Happy Gut, Happy Life

Happy Gut! Happy Life!
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I am sure you have all heard the saying ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’ which is most likely true, but have you ever thought about how much your gut microbiome contributes to your happy life?

I have been on a journey recently, sharing information in my workshops on what contributes to a healthy gut, what doesn’t, and exactly what an imbalance in your gut microbiome affects, along with how fermented foods can help support gut health. In doing the research for my workshops one thing I learned and have been able to share is that a happy gut can indeed contribute to a happy life.

Did you know that the gut microbiome has a direct link to your brain through the central nervous system. Changes in the microbes in your biome have been proven to significantly affect things like mood, pain tolerance, cognitive performance, behaviour and mental health.

The gut microbiome is often called  the ‘second brain’.

I was surprised just how much the ‘second brain’  can affect your feelings. I am sure you have often been told to trust your gut, had butterflies in your stomach or experienced a gut wrenching feeling. Those feelings actually begin in the brain and were communicated to the gut microbiome as a warning that something was happening.

Many chemicals used in the brain are actually produced by the gut microbiome. The chemicals that are needed for the brain to produce the powerful antidepressant Serotonin for example. When the gut biome is out of balance and unable to produce the amount of required chemicals then the brain cannot produce enough Serotonin, and depression can be one of the results.

This was an eye opener for me!

If the gut microbiome is not in balance the result can cause an imbalance in the brain which in turn can cause depression.

So in reverse, if we can treat the microbiome to get it healthy and in balance, would that reverse depression. it is certainly food for thought!

Often you hear of people suffering with depression being given prescriptions to help restore the balance in the brain, but what if that is just a bandaid fix and not a cure? The drugs have to be absorbed through the gut to get to the brain, and what do they do to the gut microbiome in the process? I wonder if that is being studied now? I certainly hope so!

Imagine if someone is being diagnosed with depression, and the health care provider continued to explore their gut health in light of the diagnosis? Then looked at their diet? Then imagine if they were referred to someone to help them make the necessary changes to integrate a healthy eating strategy in their lives. The results could be amazing!

Now I know and understand that fixing the gut microbiome is not something that happens overnight when you change your diet, and that to help people already suffering with depression  something interim would most likely be needed until the gut was healed, but what if it was a healing process to the point where they might not need that prescription?
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Food as Medicine, and Food for Thought!
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