The Gut-Brain Connection
The gut-brain connection is fascinating with research growing every year. A few years back, you would have been laughed at if you mentioned that food had anything to do with mood, anxiety or depression. This was certainly the case when I was struggling with chronic digestive issues and depression as a child and teen. It was also the case when my mother was battling with chronic fatigue years ago. Thankfully we are starting to understand more and more the connections between gut health and brain (overall) health.
While it’s important to speak to your doctor and get the right therapy in place if you are struggling with anxiety or depression, there is no doubt that nutritional support can be a powerful tool alongside more traditional routes of help. Simple changes like looking at microbiome health, balancing blood sugar levels and making sure you are getting enough of the key nutrients for brain health can make huge differences for clients.
The gut brain connection is bidirectional, meaning that communication goes both ways. When digestion or the microbiome are out of balance there can be a knock-on effect on neurotransmitters and brain health shown to lead to anxiety and depression.1 Often clients suffering with IBD and IBS will find that there is an added bonus of better mood after following a treatment plan for gut health. There are many things to look at when it comes to the gut/brain connection and optimising our health. We can look at dietary considerations such as blood sugar balance, fibre and prebiotics, specific nutrients such as magnesium (an important precursor for our main calming neurotransmitter called GABA, which many people are deficient in). Genetics can very much play a part and can be investigated. Simple lifestyle techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, exercise and even singing can also be very beneficial. Are you suffering with IBS, IBD, ulcerative colitis, SIBO, chronic digestive issues, anxiety, depression, migraines, panic attacks, etc? Get in touch to see how we can help.
1. Mittal R, Debs LH, Patel AP, Nguyen D, Patel K, O'Connor G, Grati M, Mittal J, Yan D, Eshraghi AA, Deo SK, Daunert S, Liu XZ. Neurotransmitters: The Critical Modulators Regulating Gut-Brain Axis. J Cell Physiol. 2017 Sep;232(9):2359-2372. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25518. Epub 2017 Apr 10. PMID: