The Missing Link Between Gut + Mental Health
Did you know that you can choose how you want to feel based on what you put on your plate?
Revolutionary studies in the mental health field have proven a direct correlation between the health of the gut + of the brain, suggesting that combining dietary changes with behavioral therapies can offer hope for safer, more natural + much more effective mental health treatment options.
The digestive tract and the brain are in constant communication via the Vagus nerve - a major component to the nervous system that also controls the heart, lungs + other essential organs. This connection means that not only does what you eat affect how the rest of your system reacts, but how you feel also affects how you are able to digest + absorb nutrients.
This is why you typically find those suffering from mental health disorders are also having physical digestive symptoms or why you might feel super nauseous when the anxiety strikes… the two are intrinsically LINKED.
Pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) living throughout the gut, called the microbiome, have been shown to produce and/or consume a wide variety of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Certain bacteria strains impact our levels of satisfaction, happiness, our ability to love + relax, and improve or limit our capacity to handle stress.
These bacterial strains are so impactful that probiotic supplementation can improve, or even eventually replace, certain medications in balancing hormones.*
[*Not medical advice]
The good news is that we have the power to manipulate our microbiome in a positive way! Through various diet + lifestyle practices, you can effectively improve your brain’s ability to heal itself.
5 EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR GUT + MENTAL HEALTH:
Drink enough water. Hydration is key to digesting, absorbing, moving + utilizing nutrients that they body will use to make key hormones + perform necessary tasks. Proper hydration also keeps us energized throughout the day. Aim to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces.
Eat mostly whole foods. The closer your food is to its natural state, the more nourishing it will be to our body. It doesn’t have to be difficult, think mostly meat + veggies/fruits. Aim for the highest quality options available when it comes to your produce, meat, dairy + processed foods.
Return to your breath. How you breathe affects your nervous system, which affects your hormones and in turn controls the state of your mental health. Movement of any kind can be an incredible way to activate + sync up with the breath. When you reconnect to the breath, the stress response turns off so you can get back into a calm state where the body can digest, relax + recover. Bonus points if you can do it with the sun on your face.
Avoid processed foods, additives, added sugars and stimulants/depressants. These are toxic to the body and have strange effects on the microbiome which will then affect the quality of your thoughts. Too many of these chemicals can also affect the liver + detoxification, further adding stress to the body. Removing these from your diet, helps with stress management from a biological level.
Incorporate bone broth, fatty grass-fed meats + fermented foods. The connective tissue from animals is critical for our own system, especially the digestive tract. Bone broth + grass-fed fatty meats will help repair the intestinal lining. Kimchi, sauerkraut, low-sugar yoghurt, buttermilk, miso, low-sugar kombucha or even probiotic supplements are great bacteria-fermented sources that can be extremely beneficial in bringing balance to the microbiome.
It’s important to note that the body needs all 5 of these to thrive. When there is focus only in one area, but not in others, there will still be problems.
Combining these 5 practices will remove problematic foods, repair + replenish the digestive organs and repopulate the gut with good-for-you bacteria to encourage a beneficial balance of neurotransmitters, hormones + overall well-being.
With consistent effort + patience, you can empower your body with the nourishment it needs to heal itself naturally.
You got this! I’m here to help.
XO,
Lauren
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