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
8 Real-Life Habits to Become More Resilient
We’ve been talking a lot about resilience and taking personal responsibility for our health and fitness this month. Today, we’re going to get REAL on the mindset, habits, and actions you can take to become more resilient.
Let’s talk about the “S” word…
How many kinds of stress are you dealing with right now? (There are SIX major types of it.) Stress is like a double-edged sword for our health. In manageable doses, it can actually be good for you and boost your resilience.
This lit a fire under me
The other day I was in the middle of a workout and listening to a podcast. A guest said something to the effect of: “Change is going to happen no matter what. It’s up to YOU to decide whether that change is progress.”
5 ways to get more veggies in your life
Here’s a fact: even if you love veggies, it can be hard to get the required amount (2 to 3 cups a day) and that’s a shame, because veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that your body needs to function at its very best.
