Your Gut & Brain Connection (it will surprise you!)
Are Your ‘Gut’ and Your Brain Really Connected?
We’ve all experienced it…that moment when you can’t think of the word and you just sort of babble as you try and get your thoughts straight. This mental “clouding” has been labeled brain fog. It slows you down and can be very frustrating.
Often, there are two key issues to blame. The first is the lack of the brain’s primary fuel source glucose as well as other critical micronutrients. The second is your “gut” health.
Carbohydrates and the brain…
So, if the best fuel for the brain is glucose, then eating a high-carbohydrate diet must be best for the brain, right?
Well, not exactly. Unless you have a brain or neurological disorder, a moderate range of carbohydrates best supports brain function and reduces brain fog.
However, if you have a brain or neurological disorder, then studies have shown a very-low carbohydrate diet is best. Did you know that the keto-genic diet was first discovered in the 1920’s as a promising treatment for epileptic seizure disorders? The results were tremendous and today it still provides support for neurological and brain disorders.
Micronutrients and the brain…
Micronutrients are the teeny, tiny nutrients that are essential for improving brain function. The micronutrients that serve the brain best are vitamins D, B6, and B12 as well as folate, choline—and yes, of course, DHA (omega 3’s). Some foods that contain these brain-boosting nutrients include dark leafy greens, lentils, egg yolks, wild-caught salmon, fish oil, cod liver oil, organ meats, grass-fed beef, fatty fish, chicken, turkey, avocados, and sunflower seeds
Digestion and gut health…
Many people now refer to the gut as your “second brain,” because it contains more mood-controlling serotonin than your brain. So, when you take care of your digestive system, your brain experiences a boost at the same time. It’s the two-for-one deal of a lifetime!
However, if you have an unhealthy gut then absorption of important nutrients you eat is minimal...and your mental clarity suffers.
Dr. Mercola, a top alternative medicine physician, stated this perfectly when he said, “Research suggests the primary cause of inflammation may be dysfunction of the "gut-brain axis." In simple terms, your gut is the front line of your brain health.
I have clients tell me all the time, after just a week of eating clean foods, that their mental fog is gone and they are thinking at a greater capacity.
To further highlight the importance of the gut-brain link, researchers have now found a functional link between the bacteria in the gut and the onset of Parkinson's disease, one of the world's most common debilitating brain disorders.
A team of scientists from several institutions in the United States and Europe showed that changing the bacteria in the guts of mice affected the manifestation of Parkinson's symptoms. The findings suggest a potential new way of treating the disease. It appears the best target for treatment may be the gut, rather than the brain.
Get it done this week...
I challenge you be more intentional to clean up your food, take care of your gut, and give your brain a boost.
Eat cleaner this week for your brain and get through your days a little easier with better mental clarity!
Make it a healthy week,
Fran
Do you want personalized guidance to implement any of these strategies for your lifestyle, call my office at 970-444-2122 or email me at [email protected], to book a one on one coaching call with me. We will simplify your starting steps to boosting your mental clarity and energy while feeling better.
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