Happy gut = Happy mind!
Did you know that your anxiety and gut health are related?
Do you get butterflies when nervous? Craving comfort food when under pressure? This connection is present every day!
The gut-brain axis!
This is the official name between the gut and the anxiety you feel. The gut-brain axis is the connection between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. If the microbes in your gut are unbalanced, it can lead to less production of the “happy hormones” and causes stress as well as anxiety and depressive systems.
Poor gut health can affect you physically, emotionally, and mentally. Anxiety is certainly one of the big symptoms that your gut is “off”, but there are numerous others.
In fact, even before you notice your rising anxiety levels, you might start feeling some of the physical symptoms of a gut imbalance:
Bloating
Fatigue
Headaches
Skin problems (rashes, acne, eczema)
Joint pain
Inflammation
Along with anxiety, there are other mental/emotional symptoms that you may be feeling:
Confusion
Trouble concentrating
ADD/ADHD
So, what makes a happy gut?
Eating more probiotics – the good bacteria! These are found in probiotic yoghurts, pickles, some soft cheese, kefir. These will help to restore the balance between the good and the bad bacteria in your gut.
Move more – Moderate exercise has be proven to increase the diversity of your gut microbes. It’s also brilliant for your mental health and reducing anxiety. If you haven’t exercised in a while, go steady at first. Even a simple walk at lunch is a help.
Eat the right food – vitamin D is great and is found in eggs, tuna, salmon, orange juice. Avoid heavily processed food and sugary food. Eat a balanced diet, with a colourful selection of food. Avoid the beige!!!!
The body all works together and a multifaceted approach that includes some gut-healing, as well as some anxiety reduction, would be your best bet at solving your gut-brain puzzle.
Start some new habits today – with healthy food choices, moderate exercise, and a focus on your mental health – and you’ll be feeling better physically and mentally in no time!