The Brain x Gut Connection
Most of you will know that I'm fascinated by how our diet affects our mind. Gut health is one of VALA’s four pillars - along with mental, physical and spiritual health - and it’s why VALA gels only include the seven natural ingredients above 👆🏻
It’s often said that our gut is our second brain and I recently read the most incredible article from Harvard Health, which emphasised just how important it is to be mindful of the food that we eat…
“Serotonin (known as the “happy hormone”) is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods and inhibit pain.
Since about 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract, and this is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, or neurons, the inner workings of your digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions. The function of these - and the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin - is highly influenced by billions of "good" bacteria that make up your intestinal microbiome.
These bacteria play an essential role in your health. They protect the lining of your intestines and provide a strong barrier against toxins and "bad" bacteria; they limit inflammation; they improve how well you absorb nutrients from your food; and they activate neural pathways that travel directly between the gut and the brain.
Studies have compared "traditional" diets, like the Mediterranean diet and traditional Japanese diet, to a typical "Western" diet and shown that the risk of depression is 25% to 35% lower in those who eat a traditional diet.
These traditional diets tend to be high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, and fish and seafood, and to contain only modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed and refined foods and sugars, which are staples of the "Western" dietary pattern. Many of these unprocessed foods are fermented and therefore act as natural probiotics.
The notion that good bacteria not only influence what your gut digests and absorbs, but they also affect the degree of inflammation throughout your body, as well as your mood and energy level, is gaining traction among researchers.”
Source: Harvard Health
It’s often said that our gut is our second brain and I recently read the most incredible article from Harvard Health, which emphasised just how important it is to be mindful of the food that we eat…
“Serotonin (known as the “happy hormone”) is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods and inhibit pain.
Since about 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract, and this is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, or neurons, the inner workings of your digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions. The function of these - and the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin - is highly influenced by billions of "good" bacteria that make up your intestinal microbiome.
These bacteria play an essential role in your health. They protect the lining of your intestines and provide a strong barrier against toxins and "bad" bacteria; they limit inflammation; they improve how well you absorb nutrients from your food; and they activate neural pathways that travel directly between the gut and the brain.
Studies have compared "traditional" diets, like the Mediterranean diet and traditional Japanese diet, to a typical "Western" diet and shown that the risk of depression is 25% to 35% lower in those who eat a traditional diet.
These traditional diets tend to be high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, and fish and seafood, and to contain only modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed and refined foods and sugars, which are staples of the "Western" dietary pattern. Many of these unprocessed foods are fermented and therefore act as natural probiotics.
The notion that good bacteria not only influence what your gut digests and absorbs, but they also affect the degree of inflammation throughout your body, as well as your mood and energy level, is gaining traction among researchers.”
Source: Harvard Health