We often think of our body and our brain as separate entities, not really giving a thought to the impact that each of our internal systems exerts on our master organ and vice versa. But the brain and the rest of your body are wired together in multiple complex ways.
At the heart of this relationship is the gatekeeper to your grey matter, known as the blood-brain barrier. "The blood-brain barrier (or BBB) acts as a guardian for the brain, regulating the substances that can enter and exit. It is commonly referred to as the 'gatekeeper' because it carefully controls which molecules are allowed to pass through and prevents the entry of harmful substances," explains Dr Bal Athwal, a consultant neurologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK.
