THE THOUGHT

There's something about mashed potatoes.

On the tough days, when the rain streaks the windows and everything feels heavy, they bring a simple kind of comfort. They take me back to the hands that made them, long before I understood how to care for myself. A swirl of butter, a pinch of salt that somehow weaves time together.

Certain foods hold memories in their taste, texture, or smell. They connect us to times that might feel far away but are impossible to forget. How can something so simple stir such deep feelings of comfort?

THE DIVE

The Gut-Brain Dialogue

The gut-brain axis is a fascinating communication network that connects our central nervous system to our gastrointestinal system. At its core, it is a two-way street, where signals from the brain influence digestive processes, and the state of our gut impacts our mood and behavior. This connection goes far beyond the occasional “gut feeling” into a critical interaction that shapes our physical and mental well-being.

Psychologically, the gut is often referred to as our “second brain”. More than poetry, the gut has its own nervous system, the enteric nervous system, which contains millions of neurons. It can operate independently yet communicates extensively with the brain, particularly through the vagus nerve. For example, the gut produces about 90% of the body’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter closely tied to mood regulation. Stress can cause a stomach ache just as much as an imbalanced gut might whisper its unease back to the mind through negative emotions.

Philosophically, this interplay raises a question about identity. Ancient thinkers like Hippocrates believed that “all disease begins in the gut.” Modern science hints he may have had a point, with studies linking gut health to depression, anxiety, and even decision-making capabilities.

Socially, this axis may help explain certain everyday quirks, like why comfort food feels comforting or why butterflies in the stomach accompany anticipation. Could our broader emotional experiences be rooted, not just in our hearts or minds, but deep within our digestion?

If these systems are in constant dialogue, then the real question might not be who’s leading the conversation, but what happens when we pay attention to both voices?

THE PRACTICE

Listen to the Conversation Within

What if we allowed ourselves to hear the whispers from our gut? It’s easy to dismiss subtle signals like discomfort or calm, but what if they are messages waiting to be understood? Let’s try a simple experiment together.

• Before each meal, pause for a moment. Notice how you’re feeling both physically and emotionally. Are you stressed? Excited? Restless? Then, as you eat, pay attention to how the food feels. Does it energize, soothe, or unsettle?

• Reflect afterward. Nothing formal, just a gut-check (literally) about the connection between what we eat and how we feel. Over time, patterns may emerge.

It’s about curiosity, noticing the relationship between the food we choose and the comfort it brings. Maybe it’s mashed potatoes offering a link to cherished memories, or something else that feels like home for you. What might we discover when we listen to the dialogue between our bodies, our minds? Let’s honor the food that brings us back to ourselves.