A Nutritionist’s View on Gut Health and Mental Health Connections
Your gut and brain are besties, but sometimes besties can get out of sync.
The Link Between What You Eat and How You Feel
In addition to providing nourishment, food can also impact our appetite, mood, motivational levels, and brain chemistry.
Our brains work 24/7 and require a constant fuel source - food - and depending on what’s in that “fuel,” it can impact our brain function. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.
A Symbiotic Friendship
Our gut and brain are in constant communication, and our gut speaks significantly more to our brain! Here are 4 things they are known to discuss frequently:
How we digest and absorb our nutrients. Our gut and brain chat about the release of digestive enzymes (which help us break down our food) + moving food through our digestive tract (think: bowel movements).
Our mood and emotions. Many of our mood messengers (neurotransmitters) are produced in our gut, including 80-95% of our feel-good messenger - serotonin.
Regulating our immune system. Our gut/brain conversations help to regulate our immune responses, particularly helping with inflammation and maintaining immune balance.
Our stress response. Stress can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria and increase intestinal permeability, leading to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Think of it like this: your gut and brain are besties, but sometimes besties can get out of sync. Neglecting your gut health might leave you feeling bloated, sluggish, or down in the dumps. On the flip side, ignoring your mental health can lead to stress, anxiety, and digestive troubles.
Dive Into the Gut-Brain Connection
At Balanced Gut Nutrition & Health, we specialize in connecting gut health and mental health. We work with people who have GI issues and have experienced trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, or stress.
Your gut-brain connection is unique to you, which is why we focus on customized plans to meet your needs.
If you’re ready to improve your digestive issues and your stress/anxiety levels in a way that gently enhances your relationship with food and your body, we’re here for you.
