Introduction
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays an important role not only in the digestion and absorption of food but also the mucosal immune system (Geng et al. 2022). The GI tract is colonized by a range of microorganisms and is densely packed with a network of hundreds of millions of neurons, which is known as the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS is an extensive network of neurons that lines the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (Mungovan & Ratcliffe, 2016). Additionally, the ENS works cooperatively with intestinal microbes, the intestinal immune system, and endocrine systems which all overlap to form a complex that is required to maintain a stable intestinal microenvironment (Geng et al. 2022). There is a current interest in understanding how gut microbes influence the ENS and the central nervous system (CNS) as recent studies have revealed the association between microbial changes and the development of neurological disorders like depression, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s disease (Calvani et al. 2018).
Gut microbes-brain bidirectional communication is regulated by the vagus nerve and conveys information from the GI tract to the CNS to maintain intestinal motility, control the release of neurotransmitters and immune cells (Forsythe et al. 2014). Thus, it is no surprise that the alteration in the gut microbiota could impact our emotions, sleep quality, metabolism, and overall well-being.
The composition of gut microbiota has been associated with habitual diets (Ferraris et al. 2020). The complexity of the food composition and their interactions, it is very difficult to identify the effects of single dietary nutrients in habitual diets. Although, there are studies that show that there are many dietary elements that will be useful to depict the pictures. It is thought that a diet with high intake of fermentable fibers and plant polyphenols regulate gut microbial activities. In other words, increased consumption of whole-plant foods, like fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain cereals, are encouraged to support gut health (Sidhu et al. 2023). This provides a scientific rationale of eating prebiotic foods. Studies have also shown that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in nuts and fish can improve the intestinal barrier integrity (Seethaler et al. 2023; Fu et al., 2021). Additionally, highly processed western-style diets high in sugar, fat, and cholesterol are rapidly absorbed in the small intestine with a very small amount reaching the colon. When consuming such foods, the gut microbiota is deprived of essential nutrients required for bacterial growth, promoting gut dysbiosis (Kang et al. 2023). Therefore, limiting the consumption of highly processed foods can improve gut health. Additionally, the role of probiotic microorganisms are important for gut health sustainability and the consumption of fermented milk, yogurt, fermented food, functional foods, probiotic drinks, and lacto-bacilli probiotic supplements can maintain gut health (Dahiya & Nigam 2022). Additionally, recent studies show that environmental factors like exercise and not smoking can enhance the number of beneficial microbial species.
Process
In creating this comic, the artist used a limited color palette of oranges and reds, graphic style, and contrasting colors to create imagery of the gastrointestinal lining. Warm tones were chosen as the primary colors when drawing the intestinal tracts; the colors blended in with the background. However, when the artist wanted certain elements to stand out, she contrasted these oranges with blue to highlight the important connection between the brain and gut. Furthermore, she created enlarged visuals of the processes to help emphasize important details about the communicative process that the brain and gut undergo.
The graphic style further enforces this connection by providing a common visual that the general public can easily grasp to understand a more complex idea. In conjunction with GMC, the artist worked to create this comic and this comprehensible imagery of gut health. With a graphic style and warm tone color palette to promote medical information and raise awareness about gut health for the general public in an engaging manner to not only show the problem but display the solution.
Conclusion
This comic provides information regarding the gut microbiota and its association with both the immune system and the central nervous system. Dietary changes, exercise, and abstinence from smoking can enrich gut microflora diversity and provide benefits of improved mental health and neurological disease prevention. For accurate diagnosis and suitable treatment, individuals who may exhibit bowel problems or symptoms of poor mental health should consult a licensed healthcare provider.
References
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