Anxiety isn’t just in your head. It’s in your GUT too. Here are 7...
Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD@LORWEN108
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Jan 21, 2026
~2 min read
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Anxiety isn’t just in your head.
It’s in your GUT too.
Here are 7 gut-based ways to calm anxiety, improve mood, and restore mental clarity (without meds)🧵
1. Your gut is your second brain.
It’s in your GUT too.
Here are 7 gut-based ways to calm anxiety, improve mood, and restore mental clarity (without meds)🧵
1. Your gut is your second brain.
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1. Your gut has MORE neurons than your brain.
There are 100+ million neurons in your intestines.
This is more than your spinal cord.
This “enteric nervous system” talks directly to your brain
through the vagus nerve.
When your gut is stressed, your mind feels it.
There are 100+ million neurons in your intestines.
This is more than your spinal cord.
This “enteric nervous system” talks directly to your brain
through the vagus nerve.
When your gut is stressed, your mind feels it.
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2. Most serotonin is made in the gut.
Almost 95% of all serotonin is made in the gut.
Most people don't know this.
What it means is that this powerful mood-stabilizing neurotransmitter
is influenced by what you eat.
Low gut health = poor emotional health.
Almost 95% of all serotonin is made in the gut.
Most people don't know this.
What it means is that this powerful mood-stabilizing neurotransmitter
is influenced by what you eat.
Low gut health = poor emotional health.
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3. An inflammed gut = a dysregulated emotional brain.
When your gut is irritated:
• Your anxiety increases
• Your focus drops
• Your mood darkens
• Your stress goes "off the charts"
Basically, there's no separation between the “mental” and “physical.”
When your gut is irritated:
• Your anxiety increases
• Your focus drops
• Your mood darkens
• Your stress goes "off the charts"
Basically, there's no separation between the “mental” and “physical.”
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Let's, dive in...
4. Microbiome regulate your stress hormones.
They live in the gut.
If they are off these stress/mood hormones effect:
• Your Cortisol (stress) levels.
• Your GABA (calming neurotransmitter) production .
• Dopamine (motivation) drops.
• Oxytocin (connection) becomes depleted.
When they are optimized, your mental improves. You don't feel angry, depressed, or irritated.
4. Microbiome regulate your stress hormones.
They live in the gut.
If they are off these stress/mood hormones effect:
• Your Cortisol (stress) levels.
• Your GABA (calming neurotransmitter) production .
• Dopamine (motivation) drops.
• Oxytocin (connection) becomes depleted.
When they are optimized, your mental improves. You don't feel angry, depressed, or irritated.
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5. Fermented foods act like natural antidepressants.
Kimchi. Kefir. Sauerkraut. Miso.
These restore healthy bacteria
and support serotonin production.
Your mood improves when you stabilize your gut ecosystem.
Kimchi. Kefir. Sauerkraut. Miso.
These restore healthy bacteria
and support serotonin production.
Your mood improves when you stabilize your gut ecosystem.
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6. Chronic stress damages the gut barrier.
Poor sleep, constant pressure, and over-stimulation weakens the intestinal lining.
When your intestinal lining is weakened, inflammatory signals are sent to the brain.
This triggers increased anxiety, irritibility, and frustration.
Repairing your gut leads to a calmer mind.
Poor sleep, constant pressure, and over-stimulation weakens the intestinal lining.
When your intestinal lining is weakened, inflammatory signals are sent to the brain.
This triggers increased anxiety, irritibility, and frustration.
Repairing your gut leads to a calmer mind.
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7. The gut stabilizes your nervous system and improves mood.
Bone broth, zinc, collagen, L-glutamine,
and anti-inflammatory foods strengthen the gut lining.
A stronger gut lining = calmer emotional responses (throughout your day).
Mental health isn’t just psychological.
It’s biological, relational, and embodied.
If your gut is inflamed,
your nervous system can't relax.
Bone broth, zinc, collagen, L-glutamine,
and anti-inflammatory foods strengthen the gut lining.
A stronger gut lining = calmer emotional responses (throughout your day).
Mental health isn’t just psychological.
It’s biological, relational, and embodied.
If your gut is inflamed,
your nervous system can't relax.
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I've dedicated my life to helping people transform from fear into presence.
If you're experiencing anxiety or depressionbook a discovery call with me.
calendly.com/lorwen_consult…
If you're experiencing anxiety or depressionbook a discovery call with me.
calendly.com/lorwen_consult…
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Most people treat anxiety like a mindset problem.
But when your gut is inflamed, your nervous system can’t fully stand down.
Have you noticed certain foods make your anxiety worse?
Yes or no?
But when your gut is inflamed, your nervous system can’t fully stand down.
Have you noticed certain foods make your anxiety worse?
Yes or no?
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Most people miss the real point: your gut doesn’t just ‘affect mood’… it trains your threat system.
Reply GUT and I’ll share the 3 fastest ways to calm inflammation + anxiety.
Reply GUT and I’ll share the 3 fastest ways to calm inflammation + anxiety.
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If this thread is interesting to you, you might want to explore more of my work. Check out the Imaginal Path to Anxiety Release. Here's a link below:
offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/imaginal-path-…
offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/imaginal-path-…
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Have you ever had anxiety with no obvious reason — just a body feeling?
Reply YES if you know what I mean.
Reply YES if you know what I mean.