⏳Reading Time: 4min
Hey you,
Im glad you’re joining in today, because today we are going to talk about what i think is an underrated but very important topic to understand.
Most of us go through life thinking our brain runs the show. Your thoughts, your mood, your energy—it all feels like it’s “up here” in your head, right? Wrong.
Here’s the truth nobody tells you: your gut is in constant conversation with your brain, and it’s steering way more than your digestion.
Let me break this down.
Your gut has over 100 million nerve cells—that’s more than your spinal cord. And they’re all hooked up to your brain through the vagus nerve, this massive two-way communication superhighway. That means the food you eat, the stress you carry, even the way you sleep—it all shows up not just in your stomach, but in how you think and feel.
Think about it:
You hit that 3 PM crash.
You grab a sandwich, chips, and soda at lunch. For a while you feel fine. But an hour later—boom. You’re foggy, cranky, and scrolling your phone to stay awake. That’s your blood sugar spiking and crashing, sending panic signals to your brain.You experience restless nights from a disrupted gut
Eat too heavy or too late, and your gut is still working while you’re trying to sleep. Signals sent to the brain make it harder to fall into deep rest. Next day? You’re groggy and short-tempered.You get anxiety triggered by poor gut health
An imbalanced gut microbiome can cut down serotonin production. Since serotonin mostly lives in the gut, your brain starts running low on it, leaving you jittery, restless, or sad for “no reason.”
And it works both ways:
Stress before a big event
You’ve got a presentation, and the nerves kick in. Suddenly your stomach feels tight, maybe even queasy. That’s your brain firing stress signals down the vagus nerve, telling your gut to “pause digestion, we’re in danger.” Food sits heavier, and you might even feel cramps or nausea.Emotional pain
Go through a breakup, a loss, or a major disappointment, and your appetite might vanish—or you might swing the other way and crave comfort food nonstop. That’s your brain reshaping your gut’s activity, either shutting it down or demanding quick dopamine hits from sugar and carbs.Sleep deprivation
When you don’t sleep enough, your brain produces more cortisol (the stress hormone). Cortisol directly impacts your gut by increasing inflammation and changing how your microbiome behaves. That’s why a few nights of poor sleep can leave you bloated, cranky, and craving junk.
Now here’s a wild fact: 95% of your serotonin—the “feel good” chemical that regulates mood—is made in your gut. Not your brain. So when your gut microbiome (those trillions of bacteria living inside you) is out of balance, your emotions, focus, and resilience take a hit too.
And let me tell you—your gut bacteria? They’re picky eaters. Feed them processed junk, too much sugar, or alcohol, and you’re basically inviting in a frat party that leaves your system trashed. Feed them fiber, plants, and fermented foods, and suddenly you’ve got a thriving community that calms inflammation, lifts your mood, and sharpens your focus.
This is why:
A week of late-night pizza, wine, and stress has you moody, anxious, and exhausted.
But a few days of whole foods, leafy greens, and water have you saying, “Wow, I feel lighter and clearer already.” That’s your gut sending better signals upstairs.
Here’s another layer: about 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. When your gut is inflamed, your brain perceives it as danger. You may not get sick, but you feel on edge, wired, or low-energy. It’s your body trying to protect you.
So if you’ve ever thought:
“Why do I feel so anxious when nothing’s wrong?”
“Why am I exhausted even though I slept 8 hours?”
“Why do I get cranky and snap at people for no reason?”
The answer might not be in your head—it might be in your gut.
Here’s what you can do about it:
Add one serving of fiber-rich food today. Beans, lentils, apples, or leafy greens. Fiber is the #1 thing your good gut bacteria want to eat.
Try one fermented food this week. Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut. These foods literally add “good guys” to your microbiome.
Notice your patterns. Pay attention to how you feel 30–60 minutes after eating. Sluggish? Foggy? Irritable? That’s not random—that’s feedback from your gut.
Don’t overcomplicate this. You don’t need supplements, cleanses, or some fancy detox tea. Just start with one small shift. One.
Because when you take care of your gut, you’re not just fixing digestion—you’re literally rewiring your brain for more energy, clarity, and resilience.
And here’s the best part: we’ve only scratched the surface. I’ll be breaking down more about the vagus nerve—that superhighway between your gut and brain— and your metabolism in upcoming newsletters. Trust me, once you understand how it works, you’ll see your body in a whole new light.
Your gut is talking. The only question is: are you ready to listen?
Talk soon,
Nimoé
Founder, Wired for Better
P.S. In case no one else tells you today, let me tell you that i believe in your ability to create a better life for yourself.