A healthy gut is the foundation of real health — and mental health is no exception. Many of the neurotransmitters responsible for mood, motivation, and emotional balance are made in the gut, not the brain. Serotonin is produced by gut cells and communicated to the brain through the vagus nerve. When gut cells are damaged by inflammation, dysbiosis, food intolerances, or medications, neurotransmitter production drops — and mood suffers. If the gut isn’t healthy, the brain can’t be either. This is