Loving Your Gut: The Gut-Brain Connection

Do you feel like your mind is playing tricks on you?

WHAT IS THE GUT ALL ABOUT?

There is one thing to know is your gut gives you signals.  This should not be ignored.   A special relationship comes from the brain and gut.  Chemicals and neurotransmitters are produced in your gut that can affect your brain.  Think about the environment we are in and foods we eat.  They are being translated within our bodies.  So, what are we going to do about this?

WHAT ARE NEUROTRANSMITTERS?

Here I am talking about neurotransmitters like an everyday vocabulary.  Well, to explain, they are chemicals that are produced throughout the body.  Therefore, it affects your feeling and emotion.  It is a part of the Endocrine system.  For example, Dopamine (a neurotransmitter) is known to be a happy chemical in the body.  This gives you a feeling of joy and happiness. If there is high level of dopamine in the system, this may lead to addictions (ex: eating, drugs etc).  In addition, other neurotransmitters can align with dopamine and create another feeling or emotion.  This is where we encounter so many different feelings.  Think of neurotransmitters as tiny ball of emotions and once we connect our brain to a thought or feeling then the ball will be released to a particular area in the body. Is that cool or what?

HOW DO I KNOW I HAVE AN UNHEALTHY GUT?

Your gut is a delicate thing.  It knows what it wants.  Good and bad bacteria are integrated within your intestines and it can react a certain way.  Here are 3 ways you can tell if you have an unhealthy gut.

1. Upset stomach-Have you had that feeling of consistently being bloating, experiencing constipation, diarrhea and heartburn. These can all be signs of an unhealthy gut. Digesting foods and eliminating waste can become difficult for you. So, pay attention everyone.
2. High Sugar Intake– Think of processed foods with added sugars (ex: frozen dinners, condiments etc); this can cause good bacteria having a hard time digesting in the intestines.
3. Inability to lose weight– If you are not making changes in your diet. This can cause anything like exercise to be inefficient.   An imbalanced gut can result in the inability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar and store fat.  Water is our friend. Therefore, consult a dietitian for a further assessment.

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY GUT?

We have come to taking care of your gut.  Well, I can tell you with my experience and research about this, it has been beneficial and continues to work.

1. Intermittent Fasting-I would advise you talk to a holistic nutritionist about this.  Everyone is different, so it would be good to do your research first.  In my experience, energy and reducing my sugar intake was amazing. It had great results for me.
2. Supplements-I continue to use supplements throughout my day. As hard as we try to eat the right things, our body always needs support.  Here are some things that have worked for me. Nutrilite™ Double X™ Vitamin/Mineral/Phytonutrient Supplement – 31-Day Supply with 3-Compartment Case  and Nutrilite™ Balance Within™ Probiotic. I have been feeling alert and less bloated with these products.
3. Kombucha -I love these drinks.  It comes in so many different flavours. Usually, my favourite is Grapefruit and Lemon Kombucha from Village Juicery . It is your preference which flavour you like.  It has been fermented (which is natural bacteria). Helps to heal the gut and absorb foods better. You can’t go wrong with that.

WHAT NEXT?

Listen to your body.  It knows. In the past, I did not think about my gut having an affect on my overall health. It was never really taught to me. With research and my nursing background, it is important to take an active approach.

“If there’s one thing to know about the human body; it’s this: the human body has a ringmaster.   This ringmaster controls your digestion, your immunity, your brain, your weight, your health and even your happiness.  This ringmaster is the gut-Nancy Mure

Allow yourself to live a healthy life.  You deserve it. Long-term benefits is the key. Happy gut, Happy mind, happy life!!!!!