Did you know that our brain and our gut have a physical and chemical connection with each other?
Remember that feeling of "butterflies" in your stomach? The brain and the gut have more to do with each other than we have ever before realised and the science and research on this topic is constantly on the rise.
The health of our gut (our second brain) has a direct correlation to the way we think, the way we feel, how we sleep, our weight and even our stress levels. By just thinking about food, our brain can signal to our digestive system that food is on the way and our body prepares accordingly by releasing digestive enzymes to break down the food. But...our incredibly intelligent gut does so much more than just digesting our food and this is why it is imperative that we optimise gut health as it affects many aspects of our health.
There are so many factors that influence the health of our digestive system (therefore our overall health and wellness) and nutrition is one significant key player. Nutrition can either heal or harm our precious insides and quite often in this day and age, our nutrition choices are doing more harm than good. And with that, people experiencing mental health issues are on the rise and often nutrition is overlooked as part of a treatment and healing plan. I worked in mental health for many years and very rarely did I see clients focus on eating quality nutrient-dense foods to support their mental wellness and overall good health.
So with all of this in mind (remembering this is only a short spiel on a rather large topic) ...what do we need to do to keep our gut AND our minds healthy?
A very large body of evidence now shows that a poor diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety and a quality diet can give you the strength, stamina and clarity to cope with everyday stress.
If you are struggling with poor digestion, high stress levels or those unhelpful negative thoughts, start by looking to nutrition as your first medicine. I am by no means saying that pharmaceuticals are not important, as I believe everything has a time, place and purpose however I am reminding you what we have known for many years and that is consuming a variety of clean, healthy food (and adequate water) will nourish your gut and your mind. This will not only fuel your body with quality nutrients, vitamins and minerals but the consequence will be a sense of well-being, energy and vitality!
Add to this, a daily stress reduction strategy such as deep breathing and you will be well on your way to having a healthy gut and a very happy mind!
If you would like to know more on how I can help you improve your gut health, along with achieve a healthier weight and rejuvenate your energy, contact me here now.
* For more info on the gut-brain connection, take a look at David Perlmutter's book: The Brain Maker.