a sense of this already. Humans have always expressed love, feelings, and emotional pain coming from the heart, and basic feeling of intuition coming from the gut. Listening to all three is critical in decision-making. The heart and gut are fully equipped to do some thinking on their own. And sometimes, they are giving the brain orders instead of taking them. We are truly an integrated being! Let’s dive a little deeper and discover how the heart and gut contribute to our health and happiness.


The Heart Brain

The heart has nearly 2 billion muscle cells and 40,000 neurons. 100,000 times a day the heart repeats its monotonous task of survival. Perhaps that is all you ever associated with your heart. This ‘pump’ turns out to have a mind of its own. The network of neurons (nerve cells) is situated around the heart, and they function much the same way as parts of the brain. The heart-mind interaction takes place both by electrical signals (via the vagus and spinal cord nerves) and through chemicals (the heart is an endocrine gland also). Recent studies have shown that the heart sends signals to the brain that are not only understood by it but also obeyed. Recently scientists have discovered that the heart is involved in the processing and decoding of ‘intuitive information’. Tests done on subjects showed that the heart appeared to receive the intuitive information before the brain. To listen, you want to get out of your mind and get into your body a little bit.


The Gut Brain

The cranial brain (brain) has nearly 100 billion neurons and is the seat of all our thinking. The gut (digestive system of the body) has close to 500 million nerve cells and 100 million neurons. Not only does the gut talk with the brain chemically (by releasing chemicals which are then taken to the brain by blood) but also by sending electrical signals via the vagus nerve. Most of the gut neurons are used in the daily grind of digestion.

Recent research has revealed that there is a tremendous amount of information flow from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve and the flow is mostly one-sided – almost all of it is from the gut to the brain and not the other way around. There are also recent research findings that suggest that a big part of our emotions are probably influenced by the chemicals and nerves in the gut. 95% of the body’s Serotonin is found in the gut. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter which is a well-known contributor towards feelings of wellbeing.


More research has discovered that the beginnings of Parkinson’s disease is in the gut. Keeping the gut clean and healthy produces a healthy brain. (http://thriveglobal.com)


The Head Brain

The brain is the most complex organs in the body. It is composed of 100 billion neurons that communicate along trillions of connections called synapses. Specialized areas of the brain work together to store and access memories and process your surroundings. The brain can help in making good decisions in really difficult situations. You can come up with solutions to complex problems.


Notice what you feel in your body. Access the combined wisdom of your head brain, the feelings of your heart brain, and the instincts of your gut brain. When you take the three messages from your head, your heart, and your gut, you will have a fuller perspective on how to act. (https://www.goodnet.org)


References:

Goodnet. (Aug. 20, 2020). Head, Heart, and Gut: How to Use the 3 Brains. Retrieved from https://www.goodnet.org/articles/head-heart-gut-how-to-use-3-brains


Rajvanshi,A. How three minds of the body – Brain, heart, and gut, work together for producing happiness. Retrieved from https;//thriveglobal.com/how-three-minds-of-the-body-brain-heart-and-gut-work-together-for-producing-happiness/


Rewire Me. Your Heart and Stomach May Be Smarted Than You Think. Retrieved from https://www.rewireme.com/brain-insight/your-heart-and-stomach-may-be-smarter-than-you-think.





 
 
 

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   And suddenly it is May!! April turned out to be an extremely busy month and I was caught off-guard by the start of May. There are a lot of activities and celebrations that kick off May and start the Spring-Summer season. The 151st Running of the Kentucky Derby was May 3. It was a mudder this year. We had experienced consistent rain throughout April, and it hasn’t left the area. The horses in that race are incredibly beautiful even when they covered in mud! Sovereignty, a three-year-old colt was the winner!! In a move I applaud, the owner of this beautiful horse was asked if they were going to have him run in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. This owner deferred his answer because he wanted to talk to his team, but most of all, he wanted to see how Sovereignty was doing. The Preakness is only a couple of weeks from the Kentucky Derby and the lure of winning the Triple Cown has resulted in some bad decisions about entering a horse that hadn’t recovered from the Derby. May 4, was the 27th Flying Pig Marathon. If you have been following me for a while, you would know that my husband Russ and I volunteered at the race, running a fluid station for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for 25 years. This race is amazing. Last year it was voted as one of the Best Marathons in the Country. I watched from the comfort of my dry home (still raining) and finally got to see what happens at the finish line. The stories of the runners were great! This race was the first time that the male winner had ever run a full marathon! The female winner had run many marathons, but this was the first time that she ran the Flying Pig! It sounded like she will be back next year because she said she was thinking while she was running that this was the most fun marathon, she had ever been in. (I can’t imagine even thinking while I was running a marathon!) Then there was an older woman who had just finished her 159th marathon! She was incredible! Next week she is on her way to New Zealand to run again! Everything these runners practice can be applied to maintaining a high-functioning brain. Of course, the lifestyle they practice is phenomenal for brain health. I teach about neuroplasticity and the power that we possess to change our brain. But to do that we must be dedicated to that change by repetitively and consistently challenging our brain. It is a marathon for brain health that we must live.

 

   May is Older Americans Month, and it is a time to recognize the contributions of older adults and highlight the positive impact they have on communities. The 2025 theme is “Flip the Script on Aging” encouraging individuals and communities to challenge negative stereotypes and celebrate the diverse experiences of aging. Celebrations often involve community events workshops, and activities designed to engage and connect older adults.

 

   I am booking online and in-person presentations for June. Topics are extensive. Contact me at patricia@myboomerbrain.com if you would like to discuss a presentation for an event or organization.Enjoy the renewal of May.

 

My very best, Pat

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