The surprising link between your nervous system and digestion—explained.
We have one question for you… Are you pooping the way you should?
Too much? Not enough?
We know it sounds a little funny, but your gut health says a lot about your overall well-being. In fact, your gut is one of the most important systems in your body—affecting far more than just digestion. Ideally, your bowel movements should be well-formed, easy to pass, medium-brown in color, and occur one to three times per day without straining or urgency. Click here for more.
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, both good and bad, and keeping that environment balanced is essential. A healthy gut supports your immune system, your mood, your sleep, and your brain function. It’s even tied to how your body responds to stress and inflammation. That’s because of something called the gut-brain axis—a communication pathway between your digestive system and your nervous system. At the heart of the gut-brain axis is the Vagus Nerve—a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system. It’s called the “wandering nerve” because it travels from your brainstem throughout your digestive tract, relaying information in both directions. When your gut is healthy, this communication flows smoothly. If there is an obstruction, it creates a stress loop that affects your nervous system’s ability to regulate your body properly.
At Platinum Chiropractic, we focus on correcting Neuro-Structural obstructions that can interfere with this communication. When the spine—particularly the upper cervical area—is misaligned, it puts tension on the nervous system and disrupts the way the brain and gut talk to each other, which can cause issues with digestion. We’re not saying this is the only cause of digestive issues, but wouldn’t it make sense to eliminate any obstruction to this vital system? Through Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Care, we help restore that connection, improve vagus nerve function, and allow your nervous system to regulate digestion the way it’s meant to. We measure your nervous system adaptability with a Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test in our office, which gives us insight into how your body is handling stress and healing.
Of course, structure is only part of the picture. Supporting your gut with the right nutrients is also key. To further support gut health, we recommend two key supplements that we carry in our office:
1. Proflora-4R: A Next-Level Probiotic
Let’s talk about bacteria—yes, the good kind! A healthy gut needs a strong population of beneficial bacteria to help digest food, balance pH, regulate immunity, make chemicals for happiness, and keep bad microbes in check.
While fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha offer natural probiotics, most people don’t get enough from food alone. That’s why we recommend Proflora-4R, a powerful spore-based probiotic.
Why spore-based? Because it survives stomach acid over 95% of the time, compared to traditional probiotics that may only survive 5–6% of the journey. Proflora-4R also includes:
- Marshmallow root & aloe vera gel (soothing for the gut lining)
- Quercetin (a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation)
- 3 billion viable spore cells
Together, these ingredients support gut lining integrity, reduce bloating, and encourage a balanced microbiome.
2. Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein: Support From the Inside Out
Collagen makes up about 30% of your body’s protein and plays a major role in the structure of your gut lining, joints, skin, and connective tissues. A thinning gut lining/ leaky gut can contribute to digestive issues, food sensitivities, and inflammation.
A 2022 study found that taking 20g of collagen daily helped reduce bloating and improve mild digestive symptoms—even without other dietary or lifestyle changes.
We recommend Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein because:
- It contains 20g of collagen from four clean food sources
- It includes Vitamin C, which supports collagen synthesis
- It’s grass-fed, pasture-raised, and 3rd-party tested for heavy metals
- It includes 10 types of collagen, supporting full-body health
We also carry a vegetarian collagen alternative—ask our front desk team for more information.
So yes, we’re back to talking about poop—but only because it’s one of the most direct indicators of how well your gut is functioning. When your digestion is off, your entire body feels it. And when you support your gut through targeted supplementation and Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Care, your body responds in incredible ways. That means better mood, better sleep, more energy, and a stronger immune response.
At Platinum Chiropractic, we’re here to support you from every angle—by correcting your structure, balancing your nervous system, and offering top-tier supplements that give your gut the support it needs. Ask us about Proflora-4R or Ancient Nutrition Collagen next time you’re in, or schedule a visit to get your nervous system tested and start healing better from the inside out.