3 Tips to Support the Gut-Brain Connection with Diet

The connection between the gut and the brain is ancient, primal, and vital. It is through this connection that we realize how a holistic approach to health is truly the most natural way to heal, revitalize, and support our bodies, minds, and souls.

When we consider the connection between the gut and the brain, we can begin to understand that we really are what we eat and that our brains are affected by what we put into our bodies—not to mention what we don't put into our bodies.

The gut and the brain are directly connected by the vagus nerve, and the bacteria that lives in the gut converses with our brains. It is important to support this gut bacteria and ensure that it is healthy, balanced, and thriving. Through food and proper diet we can provide the support and nutrients that we need to thrive!

3 Steps to Support the Gut-Brain Connection with Diet

1. Intuitive Eating : This simple and rewarding practice involves listening to your body and acting accordingly. So often we eat foods that don’t make us feel vibrant, but we also don’t do anything to make healthy changes. Through intuitive eating we not only can provide our bodies with what we need, and remove what doesn’t makes us feel good from our diets, but we can also strengthen the gut-brain and mind-body connection.
   
   We all contain the power and intuitive knowledge within us to live our best lives. All we have to do is quiet down and listen to the messages our bodies are sending us.
   
   
2. Probiotics : The basis of gut health is bacteria. By integrating probiotics in our diet, we can help the “good bacteria” flourish and eradicate the “bad bacteria.” This creates a healthy balance in both the gut and the brain and can even help us think more clearly!
   
   By balancing this delicate relationship in the gut, we can better align with what makes us feel good and establish a healthy digestive tract that efficiently and effectively removes waste. When there is a buildup of waste and toxins in the gut, this imbalance is reflected to the brain and it can become difficult to think clearly and listen to the messages that our bodies are sending us. Cognitive function begins in the gut. Fermented foods and kombucha are rich in probiotics. Another effective way to balance the gut bacteria and stimulate the gut-brain connection is through Belly Button Healing.
   
   
3. Hydration : While this may seem obvious, staying hydrated is one of the most important things for total body health. When you drink enough water your body is able to remove waste more easily, lubricate the fascia (tissues connecting throughout the body), and give your brain the hydration it needs to function optimally.
   
   There isn’t one body part that doesn’t benefit from sufficient water consumption. From your head to your toes, water is vital for vibrant health. Water is not only good for the physical body, but it also helps us be more fluid and connected through the soul. We are comprised of water more than anything else and by supporting the body with clean, filtered, and sufficient water, we are truly supporting the mind, body, and soul.

Take your holistic health into your own hands with these powerful tips and arm yourself with knowledge. When you begin to tune in and become an active participant in your health, you can begin to converse with your body and anticipate its needs before you feel the physical imbalance.

To your radiant health!

For more information on the gut-brain connection and how you can integrate holistic health into your daily life, reference these rich resources with Ilchi Lee and Dr. Emeran Mayer, author of the bestselling The Mind-Gut Connection :

Your Emotions and Your Gut Brain Health: A Video Interview with Ilchi Lee and Dr. Emeran Mayer

How the Mind Gut Connection Impacts Our Choices