The pandemic has undoubtedly had an impact on our mental health. Not only have we been influenced by the major upheaval, but so have a large number of other people. There has been a lot of research done over the years on the chemistry of food and how it can affect your mental health. In fact, when it comes to the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses, diet is a non-negotiable factor. Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, stated that all disease begins in the gut. Almost 3000 years later, scientists have discovered that the gut and the microbes that live in it are essential for cognitive function and brain health. If you're wondering what a healthy gut is, you should eat foods that produce microbes that have a positive effect on your mood and help manage stress eating. The following are some of the things that will help you find answers to all of your questions. The bacteria in your gut There are both good and bad bacteria in your gut. In fact, there are a number of fungi and viruses in there as well. All of these are referred to as the gut microbiota. Several factors, including environmental and genetic factors, may influence the composition of microbes in your gut. These factors are usually difficult to manage and cannot be changed. However, everything you eat has a direct relationship to the existence of various microbes in your body. Improving your gut health There are several things that you can …
The pandemic has undoubtedly had an impact on our mental health. Not only have we been influenced by the major upheaval, but so have a large number of other people. There has been a lot of research done over the years on the chemistry of food and how it can affect your mental health. In fact, when it comes to the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses, diet is a non-negotiable factor.
Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, stated that all disease begins in the gut. Almost 3000 years later, scientists have discovered that the gut and the microbes that live in it are essential for cognitive function and brain health.
If you’re wondering what a healthy gut is, you should eat foods that produce microbes that have a positive effect on your mood and help manage stress eating. The following are some of the things that will help you find answers to all of your questions.
The bacteria in your gut
There are both good and bad bacteria in your gut. In fact, there are a number of fungi and viruses in there as well. All of these are referred to as the gut microbiota. Several factors, including environmental and genetic factors, may influence the composition of microbes in your gut.
These factors are usually difficult to manage and cannot be changed. However, everything you eat has a direct relationship to the existence of various microbes in your body.
Improving your gut health
There are several things that you can do to improve the health of your gut.
Include fibre in your diet
This would entail consuming the appropriate amount of fibre. Plant-based foods such as vegetables and fruits, as well as whole grains and legumes, provide fibre. According to the National Health and Medical Research Council, the average person needs 25 to 30 grams of fibre per day. If you’re a shift worker looking for proper daily nutrition but can’t fit in a lot of food, try to get your daily fibre and take care of your gut health.
When you eat fiber-rich foods, the microbes in your gut produce short chain fatty acids. These give you extra energy to help you get through the day and also help regulate your immune system. Fibre can help reduce inflammation in your body and improve cognitive outcomes by strengthening the blood-brain barrier.
One way to get more fibre into your diet is to replace white bread with whole grain bread and include a fruit and vegetable in your breakfast.
Get your serving of probiotics
Probiotics can be obtained from fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut. There is no set amount of probiotic that is recommended, but it is generally assumed that more than 1 billion CFU per day is required.
Foods high in probiotics can introduce good bacteria into your gut, allowing a large number of bacteria to produce beneficial compounds in the body that aid in various body functions. There are also multi strain probiotic formulas on the market that have been shown to improve mood and increase gut friendly bacteria. If you add kefir to your morning cereal or drink kombucha as a substitute for other beverages, you may reap the benefits in a short period of time.
The benefits of polyphenols
Polyphenols can be obtained from a variety of food sources, including spices, dark chocolate, various types of red wine, and vegetables. Because of a lack of human research, the recommended amount per day is not provided; however, it should be noted that only 5 to 10% of it is absorbed by the small intestine, with the remainder being sent to the large intestine to be fermented.
There are several advantages to taking polyphenols. It has the potential to improve the beneficial gut bacteria. It can also help to alleviate depression and improve your mood. There are a variety of foods that can improve your mood and behaviour. However, you should try to eat foods that improve your gut health as well.
If you’re needing further nutrition advice, contact one of our Gold Coast Dieticians for help.
