Written by guest blogger: Sarina Harris
Connections Between the Stomach and Mind
If you’re a parent you know just how important it is that you be at your best self for
your family, otherwise, it seems to have a snowball effect on everyone else’s mood.
When you’re in the midst of a “funk” you might be finding yourself slow and sluggish
throughout the day and not able to sleep at night. Sometimes the days feel like they
are blending because you can’t find the joy in the things you used to do.
It’s important when we are going through these temporary phases, that we support
our bodies in the best ways possible. More specifically, through the foods we
consume and the stress we put on our bodies. What we consume will in turn affect
our minds and mood.
Written by Gastroenterology Specialist, Marilia Carabotti, “The gut-brain axis (GBA)
consists of bidirectional communication between the central and the enteric nervous
system, linking emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral
intestinal functions” (Carabotti et, al).
The American Psychological Association writes, “It’s believed 95 percent of the
body’s supply of serotonin, a mood stabilizer, is produced by gut bacteria. Stress is
thought to suppress beneficial gut bacteria” (APA).
The connection between the mind and the gut is fascinating. Teaching us the real
tools to sustain fulfillment.
When your mind isn’t at its best, it feels like it’s your worst enemy. The racing
thoughts feel never-ending and it takes you away from your family and friends.
For the brain and the nervous system to function well, it needs a variety of vitamins,
minerals, and nutrients to build and protect our cells and tissue.
Food Journaling
It may help to start your journey with a food journal. These can be useful not only
when you’re starting to make changes in your eating habits and need to track your
food intake, but to also enlighten you on the new changes clean eating has on your
mind and body.
A healthy mind will need:
Lean proteins will be your best friend in supporting healthy cognition
- Chicken
- Fish
- Eggs
- Soybeans
- Nuts
- Seeds
A Support System
It can feel harsh when you’re a busy parent who doesn’t feel like they have the time
or resources to restructure their life. Know that there are always online resources
available to support your new lifestyle choices. It’s important to have a professional
support system, like teaming with a Holistic Nutritionist to help guide you as you Refresh
& Renew your body.
You may find it’s next to impossible to integrate these health tips due to obsessive
and incessant thought patterns, or maybe it’s something traumatic that happened to
you and it is holding you back.
Know that you have online resources available to you at any time.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to significantly reduce negative
thought patterns and symptoms of severe stress, depression, and other mental
disorders. Reach out to a local Psychotherapist practicing CBT, Ellise Milburn for a
FREE 15 MIN CONSULTATION. A resource who can assist you through problems
you may be facing that appear to be too much to handle alone.
Hacking Your Supplements and Super-foods
If you’re already dreading the effort and energy it’s going to take to make a change in
your diet. Just breathe. And remind yourself that there are always ways to make
yourself feel better.
It can be tough changing your eating habits and that is why I want to include a list of
supplements and superfoods that will aid your brain and body through these times of
change:
Probiotics
Lactobacillus helps reduce stress and anxiety
Bifidobacterium Longum reduces cortisol
Bifidobacterium Bifidum improves sleep quality
Bifidobacterium Infantis improves gut lining and aids production of serotonin and
GABA
Neurotransmitters
◆ GABA
◆ Tryptophan
◆ L-tyrosine
Essential Oils- ESSENTIAL OILS FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT – HOME
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Importance of Brain Breaks
It’s just as important to remember as we continue to simplify our mind and body’s
needs, that every action you take will either build up your brain or break it down.
When we overwork the mind, the amygdala which functions as the regulator of our
emotions, becomes so overactivated that it loses its ability to process emotions and
new information.
This is why it’s crucial to give our brains the breaks they need, to keep up in the
fast-paced world that we live in.
Brain Breaks (NO PHONES ALLOWED)
Yoga (Intentional movement accompanied by breath and meditation )
Walk/Run/Stand Outdoors (Feeling the sun, the ground beneath your feet, listening
for any sounds of nature)
Express your mind through creativity (Drawing, singing/dancing, sewing, knitting,
pottery, art projects)
Tidy up your area
Do absolutely nothing for 2-5 minutes or you can take a 15-20 minute nap
Have time with the Family: Hop around outside on one foot, table push-ups, chair
triceps dips, stair workout, play games.
Any activity to encourage movement and a lifted mood.
Takeaway
Remember what human beings do best, and just be. Always come back to your
baseline state and just be. When you provide your temple with the nutrients it needs
to be in its best state of health, you’re already that much closer to living a life of
clarity and freedom from the old constraints you’ve faced in the past.
Carabotti, M., Scirocco, A., Maselli, M. A., & Severi, C. (2015). The gut-brain axis:
interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems.
Annals of gastroenterology, 28(2), 203–209.
Carpenter, S. (2012, September). That gut feeling.
https://Www.apa.org.https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling.
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