Knowing the Gut-Liver-Brain Axis: How Does It Affect Your Liver Function and Mental Health

The body’s interconnectedness can have a remarkable interlinking with the gut, liver and the brain. The gut-liver-brain system allows continuous communication and interaction with these three important organs. This indirectly ensures the overall body health of an individual as well as the functionality of the body. Latest research confirms the working of gut-liver-brain axis in a manner that influences our mental health as well as other inner workings of the body. 

This axis connects digestion, liver’s performance and our mental state. In this blog, we will unravel different linking of gut health with liver’s functionality and mental condition of a person. We will explore the detailed intricate relationships with this axis while shedding light on how our gut influences the liver function and presses our mental health in a certain manner. 

Gut Health and Functioning of Liver

The gut plays an important role in the body’s safeguarding mechanisms as it helps in defending differently throughout the body. It binds us against various infections and harmful substances in the body. This critical function is achieved by the absorption of different important nutrients after blocking the unwanted substances present in food. This is also achieved after eliminating toxins and bacteria in the bloodstream. The gut’s role thus is significant in ensuring overall wellbeing.

However, when the gut’s health is ignored, this protective shield can weaken and make its effects lesser. An unhealthy gut may cause gaps in its boundaries which allows harmful toxins to gather in the body. This will also allow various kinds of bacteria to enter, stay and destroy the body. Furthermore, this act can degrade the functionality of the liver while unleashing a cascade of different tissues. 

More about the gut-liver relationship is the balance of gut microbiota. It is the massive community of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract. When balanced, this ecosystem can promote great health and harmonious liver function. Similarly, disturbances in this ecosystem can cause disruptive liver health. An imbalance in this ecosystem is always linked with liver dysfunction, inflammation and various liver diseases.

Gut Health and Mental Health

The gut-brain axis is a notable communication network that interlinks the gut and the brain through several pathways. This consists of the nervous system and chemical signalling. This axis also offers a dynamic bridge between our gastrointestinal system and our mental health which reveals an interesting connection.

Influence on mood levels, emotions and mental health can be caused due to the condition of an unhealthy mental health which signals the brain to act in a certain way. This two-way connection can influence not only the gut’s impact on the brain but also the brain’s impact on gut health. 

Serotonin, which is often linked with mood regulation, is created in huge amounts within the gut, specifically 90% of it. It is a neurotransmitter that contributes to the positivity of mental well-being. An unhealthy gut can reduce the production of serotonin causing anxiety and depression. 

Mental Well-Being and Functioning of Liver

The liver and brain connection is called the liver-brain axis. They have the ability to send signals back and forth. The liver acts as the body’s centre of control while the brain sends messages through special pathways. The liver cleanses the body and regulates it whereas the brain tells the liver what to perform and what not to perform. The liver also regulates various functions like energy balance, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and detoxification. 

When this overall system between the liver and the brain is imbalanced, a lot of mess is caused. It can develop issues like problems with how the body utilises energy, brain diseases and even mental health problems. Therefore, it is extremely important for the liver and the brain to communicate well. It keeps the body healthy and balanced in all the possible ways. Identifying and detecting such problems as early as possible can result in higher rates of survival of an individual. If not, it may even cause death or degradation of the body eventually. 

This blog has been converted from the PR article - What Is The Gut-Liver-Brain Axis? Know How Your Gut Impacts Liver Function And Mental Health