The Gut-Brain Connection
The gut and the brain are in constant communication. The lining of our gut contains an entire nervous system. What you do to your gut, you do to your brain. What you feed your gut, you feed your brain.
90% of serotonin (your happy hormone) is produced in your gut.
What do you think happens when you eat highly processed foods? Your microbes in your gut cannot produce serotonin, therefore your gut-brain connection contributes to your mental/emotional health, anxiety, depression and digestion problems.
How do you feel after eating? Are you boosting your serotonin with nourishing foods or depleting it?
Your brain contains 100 billion neurons and your gut contains 500 million neurons. Neurons are the nerve cells of the brain and nervous system. They are responsible for receiving sensory input from the external world and they are in charge of relaying this information via electrical signals to our body. Source
The gut-brain connection - ways to optimise brain and gut health
Take 10 deep belly breaths before eating - this will calm your nervous system and communicate to your body that it is safe (not stressed etc) which will allow your body to relax, focus on digestion and utilise the nutrients in your food
Eat as many whole foods as possible - get creative and make it yummy! Healthy food does not need to be ‘boring!’
Antibiotics and refined seed oils (sunflower, canola, rice bran, soybean and vegetable oils) will destroy your gut the most
Avocado, coconut, olive (when cooking) and hemp oil are best
Give your gut a boost with probiotics
Avoid eating highly processed foods as much as possible.. If you don’t know what the ingredients are in your food, you probably shouldn't be eating it.
Eat healthy fats - for example avocado, hemp seeds, hemp oil and chia seeds
Keep your eyes peeled on our instagram or website for nutritious easy recipes that anyone can make!
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