The Gut-Brain Connection: Exploring the Interplay Between Diet, Exercise, Sleep and Well-being
The Body and Mind: A Supportive Relationship
The body and mind are ‘best friends forever.’ Yes, its functions work in unison together. Today, many people are investing time and money into their well-being. Find out if your wellness practices support a healthy relationship between your body and mind.
Many Factors affect your well-being and sometimes it becomes a question of, ‘what came first? The chicken or the egg?’ Your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes can affect your body’s physiological and biological functions. However, what you eat, how much you move, how often you stretch and how many hours of sleep you get can affect your thoughts and your mood. You may find yourself asking how this exactly works.
THE GUT-BRAIN AXIS
Emotions adjust both your mental and bodily states. We are constantly being prepared to react to dangers and opportunities. There are many types of research that support a correlation between the gut and brain. The Journal of Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (2019) states, ‘the intestinal microbiota influences that brain mainly through the vagus nerve by the neural and humeral means of the gut-brain axis.*
Physical symptoms that your gut-brain axis may be compromised are: abdominal cramps, loose stools, headaches and fatigue.
Your gut bacteria which weighs 1-2 kgs make up your microbiome and it helps to digest food, regulate your immune system and your moods. By supporting a healthy gut, you can reduce your levels of depression and anxiety. You can do this by incorporating probiotic rich foods into your diet such as kimchi, yogurt, kefir, roots vegetables and apple cider vinegar.
A MOOD BOOSTING DIET
Serotonin is a ‘happy hormone.’ It’s responsible for elevating your mood and 90-95% of it is produced in your gut. A diet mainly consisting of sugar, high fat and fried foods can negatively affect your moods. Eating every 2-3 hours can reduce your cravings for such foods and help you maintain healthy insulin levels. Studies reveal that a mediterranean style diet is rich in anti-oxidants and it promotes good health by lowering coronary and chronic diseases because it is low on saturated fat:
Abundant in plant based foods: fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, grains, cereals, potatoes and breads.
Dairy, eggs and fats - cheeses, yogurts and olive oils are eaten in moderation.
Fish and poultry consumed in low to moderate amounts.
Red meals, wine and alcohol - eaten in low amounts and wine is usually consumed with meals.
