How Your Gut and Mind Are Connected

Did you know there’s more serotonin in the gut than in the brain? The connection between our digestive health and our mental health are strong and surprising. To explore this link, Faith Salie talks with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia and the Director of Clinical Research at Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center. He’s an expert on the connections between gastrointestinal health and the other systems in our body that rely on good digestion. He describes how GI diseases like Celiac have implications for mental health, and what anyone can do to support their digestive health.

00:00 - Intro
1:09 - The connection between gastrointestinal and mental health
4:55 - Mental health implications of GI distress
8:18 - Symptoms of Celiac disease
11:20 - What is a gluten-free diet?
12:21 - Colorectal cancer screening
13:13 - Conclusion