Your gut, aka “inside your belly”, has been proven to be your bodies literal “second brain”. For years the medical world has been trying to figure out what causes our moods to change and what causes common problems that most of us face like stress, anxiety, and even depression. These are common problems and we know they are linked to serotonin, but did you know that 95% of serotonin isn’t even produced in the brain? Serotonin is actually produced in the gut.
What we put inside of our bellies is directly related to our emotional health.
Our gut consists of bacteria and we need that bacteria to have a healthy balance or the rest of us will not be balanced including our mood. Your gut and your brain work together so if one is out of balance the other will be also. Have you ever had an upset stomach because your mind was stressed? Well, think about it, if it works one way it works both ways.
Their have been many scientific studies that have linked mood problems to gut problems and vice versa.
Is your gut balanced with 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria?
That is the recipe for a healthy gut and a healthy mood.
The best way to make sure your body has healthy bacteria for your gut is to feed your gut healthy bacteria. Some symptoms of an unhealthy gut include gas, bloating, nausea, sugar cravings, and more.
The Ingredients
1 cup berries; (cranberries are great for cleansing the lymphatic system) – you can do 1/2 cranberries and 1/2 mixed berties
1 cup of kefir (coconut, goat or milk)
1/2 banana
2 tbsp of raw pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds
1 tsp honey (omit if desired
How to Make It
Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. You can add ice if you desire.
Feel free to add more healthy fats such as 1 TBSP coconut oil or shredded coconut for an extra boost of energy.
What is KEFIR?
One of my favorite resources for explaining the difference betweene between this probiotic rich food, kefir and yogurt can be found here: http://www.culturesforhealth.com/difference-between-yogurt-kefir
The best way to make sure that your gut is getting the healthy nourishment it needs is through probiotics. Probiotics can be in pill form, or you can get them right through your diet. Excellent sources of probiotics include kefir and fermented or cultured foods and beverages.
(see above for my favorite fermented food – great to add to your meal for optimal digestion)
Keeping a healthy gut in check will help you to digest food properly, absorb vital nutrients, and maintain a healthy state of mind aka your mood.
For more information on reducing digestiv upset and how to decrease inflammation, visit www.rachelswellness.com & sign up for my e-zine.
Rachel Feldman
Health Coach & Detox Specialist
