The Brain and Gut Connection

Taking care of your gut is more important than you think

Taking care of our gut is not something we think about in our daily life.

When everything is going smoothly, we tell ourselves that our body is functioning well. Issues start to arise when we feel bloated, when we’re gaining or losing weight, feel tired or uncomfortable. Heartburn kicks in and we try multiple medications to control our stomach so we can feel better.

These symptoms frequently occur because we are having problems with our gut. When the gut does not work well, nothing else does.

Our gut is our second brain.

On a personal note, I had my gallbladder removed a few years back and it changed my life. But not is a good way. I wish I had known how important it was to keep your gallbladder healthy and what foods to avoid. For me, it was too late. Maybe it is not too late for you to save your gut.

Now, I have to be very careful what I eat as my body is missing an essential part to break down fats efficiently. Once your gallbladder is out, there isn’t any control of the digestive enzymes — they are slowly dripping. This can make digestion difficult. I take additional supplements to help my digestion.

The last few years have opened my eyes to the impact of not eating well and the adverse effect on my digestive system.

There are steps that we can do to create a smooth flow through our digestive system (including our mouth, stomach, small and big intestines).

The first step is to think about what we eat and why. It is helpful to ask some questions:

• Am I eating this just because?
• Am I hungry?
• Is this food good for my body?

It is easy to fall into the habit of eating fast foods and good-tasting foods, and forgetting what our body needs. I’ve been there many times. Fried food tastes good because of the fats and salt on them. However, they are very bad for our bodies and digestion.

An interesting fact about many of the foods that are not good for us is if we stop eating them for a week or two, we stop craving them as well. And then if we eat some, we get sick. It’s the same with sweets as well. The craving for sweet foods lasts about 2–3 weeks.

How quickly you eat can make a difference as well. Are you in a hurry and just trying to scarf something down while we have 10 minutes or driving to work?

Eating your meals more slowly, and being mindful of what you are eating is better for your digestion. Your stomach can also stretch out if you overeat and it can take a long time to get it back to its original normal size.

Eating smaller amounts of foods that are filling can be helpful. There are multiple people who have great nutritional recommendations and extensive research out regarding nutrition, our gut, and how to be healthy.

I recommend checking out Dr. Michael Greger’s website and videos on www.Nutritionfacts.org.

Dr. Greger also wrote some books and cookbooks as well, including “How Not to Die” and “How Not to Diet”. He also has short videos on his site that explain nutritional facts in a simple way. I like his site because it provides the most up-to-date research. Some of the videos are also available in different languages.

Another place to check out is the blue zones website www.bluezones.com. On this website there is a self-test you can take that can be very helpful to see where you are in your journey to health and wellness. The site also offers recipes, articles, research, and books about nutrition and research findings.

My favorite doctor and researcher is Dr. Zach Bush. He has done a tremendous amount of research regarding our gut, brain, health and well-being. In addition, he provides valuable information on our environment, sustainability, and more. There are multiple detailed videos and articles on his website.

Dr. Bush also developed a product called Ion Biome that is liquid magic in a bottle. It helps digestion by using immune support and supports our microbiome with microbes from dirt. Ion Biome had been very helpful with my digestion. https://zachbushmd.com/

I also found genetic tests and food sensitivity tests helpful. I used CRI genetics to learn about my genetic makeup and the history of my family’s origin. I learned that I cannot digest lactose and that I have 6 genes that predispose me to be being obese. I learned about foods that I might have a reaction to. The fun fact is that I digest coffee very quickly. That’s noticeable for my family and friends for sure.

Based on my genetics I should not drink alcohol because I might not feel its effects. That’s been my experience. I don’t want to drink because of some family history of alcoholism and my work experience with addictions. Yet, it is fascinating that my genetic test also warned me about drinking.

Based on my experience, I know when my body feels the best. I do best when I do not eat grains, do not eat dairy products, and cut down on sweets. I am still working on figuring it all out. There is a lot to know about our bodies. Each person is different so what works for one person might not work well for someone else.

We need to treat our bodies and mind as treasure chests. What you put in it is what comes out. Our brain and gut have a powerful effect on our bodies and general wellbeing. When we treat our mind and body with healing foods, we can expect great outcomes.

I would love to hear your experiences regarding the brain and gut connection.

Thank you for reading,

Gabriella

If you like my writings, please follow me on medium.com https://gkorosi75.medium.com/

If you would like to receive an e-mail when I post the next blog you can subscribe to my posts by using this link https://gkorosi75.medium.com/subscribe

My website: www.gabriellakorosi.org

My Books available on Amazon / Barnes and Nobles:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gabriella+korosi&ref=nb_sb_noss

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/gabriella%20korosi

Our Society: Addiction and More Uncovered: Hear the voice of everyday people — a collection of stories and experiences

If I Could Be: Poetry and Short Story Book

If you are interested in subscribing to the Medium platform so you can read as many articles as you would like the cost is $5 per month. There is no advertisement and the publication support writers by paying them a small percentage based on how many people read their articles.