Gut Health impacts Mental Health

Feeling sluggish? Chances are your mental fog could be a reflection of your gut health as well.  With a rumored 80% of your immune system in your gut area, it’s no wonder that the phrase “you are what you eat” seems so on-point. If you’re eating poorly, you feel – and perform – poorly.

The stomach is easily one of the most important organs in your body.  It is responsible for the digestion of food, secretion of gastric juices, as well as, mucus, which helps to coat its lining, preventing erosion by gastric juices and secretion of gastric hormones.

Since food is what our body uses for energy and functioning, how and what we process is imperative to our overall state of wellness. Researchers speculate that any disruption to the normal, healthful balance of bacteria in the stomach can cause the immune system to overreact and contribute to inflammation of the GI tract, in turn leading to the development of symptoms of disease that occur not only throughout your body, but also in your brain. This is known as the gut-brain axis.

The good news?  Gut health can be easily remedied.  The difficult-to-hear news is that it does take disciple.  The Standard American Diet doesn’t just boast the acronym S.A.D. ironically. The truth is that much of the American diet is highly processed, nutrient-poor and enzyme-dead.  This means that our body, although taking in a great deal of food, is actually unable to use much of what is provided for energy and the optimal functioning of organs.

Fortunately, we have got some of the fastest and easiest ways to help with getting your stomach healed and healthy!

Eat anti-inflammatory foods.  Anything that ends in “–itis” (gastritis, ulcerative colitis) is hinting at inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to weight gain and disease. Fatty fish, broccoli, avocados and green tea can all help to reduce pro-inflammatory production.

Grab garlic. Studies have shown that garlic if eaten on an empty stomach acts as a powerful antibiotic. It is more effective when you eat it before breakfast because bacteria is exposed and cannot defend it from succumbing to its power.

Pick up probiotics. Most probiotics can help reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your gut to support digestive health.  Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. You can find probiotics in supplements and some foods, like yogurt.

Fan-girling over fiber.  Fiber is important for our overall digestive health-particularly in preventing constipation-not just for cancer prevention. Great sources of fiber are whole grains, spinach, cauliflower, carrots, wheat bran, apples, broccoli, beans, figs and pears.

Talk to your doc. Let your doctor know what you’re experiencing, what you’ve tried to remedy it with and what symptoms remain.  You also can consider talking with a professional dietitian or nutritionist for fun, easy meals that will support your gut and noggin all the same!

Got any remedies you swear by? Let’s hear them!