We Have Our Health Priorities All Wrong
When the new QLD Chief Health Officer makes a priority in health that is not…
Do you ever have that ‘gut feeling’ that something isn’t right, mentally or physically? As your brain and gut actually do communicate with one another, this could be more accurate than you perhaps think. The gut (gastrointestinal tract) is an important organ, sometimes referred to as our ‘second brain’. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut plays a very important role in our overall health and wellbeing— affecting our immune system, digestion, hormone regulation, vitamin production, our ability to eliminate toxins and also our mental health. Unfortunately, however, our gut health can get overlooked.
The Gut-Brain Connection Explained
The brain and gut are connected by a large network of neurons, chemicals, and hormones which constantly provide feedback about how hungry or thirsty we are, whether or not we’re experiencing stress, or if we’ve consumed a disease-causing microbe. This connection can be known as the ‘gut-brain axis’, providing information from both ends.
The gut is highly sensitive to certain emotions such as anxiety, sadness, anger, and excitement. Signals, in the form of thoughts and emotions, are produced in the brain, received by part of our nervous system and then have a direct effect on the gut. This is demonstrated by the ‘fight or flight’ response, when a person senses danger and decides whether to stay and face up to the danger (‘fight’) or turn and run from it (‘flight’). In this scenario, the central nervous system sends signals to the enteric nervous system (which is embedded in the gut) to slow down or completely stop digestion. This allows the body to redirect energy that would have been used to digest food to the ‘fight or flight’ situation.
The ‘fight or flight’ state can be triggered from states of stress and anxiety. While our bodies are designed to cope with this situation every now and then, some people constantly feel stressed or anxious, which can cause a problem. Being in a constant state of stress can lead to undesirable health outcomes such as chronic inflammation, which is the root cause of some autoimmune disorders.
How to Promote a Healthy Gut-Brain Connection
Our diets can help shape the health of our gut. To have your gut performing at its best, you could try to:
Refined sugars and processed food serve as a feeder for pathogenic microorganisms and yeast, causing them to multiply and ultimately creating an unhealthy state in our gut.
Gluten has been shown to cause havoc to the balance of bacteria (microbiome) in our gut and can lead to a ‘leaky gut’. A leaky gut is where undigested food leaks out into our body and can produce symptoms such as headaches, weight gain and joint pain, which can develop into autoimmune diseases. Read more about a leaky gut here.
It is also essential to create a healthy microbiome for a good gut-brain connection. Our microbiome and brain require nutrient-rich forms of fat to function optimally. Good fats assist in decreasing inflammation and promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria and the formation of new cells. Some good fats include:
Consuming probiotic-rich foods can also aid our gut. Probiotics are good bacteria that line our gut and are responsible for nutrient absorption, and help support our immune system. Foods rich in probiotics include:
The gut plays a huge role in our overall health. Food and lifestyle habits are extremely important when it comes to our gut and overall health and wellbeing. Look after your gut and it will help to look after you!
References
The Nutrition Academy`s Functional Nutrition Essentials course dives deep into past and present-day nutrition trends and the implications on our health and wellbeing. In a 100% self-paced online learning environment, you can discover exactly where your food comes from and create holistic change for yourself and others to increase energy and build immunity. Learn more NOW
Over the past few years I’ve spoken with many students, graduates, community members and health professionals who share the same feeling.
They want to make a difference.
They want meaningful work.
They want to build a life that reflects their values.
But often they feel uncertain about where to start or how to move forward.
Beginning Monday 13th April, I will be running an 8-week online course: Manifest Your Future – A 10-Step Transformation & Business Prospects Program. This is an interactive workshop experience where we will actively work together each week to create meaningful change in our lives, our careers, and the communities around us.
Course Details
Duration: Monday 13th April to Monday 1st June (8 weeks)
Webinar Times: 6:00 pm (QLD time)
We will also explore practical topics including:
• The Business of Health
• Product Development
• 7 Steps to Confident Speaking
• Becoming a Local Community Authority
This course is designed to help you strengthen both your personal vision and your professional opportunities in the health industry. Whether you`re a graduate, a current student or you`ve never studied with The Nutrition Academy before, this opportunity is for you.
— Cyndi O`Meara
Learn more about it and register your interest now!
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Share with us below a time you achieved a goal and you noticed a difference to who you were rather than just how you lived or how your environment looked.
If you read an ingredient list and see a hydrolysed ingredient, now you know! It`s very commonly found as protein powders and supplements, but can be used to enhance food flavours, too.
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Vanilla flavour is delicious, and an iconic element of many classic Australian bakes (vanilla slice, anyone?), however as vanilla becomes more expensive and harder to cultivate, many companies are turning to fake (and natural is included in that) vanilla to keep costs low. Do you know how to identify flavour vs flavourings?
We`re working with Changing Habits Farm to bring this amazing opportunity to you, including our life-changing Functional Nutrition Essentials course.
What’s included:
✨ 2 nights at @thecattlemanscottage at The Changing Habits Farm
✨A private farm tour with Brogan, head farmer at the @changinghabitsfarm
✨A produce box from the farm during your stay
✨Functional Nutrition Essentials course valued at $2,000
✨ @foragedforyou_ blends: Mothers Blend, Zinc & Magnesium
✨ @glasswholefoods : collagen, gelatin, dreamy blend, immunity wishes, and mountain greens
The retreat itself will be transformative: three days on the farm, nourishing food, movement, workshops, connection, and space to reset your mind, body, and spirit. 🌿
Book your ticket now to enter. Click the link in bio or head to www.changinghabitsfarm.com to secure your ticket!
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Cyndi has been a major advocate for looking beyond marketing terms like low fat, low calorie, or high protein, and skipping the `nutrition` label in favour of reading the ingredients list: doing so will give you insight into how the food will actually impact your body, as food carries information to your body.
It`s amazing how much insight we can get into the human body and how it can open our eyes to the impacts of diet and lifestyle on wellbeing.
Part of what makes The Nutrition Academy so special is how hard we work WITH our students to give them the best experience possible and to help them succeed. How have we helped you succeed at The Nutrition Academy?
Eggs are a great option for people looking to up their problem, snack smartly or tide their hungry bellies over until dinner. Boiled eggs are a great option for school lunches, too!
