I’m gonna ask you to do something a little weird right now
Ready?
I want you to imagine your favorite, most decadent thing to eat.
Maybe it’s a thick slice of rich chocolate cake … a slice of pizza dripping with cheese, hot from a brick oven … a buttery lobster … or how about a juicy burger?
Did your mouth start to water? You probably couldn’t tell, but your stomach actually started producing juices to digest those amazing foods.
If you ever doubted that if what you’re thinking about could have an impact on what happens in your gut … well, you just experienced the proof that it really does!
And this brain-gut connection doesn’t only involve thoughts about food. It includes STRESS, which can play a tremendous role in the workings of your gut (like digesting food) … and also the health of your gut microbiome.
We can get so accustomed to living a high-stress lifestyle that we start to believe that stress is normal, and that it doesn’t have any impact on us.
But it sure does. Among other things, stress is associated not only with an upset stomach … but actual conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and gastrointestinal reflux disease.
This is why it is SO important to make time to actively DEstress on a regular basis!
Here are a few ideas:
● Take a day completely off every week if possible! Do something fun.
● Meditate or practice deep breathing.
● Catch yourself when you think stressful or negative thoughts, and think positive thoughts instead.
● Spend time with loved ones.
● Say NO more often and guard your time wisely.
● Exercise.
● Eat a healthy, gut-friendly diet to support your digestive system.
● Practice yoga to help build a mind-body connection (vs. trying to excel at it).
The deeper you dive into the things that make up a healthy lifestyle, the more you realize it is all connected
REFERENCE:
https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/stress-and-your-gut/
www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
The #1 enemy of your goals
If you could call out the #1 enemy of your goals, what would it be? There are so many to choose from:
Not having enough time, Lack of support, Not knowing what to do, Your genetics, Pizza…
The list goes on and on!
Your new favorite cookie recipe
Are you a fan of no-bake cookies? Soooo good!But have you ever seen the original recipe? Talk about fat and sugar bombs … whoa!Not anymore … I’ve got a healthified version for you that’s a lot less sugar, and – bonus – it’s loaded with fiber and antioxidants.
Setting realistic goals
Every once in a while I get a panicked email or call from someone who wants to “lower their cholesterol down x points before their next doctor’s appointment a month from now“ or “get ready for a marathon in two months”. Don’t get me wrong: Those are all important goals … but they absolutely are not possible (at least in a healthy and sustainable way) in only a month or two!
Upscale sandwich shop recipe inside…
Ever eaten at a gourmet sandwich shop and tried something new … and was BLOWN AWAY by the deliciousness?!Well, I’ve got a recipe for you today that’s based on one of those sandwiches. I’m drooling just thinking about it. It’s crunchy (the toasted bread) … creamy (the avocado & hummus) … and tangy (the sauerkraut).
