Gut feelings: how your bacteria rule you

We like to think that our choices, moods, and food cravings are entirely our own. We assume that if we reach for junk food, feel anxious, or struggle to focus, it is just a reflection of our brain's willpower.
But what if you aren't completely in the driver's seat?

Join us this week as we dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome — the trillion microscopic creatures living inside us that act as a "second brain." We will explore the hard science of how these tiny microbes talk directly to your head, manufacture your happiness chemicals, and hijack your cravings.
Then, we will tackle the bigger social questions: How does the modern processed food industry manipulate our biology? Is the rise in mental health struggles a moral failure, or a corporate food issue? Does access to healthy food create an invisible biological divide in society?

Who is this for? Enyone who wants to understand themselves. No background in biology or sociology is required — just a curiosity about how our bodies shape who we are as individuals and who we are as a society. Come ready to share your thoughts, grab some food and drink, and discuss.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE ATTENDING:

This briefing document provides the essential concepts, data, and discussion prompts needed to actively participate in tonight's conversation:

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🧠 Part 1: The Hard Science (The "Second Brain")
The human gut is home to roughly 39 trillion microbes, primarily bacteria, which collectively make up the gut microbiome. This complex ecosystem communicates constantly with the central nervous system through a bidirectional network known as the gut-brain axis.
1. The Physical Connection: The Vagus Nerve

• The Highway: The vagus nerve is the direct physical link between your gut and your brain.
• Microbe Signals: Gut microbes stimulate this nerve to send immediate signals to the brain, influencing stress, anxiety, and memory.

2. Chemical Factories: Neurotransmitter Production

• Serotonin: Approximately 90% of the body's serotonin (the "happiness chemical") is produced in the gut, heavily influenced by bacterial populations.
• GABA and Dopamine: Gut microbes also synthesize Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), which regulates anxiety, and dopamine, which governs motivation and reward.

3. Hijacking Cravings

• Survival Instinct: Different microbes thrive on different nutrients (e.g., simple sugars vs. dietary fiber).
• Mind Control: To ensure their own survival, certain microbes release signaling molecules that alter your taste receptors and mimic hunger hormones, actively driving you to crave specific foods—like sugars and fats.

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🍔 Part 2: The Social & Corporate Impact
Our biology does not exist in a vacuum. Modern systems interact directly with this internal ecosystem, turning public health into a complex socioeconomic issue.
1. Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) as Biological Weapons

• Microbiome Starvation: UPFs lack the diverse fibers required to feed beneficial gut bacteria.
• The Cycle: Diets high in refined sugars and emulsifiers promote inflammation and fuel the growth of "craving-heavy" microbes, trapping individuals in a cycle of poor diet and low willpower.

2. Mental Health: Willpower vs. Biology

• Shifting the Narrative: Historically, anxiety, depression, and poor focus have been framed as personal failures or a lack of mental discipline.
• The Corporate Food Link: Emerging science suggests that systemic disruptions to the microbiome via industrialized diets may be a primary driver behind rising global mental health struggles.

3. The Invisible Biological Divide

• Food Deserts: Access to fresh, prebiotic-rich whole foods is heavily dependent on income and geography.
• Socioeconomic Stratification: If wealthy individuals can afford to feed a healthy microbiome (leading to better focus and emotional resilience) while low-income communities are restricted to gut-destroying UPFs, society faces an invisible, biologically reinforced inequality.

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💬 Discussion Prompts for Attendees
Please review these questions ahead of the meetup, as they will form the core of our group breakdown:

1. If our microbes can dictate our cravings and moods, how much "free will" or actual personal responsibility do we truly have over our health?
2. Should the processed food industry be legally regulated or taxed similarly to tobacco companies if their products are proven to alter human biology and mental health?
3. How can communities bridge the "biological divide" to ensure equal access to gut-healthy foods across all income levels?

You must register and be on the “Attendees - Going” list to attend. Minimum spend of $10 at the cafe on food and/or drink. This enables us to have free use of their private room.We meet UPSTAIRS at the Little Turkish Cafe.

Please arrive early to order food and/or drink before you join us. Several people arrive early and eat downstairs before the Meetup. You are welcome to join us.

Bring $1 to cover Meetup costs.

RSVP POLICY:

RSVPs and cancellations will be accepted up until 6 hours before the start of the meetup so that people who feel unwell on the day have time to change their RSVP and allow someone else to attend.

Being registered to attend and not attending OR cancelling your attendance after 12:30 pm on Tuesday will be considered a 'No Show'.
Members with two 'No Shows' will be banned from attending further D&M Meetups.

This RSVP policy has become necessary due to the high number of last minute withdrawals and non-attendance. This unfairly causes people on the Waiting List to miss out. Thanks for your cooperation.