The Second Brain

For all you brainiacs out there, you must read "The Second Brain" by Michael D. Gershon, M.D. With a lot of words, Dr. Gershon explains neurogastroenterology and the evidence that our guts have their own nervous system and are therefore, the second brain. The nerve cells in our guts (mainly small and large intestine) can "go it alone; they can operate the organ without the instructions from the brain or spinal cord". This is totally amazing to me.

Now, for all of you chronically constipated or whoever can not poop while traveling, this should make a lot of sense. You can not will your intestines to do anything, they have a mind of their own. More later on what is the best way to nourish the second brain and how our guts actually make serotonin for our first brain!

For more information, visit
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/health/23gut.html