Gut Instinct: Why your gut is your extra brain
I’ve recently discovered that you ignore your gut at your peril. That’s because I was amazed at the improvements in my health, my sleep and my weight after paying a bit more attention to my gut. It’s definitely something I want to share, because looking after your gut can make a significant difference to your wellbeing.
Why is your gut important?
Your gut is responsible for putting your body into working order. As it breaks down the foods we eat, the gut absorbs nutrients that support key functions — from energy production to hormone balance, skin health to mental health, and even toxin and waste elimination. Did you know about 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut? So it’s no surprise that making sure your digestive system is in tip-top shape can be key to addressing many of your everyday issues.
Revolutionary research has revealed that that the state of your gut is central to your weight and health. It’s for that reason that it’s known as the ‘Second Brain’. But that’s really only half of the story. Inside the digestive system, the enteric nervous system mainly communicates with bacteria. These are completely separate creatures that make up our microbiome, and there are just as many of them inside of us as our own human cells
Remember healthy bacteria?
A healthy gut consists of different iterations of bacteria for different people, and this diversity maintains wellness. A shift away from ‘normal’ gut microbiota diversity is called dysbiosis, and dysbiosis may contribute to disease. In light of this, the microbiome has become the focus of much research attention as a new way of understanding autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and even brain disorders.
Probiotics are live bacteria or yeasts found in fermented foods or supplements that, when consumed, take residence in the gut and improve health. Scientists continue to research the mechanisms behind the benefits of probiotics - whether adding small amounts of fermented foods to your diet may help the growth and proliferation of healthy bacteria. Well-known dietary sources include sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, soy sauce, and kefir.
When Good is better
I’m currently loving the Good range from Farmer Jo. Made from whole foods, the range contains all the plant-based foods that support that microbiome and support a healthy immune system – something that we should all consider working on in light of the virus events of the past 12 months.
The Good range of granolas and mueslis might be marketed as a breakfast range, but they are tasty enough for any time of the day, and are deliberately formulated to do your gut a favour – you can practically feel it working its magic!
Gut-friendly recipes and more
A while ago, I took on a four-week healthy gut challenge. I lost more than 10 pounds, slept much better, was more alert and energetic during the day and even had more patience, apparently! Taking your gut health seriously doesn’t require you to completely change your life forever though. It’s about resetting it and making a few conscious choices about what you put into your body.
It’s fantastic to see so many great products coming to market in this area. The science is good, and the results speak for themselves. Why not take a look at The Gut Stuff? Based in Scotland, this great company is doing a great job of promoting the power of looking after your gut – there are plenty of downloads and recipes to help you get started.
There are some amazing sources of information out there, but few are as good as
‘Eat Yourself Healthy’ by Dr Megan Rossi, also known as the Gut Health Doctor. It’s full of great tasting, gut-healthy recipes and has had fantastic reviews. We also love her new breakfast range –
Bio&Me, which are batch-made in the UK.
Make the brain-to-brain connection
The most empowering aspect to the gut-brain connection is understanding that many of your daily lifestyle choices play a significant role in your overall health and wellbeing. The whole-body approach to healthy living and wellness continues to show its value in our health, wellbeing and attitude to life. And, wonderfully, it’s an easy and affordable change to make. Why not start now?
