We often hear the phrase, “you are what you eat.” And while it sounds like something your grandmother might say, modern science is telling us that it’s actually true. Your stomach—or more accurately, your gut—is often referred to as your second brain, and for good reason. Ever had “butterflies” before something big? Or felt nauseated during stress? That’s your gut–brain connection in action.

Inside your digestive system is a massive network of nerves, neurons, and chemical messengers known as the enteric nervous system. This system communicates directly with your brain through a two-way highway called the vagus nerve. What this means is that your emotions, thoughts, and stress levels can affect how your gut feels—and what you eat can influence how you think and feel.

In fact, about 95% of the body’s serotonin—the neurotransmitter involved in mood— is produced in the gut, according to a 2016 study from the Journal of Cell Biology. That means the gut isn’t just digesting food—it’s influencing how we think, feel, and function. (Yano et al., 2016)

Scripture has always understood the relationship between body and soul. David wrote, “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). The more we learn about the human body, the more it becomes clear just how accurate that is.

Holidays are emotional eating at its finest.

• We eat to celebrate.
• We eat to connect.
• We eat in recognition of God’s goodness and provision.

There is nothing unholy about a slice of pie or a comforting casserole. Food is deeply spiritual in Scripture—Jesus ate with people. He blessed meals and broke bread in community.

But the holiday can also be an opportunity for gentle self-reflection:

• How do certain foods make my body feel after I eat them?
• Are my digestion and energy levels supporting the kind of life God is calling me to?
• Am I choosing food out of hunger, comfort, habit, or stress?

Not with guilt. Not with pressure. Just with awareness and grace.

You don’t need to overhaul your Thanksgiving plate to support your second brain. Small choices matter:

• Add more color to your meals (fruits, vegetables, whole foods)
• Include fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, or kombucha
• Slow down and eat mindfully
• Drink water
• Pay attention to how foods make you feel, physically and emotionally

Caring for your body is not vanity—it’s stewardship.

This Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table, take a moment to thank God for:

• A body that digests and nourishes you
• A mind that processes and learns
• A heart that feels deeply
• A nervous system wonderfully designed to connect all three

Your stomach is more than a place food goes—it’s a center of emotional and physical intelligence. And when we treat it well, it repays us from the inside out.

So eat, enjoy, savor—and maybe listen a little more closely to what your “second brain” has to say.

Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️

Yano, J. M., Yu, K., Donaldson, G. P., Shastri, G. G., Ann, P., Ma, L., Nagler, C. R., Ismagilov, R. F., Mazmanian, S. K., & Hsiao, E. Y. (2016). Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis. Journal of Cell Biology, 204(3), 337–348. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201304051