Have you ever experienced such intense anxiety you’ve felt it in your stomach? How about experiencing a strong gut-feeling? It’s no coincidence that our minds interact with our gut and visa-versa in situations related to stress or anxiety. The two are directly linked. The stomach is home to millions of good and bad bacteria, and when there isn’t a balance, it affects our brains. A healthy gut leads to a healthy mind and we have the power to heal both.
Practicing simple habits have the ability to improve gut health immensely. Habits such as getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water and eating vegetables can heal all facets of our health, including our digestive tracks. Once these simple steps are taken, our anxieties begin to lessen, and our gut microbiomes become more balanced.
How does this relate to anxiety, you might ask. Next time you’re experiencing high stress, pay attention to how your stomach is feeling. Are you experiencing heartburn or stomach cramps? Studies show that high stress may cause these feelings in your gut. Some practices that may ease gut tensions include eating more fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kombucha. They contain high amounts of good bacteria which benefits the digestive tract. Eating more foods with polyphenols such as dark chocolate are also good for the gut microbiome because they contain molecules used for fuel in the gut.
63% of adults in the UK experience abdominal pain and discomfort and 53% experience bloating.You have the power to avoid falling into these statistics.
http://gutscharity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DigestingTheFactsReport.pdf
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
