Purpose of review Provision of adequate nutrients by the gut is essential for survival and essential behaviors are linked to the proper ingestion and digestion of food. Recently, a new neural connection has been reported between sensory cells of the gut epithelium and the nervous system that mediates signals from the gut to the brain. Recent findings This review describes how the gut senses its environment, relays those signals to the brain, and how the brain influences the gut. Summary This gut-brain connection provides a pathway for how the body handles food.