March 22, 2024
Looking for a delicious way to start your mornings and improve your gut health? Try these two delectably simple coffee co...
You’ve heard the phrase, “you are what you eat.” And as cliché as it might sound, there’s a lot of truth to it.
This is because the foods you eat directly impact your gut, and the state of your gut impacts your mind. Your mind, of course, affects how you feel and behave.
How does this gut-brain connection work? Well, the fancy term is “gut-brain axis,” but simply put, it’s the phenomenon of your gut staying in constant communication with your mind through the vagus nerve and biological chemicals traveling through your bloodstream.
The communication between your gut and your brain is even responsible for producing more than 90% of the happiness hormone, serotonin, in your body.
If that’s not amazing enough, all that serotonin then signals your brain to release another calming neurotransmitter called GABA. GABA helps you regulate stress.
With all this action going on between your gut and your brain, it’s safe to say that when your gut microbiome is off, you begin to lack some of the crucial hormones responsible for regulating emotional shifts. This may leave you feeling nervous, stressed, and uneasy.
Certain foods and drinks can actually trigger feelings of internal unrest, and, unfortunately, they’re ones that many people turn to when they feel stressed. Do your best to stay away from these for gut and mood support.
When you get stressed, you probably eat carbs. (Hello, chips, cakes, and breads.) Carbs (and, thus, your favorite carb-laden foods) release feel-good hormones, making you feel happier and more satisfied in the moment.
But… these same carbs also increase body-wide discomfort, which, in turn, makes you stressed (whether you realize it or not). So you eat more carbs to feel better… and the cycle continues.
You might already stay away from these foods because of the way they completely tank your energy and weigh down your gut.
However, if you still need a little nudge to cut them out of your diet, just think of the difference it will make for your nervous system.
Not only will you feel calmer, but you may even feel happier!
Plus, each of those foods have some pretty tasty and nutritious swaps:
Many of these alternatives are rich in fiber, probiotics, and omega-3s that have actually been found to support your overall mental wellness.
Sounds like a pretty good trade-off, wouldn’t you agree?
Please know that there are times you may need additional assistance with mental wellness, and there are resources out there for you. (Here’s where to find some.) But watching your diet and nourishing that very important gut-brain axis can help usher in (and hold onto) calmer thoughts and feelings of well-being. These tweaks are definitely worth implementing in your lifestyle right away. Your body and mind will thank you.
To your health and happiness…
Your NatureM.D. Wellness Team