You have no items in your shopping cart.
How the “Gut-Brain Axis” Affects Your Mental Health (And How to Eat Organic to Improve Your Mental Health)
Often, science confirms what you’ve suspected as a layperson for many years.
Have you ever had that gut feeling that something’s about to go “wrong,” or that something’s going to go really right?
You have no rational explanation for why. But you can just tell. And then that very thing – good or bad – comes to pass?
Clinical studies are finally finding your gut acts as a mirror to your brain. While you may not be aware of what’s going on in your mind because it’s actually happening in your subconscious, the way you truly feel actually physically manifests in your gut.
Truthfully, your gut and brain are connected physically in several ways. One of these ways is through the vagus nerve.
Physical symptoms of an active vagus nerve include sweating, increased heart rate, gagging, and feeling full (or not) after eating.
Ever had any of those symptoms?
While they certainly can be activated for physical reasons, they can also come about as a result of stress.
How Certain Organic and Traditional Affect the Health of Your Mind and Gut
- Eat Probiotics
Your gut has a natural balance of good and bad bacteria. However, when these bacteria get out of balance, GI symptoms can result.
Eating probiotics maintains this balance. Yogur, sauerkraut, kombucha tea, pickles, buttermilk, natto, and some types of cheese (cottage, cheddar, and mozzarella) contain high levels of probiotics.
- Other Common Organic Foods
Leafy greens are always healthy for your gut (and your body and mind in general). These include kale, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, beet leaves, bok choy, and turnip greens.
Whole grains (darker brown in color) like whole wheat, whole oats, whole rye, and brown rice are good ones to eat regularly too. Basically, stay away from any white grain.
Omega-3 acids, which come from fish like salmon, mackerel, cod, and herring are indispensable for a healthy brain and gut.
- Foods to Avoid
…And of course, you always have foods you want to at least minimize, and ideally, avoid. These include any foods with a high extent of processing (bacon, granola bars, instant ramen, dried fruits). Include with that anything high in fat, and anything fried.
Now, you don’t have to totally stop eating all things in those groups altogether. But you certainly want to eat as little of those as possible.
So yes, your mind and gut have a connection. And you can eat in a way that makes that connection healthier so it causes you less trouble.
And now you know how!
