Grumpy Boss?
He must be thirsty.

That what the science tells us.

Does being hungry or thirsty affect his judgment?
Is a good meal a precursor to a good mood?

New research is discovering how metabolic state and the nutritional quality of food influence risk-taking and decision-making behaviours in humans at work.

The old suspicion that wars are caused by a leader’s indigestion does not seem so far-fetched in the light of accumulating evidence that our metabolic state can influence rational decision-making and our approach to risk.

The gut as second brain

Our gut microbiota play a vital role in our physical and psychological health via its own neural network: the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex system of about 100 million nerves found in the lining of the gut.

The ENS is sometimes called the “second brain,” and it actually arises from the same tissues as our central nervous system (CNS) during fetal development. Therefore, it has many structural and chemical parallels to the brain.

Our ENS doesn’t wax philosophical or make executive decisions like the grey shiny mound in our skulls. Yet, in a miraculously orchestrated symphony of hormones, neurotransmitters, and electrical impulses through a pathway of nerves, both “brains” communicate back and forth. These pathways include and involve endocrine, immune, and neural pathways.

At this point in time, even though the research is inchoate and complex, it is clear that the brain and gut are so intimately connected that it sometimes seems like one system, not two.

So remember not to ask your boss for any decisions just before the lunch time!!!