It’s A Gut Feeling: The Gut-Brain Axis
Presented by: Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc+
The digestive tract, often called the 'second brain’, is crucial for mental health. Join Dr. Peter Bongiorno as he explains the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract and its connection to the central nervous system, focusing on the vagus nerve. He discusses how food, stress, movement and nature affect the vagus nerve, intestinal environment and microbiota, leading to changes in brain function and mood. Clinical insights from over two decades of practice will be shared to help your patients make optimal lifestyle, dietary and supplement choices to support a healthy mood and gut-brain axis.‡
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the main anatomical structures involved in the gut-brain relationship and the function of the vagus nerve (Cranial nerve X)
- Identify useful lab tests for gastrointestinal-related mental health conditions
- Learn about gut bacteria metabolites and their role in gut-brain communication
- Explain how diet, lifestyle and supplements can be used to support mood via the gut-brain axis‡
About the Speaker
Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc+, is dedicated to bringing effective holistic healing to the practice of mental health. In 2004, he established two thriving practices NYC Integrative, in New York City and Long Island. Prior to earning his naturopathic doctorate from Bastyr University, he researched at the National Institutes of Mental Health and Yale University, studying stress and the HPA axis. He authored the first integrative medicine textbook for depression in 2008. He has written numerous publications since then including three more books on mental health, including How Come They're Happy and I'm Not?
+Dr. Bongiorno is a retained advisor for Pure Encapsulations.