Research has found that tweaking the balance between beneficial and disease-causing bacteria in an animal’s gut can alter its brain chemistry and lead it to become either more bold or more anxious. The brain can also exert a powerful influence on gut bacteria; as many studies have shown, even mild stress can tip the microbial balance in the gut, making the host more vulnerable to infectious disease and triggering a cascade of molecular reactions that feed back to the central nervous system. The human gut, often referred to as the “second brain,” is the only organ to boast its own independent nervous system, an intricate network of 100 million neurons embedded in the gut wall. How can be best balance the beneficial and disease-causing bacteria in our gut? Through a diet of whole foods which are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and phytonutrient.