Explore Categories

Contributions

You have no posts

We reward new content.

START POST

Whoo Knew

No replies

Share your opinion on topics.

CONVERSATIONS

Contests

No entries

Win gift cards and more.

Your Profile

FOLLOWERS

0

Users

POINTS EARNED

0

REDEEM

CREATE YOUR OWN POST

Health & Wellness Wednesdays

Diet & Nutrition

Gut Health

I don’t know about you, but all my social media feeds lately have been filled with people talking about the link between our gut health and our mental health.

There are all these new supplements and drinks and superfoods that can apparently help to heal our gut, therefore positively impacting our mental health and wellbeing as well.

I’m certainly no expert on gut health, but I do believe that what we eat impacts our body, mind, and soul. 

If you are looking to improve your gut health, here are a few simple things you can do:

  1. Eat more veggies. Ok, maybe this one is better said as eat more fiber - but vegetables are high in fiber and many people are not getting in their recommended servings of vegetables per day. Whether you like them or not, veggies are very healthy for our bodies!

  2. Drink enough water. The average person is not consuming nearly enough water. We are busy filling our bodies full of sugar-laden coffees, sodas, juices and energy drinks - so while you might not feel thirsty, your body (and your gut!) is begging for some water.

  3. Cut back on highly-processed foods. If you start to read the ingredients list on many of the daily items you are consuming, you might be surprised at how few of them you can actually pronounce. This is not 100% accurate, but if you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. All that processed junk is not helping your gut!

Those 3 things are not difficult to work on in your daily diet. Start by adding one veggie serving at a time to your day and before you know it, you’ll be craving them. Then start by replacing one of your beverages with a big tall glass of water. Lastly, swap out that pre-packed processed food for an apple or banana. 

If you begin to heal your gut health you might just find that you are feeling way better overall.

Recommended Book
BOOK
The Mind-Gut Connection
Jun 05, 2018
ISBN: 9780062846822

Interesting Fact #1

Trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms live throughout your digestive system, and this microbiome communicates with cells throughout the rest of your body.

SOURCE

Interesting Fact #2

There's a reason your stomach feels like it's tingling when you're nervous or anxious. The enteric nervous system—a complex and sophisticated network containing over 100 million nerve endings—lines your gastrointestinal tract. It connects your gut and brain.

SOURCE

Interesting Fact #3

A healthy microbiome can help to regulate the bacteria in other parts of your body, like your skin. According to Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a dermatologist with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, an unbalanced gut microbiome can cause inflammation that affects the entire body, including your skin, which can lead to breakouts. One study found that 54 percent of patients with acne had impaired microbiomes compared to those of the average person.

SOURCE

Photo of the day - Gut Health
- data:image/jpeg;base64,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

Video of the day - Probiotics Benefits + Myths | Improve Gut Health | Doctor Mike

Quote of the day

Without good health, there is no working.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

SOURCE

Article of the day - The Brain-Gut Connection

If you’ve ever “gone with your gut” to make a decision or felt “butterflies in your stomach” when nervous, you’re likely getting signals from an unexpected source: your second brain. Hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this “brain in your gut” is revolutionizing medicine’s understanding of the links between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think.

Scientists call this little brain the enteric nervous system (ENS). And it’s not so little. The ENS is two thin layers of more than 100 million nerve cells lining your gastrointestinal tract from esophagus to rectum.

What Does Your Gut’s Brain Control?

Unlike the big brain in your skull, the ENS can’t balance your checkbook or compose a love note. “Its main role is controlling digestion, from swallowing to the release of enzymes that break down food to the control of blood flow that helps with nutrient absorption to elimination,” explains Jay Pasricha, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Neurogastroenterology, whose research on the enteric nervous system has garnered international attention. “The enteric nervous system doesn’t seem capable of thought as we know it, but it communicates back and forth with our big brain—with profound results.”

The ENS may trigger big emotional shifts experienced by people coping with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional bowel problems such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, pain and stomach upset. “For decades, researchers and doctors thought that anxiety and depression contributed to these problems. But our studies and others show that it may also be the other way around,” Pasricha says. Researchers are finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (CNS) that trigger mood changes.

“These new findings may explain why a higher-than-normal percentage of people with IBS and functional bowel problems develop depression and anxiety,” Pasricha says. “That’s important, because up to 30 to 40 percent of the population has functional bowel problems at some point.”

New Gut Understanding Equals New Treatment Opportunities

This new understanding of the ENS-CNS connection helps explain the effectiveness of IBS and bowel-disorder treatments such as antidepressants and mind-body therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medical hypnotherapy. “Our two brains ‘talk’ to each other, so therapies that help one may help the other,” Pasricha says. “In a way, gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in digestive conditions) are like counselors looking for ways to soothe the second brain.”

Gastroenterologists may prescribe certain antidepressants for IBS, for example—not because they think the problem is all in a patient’s head, but because these medications calm symptoms in some cases by acting on nerve cells in the gut, Pasricha explains. “Psychological interventions like CBT may also help to “improve communications” between the big brain and the brain in our gut,” he says.

Still More to Learn About Mind-Gut Link

Pasricha says research suggests that digestive-system activity may affect cognition (thinking skills and memory), too. “This is an area that needs more research, something we hope to do here at Johns Hopkins,” he says.

Another area of interest: Discovering how signals from the digestive system affect metabolism, raising or reducing risk for health conditions like type 2 diabetes. “This involves interactions between nerve signals, gut hormones and microbiota—the bacteria that live in the digestive system,” Pasricha says. 

SOURCE

Question of the day - What food upsets your gut the most?

Diet & Nutrition

What food upsets your gut the most?

Daily archives

October 22nd 2025 - Understanding The Grip Of Addiction

CAT: Dealing with Addictions

October 21st 2025 - Belief In The Powers That Be

CAT: Faith, Something to Believe in

October 20th 2025 - Making A Shift Before The End Of The Year

CAT: Personal Change

October 19th 2025 - Meet Ups At The Park

CAT: Friends & Acquaintances

October 18th 2025 - Natural Consequences For Bad Moods

CAT: Moods & Emotions

Current Survey

Top 5 Contributors (Oct)

Brad Davidson
20209 pts
alyraza9619
12060 pts
shaikhrizwanmohammad1000
10714 pts
hussaindanishkhan1000
10417 pts
Hamilton Pouchard
10117 pts