Where Do We Find Motivation for Exercise? In the Gut!
Did you know that the center of our motivation to exercise is in our gut?
That is what Dohnalová et al.'s team of 34 scientists discovered in their extensive research with mice.
The team found out that it is the state of the microbiome that determines motivation: if there is a working equilibrium between all the different organisms that share the space in the gut, there is an experience of much better motivation to exercise.
Why?
When there is harmony in the gut, there is more dopamine production - the higher the level, the better motivation.
A healthy microbiome produces FAAs (fatty acid amides) which in turn stimulate sensory neurons and signals from these sensory neurons increase dopamine production.
When we have more dopamine levels - we feel really good about exercising to begin with, and as we start exercising, and our body is able to produce more dopamine, we feel even better.
But disequilibrium in the gut microbiome leads to a lack of energy, and no motivation to exercise.
Dohnalová et al. played around with the production of dopamine and what creates a flow and what stops the flow.
The team gave mice antibiotics and destroyed the good bacteria, created disequilibrium in the gut, and rendered the mice totally tired and if they did exercise they were exhausted early on. Sounds familiar?
The researchers also treated the mice with a drug that blocked dopamine in the brain (the striatum part of the brain is in charge of our motivation!) and of course there was no motivation. They did the same thing in the gut and had the same result.
The effect of blocked dopamine was exactly the same as when the microbiome was depleted or in disequilibrium - No motivation to exercise.
Taking care of our gut microbiome is showing in research to influence greatly the state of our health. This means that we need to focus on the health of the microbiome and we do that by eating more fiber from plants, boost our immune system, and reduce stress. A harmoniously working microbiota allows the communication between gut - brain and gut - heart to flow easily.
Suggested use: One teaspoon by mouth (very tasty) or mixed in a little water.
References
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Dohnalová, L., Lundgren, P., Carty, J. R., Goldstein, N., Wenski, S. L., Nanudorn, P., ... & Thaiss, C. A. (2022). A microbiome-dependent gut–brain pathway regulates motivation for exercise. Nature, 1-9. Abstract
- Doctors, B. (2023, January, 10). Gut microbes may affect motivation to exercise. NIH. Article
Yours as Always,
Dohrea
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Green Facts:
Runners' High: Siebers, M., Biedermann, S. V., & Fuss, J. (2022). Do endocannabinoids cause the runner’s high? Evidence and open questions. The Neuroscientist, 10738584211069981.Article |
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