Ravi Kishan says ‘gut is our brain’. Is it true? Dr Pal explains the surprising link between gut bacteria and behaviour

Could the gut influence how we think, feel and behave? Actor Ravi Kishan recently sparked a conversation about the connection between the gut and the brain, saying that people often think with their gut and calling it “our brain”. Dr Pal agreed with the broader idea, pointing to the millions of nerve cells in the gut and its constant communication with the brain. A study involving mice also offers an intriguing clue about how gut microbes may influence behaviour.

Ravi Kishan says the gut is like a brain

Dr Pal took to social media and reacted to a video of Ravi Kishan discussing gut health during a podcast. Ravi said people think with their gut rather than their brain and described the “gut as our brain”. Dr Pal agreed with the actor's statement before adding some scientific context. Ravi also said, “What you eat is what you are.” Dr Pal agreed with the underlying message but pointed out that he was putting too much emphasis on the word “what”.

The larger point, according to Dr Pal, is that the gut and brain are closely connected rather than functioning as completely separate systems.

Your gut and brain constantly communicate

Dr Pal explained that the gut contains around 500 million nerve cells, highlighting the complex network within the digestive system. Scientific literature supports the existence of this communication pathway, commonly known as the gut-brain axis. Research describes around 500 million intrinsic neurons in the enteric nervous system and explains that the gut and brain communicate through neural and other biological pathways.

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Dr Pal also highlighted the enormous community of microorganisms living in the gut. These microbes can interact with the body in ways that researchers are increasingly studying in relation to brain function and behaviour. This does not mean the gut literally replaces the brain. Rather, it shows that the digestive system and nervous system are in constant communication.

What did the mice experiment show?

Dr Pal referred to an interesting experiment involving two groups of mice. One group was naturally more anxious and cautious, while the other was described as more bold and outgoing. Researchers then transferred gut bacteria from the anxious mice into the bold mice. According to Dr Pal's explanation, the bold mice subsequently began displaying more anxiety-like behaviour.

The experiment illustrates why scientists are interested in the relationship between gut microbes and behaviour. It suggests that changing the microbial environment in the gut can be associated with changes in behaviour, although findings from animal experiments should not automatically be treated as proof that the same effect occurs in humans.

What you eat can affect your digestive health

The gut-brain connection also makes everyday digestive health important. According to the NHS UK, drinking enough fluids helps waste move through the digestive system, while water also allows fibre to work effectively. The NHS recommends increasing fibre through foods such as wholemeal bread, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, beans and oats.

The NHS also advises cutting down on greasy and fatty foods because they can be harder to digest and may cause stomach pain or heartburn.

Should you avoid spicy food?

Not necessarily. The NHS notes that many people can eat spicy food without digestive problems, while others experience symptoms such as heartburn, stomach pain or diarrhoea. For those who notice such reactions, cutting back on spicy foods may help.

The same applies to individual food triggers. Digestive responses can vary from person to person, so paying attention to which foods cause discomfort can be useful.