We’ve all heard the saying ‘you are what you eat”, but research now indicates we feel what we eat….not just physically but emotionally and mentally! New research indicates that the bacteria created in your gut, or your microbiome, actually create neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, the same thing created in your brain) that affect your emotions. Let’s make this super easy to ‘digest’: your leaky gut, poor digestion, or digestive issues are actually contributing to potential depressive feelings, anxiety, and may even effect disorders such as autism. This is huge!!! This actually means that pre & probiotics, or making sure our bodies are functioning adequately is not only important for preventing disease, but it also for preventing issues with our mental health!
We could probably look back into our own history and see examples of this. Have you noticed when you have attempted to eat clean, you just feel better? 9 out of 10 of my clients have reported that while eating clean they have greater mental clarity, better sleep, and an improved mood. Although this is the case, our psychological dependencies on our old patterns of eating can sometimes keep us coming back to our unhealthy habits despite our ‘good feelings’ from eating clean. Another common theme I see, and you may experience, is when a person tries to prevent themselves from expressing an emotion, not only do they become anxious, but they also become constipated – no joke! Your body is literally acting as a metaphor for your own total health and it’s because our gut health and emotions are connected.
This means healing your gut not only improves your physical well-being, but also your mental well-being. Healing your gut involves providing your body with nourishing, nutrient dense foods, pre and probiotics, and you should consider introducing fermented foods into your diet. The most important thing to amp up is your awareness. Tune into how you are feeling, and how your body is feeling. Certain foods may produce more sluggish behaviors, etc. So what are you waiting for? Jump on the train of eating clean….and you’ll find you’ll not only be in a better mood, but you’ll be ‘digesting’ like a champ! If you’d like to see more research on the findings of your gut health and mental health, please click here.