Your second brain

To my friends celebrating today, happy Christmas Eve! I hope that you enjoy the day and that you spend it warm and surrounded by your loved ones.

In the spirit of the season, I want to give you a gift today… the gift of knowledge (if you haven’t received this knowledge already).

Did you know that you have a second brain?

I have often talked about just how crucial it is to treat your brain right because you’ve only got one – and in a very real sense, that is true. Your brain drives you; it is at the center of everything you do and everything you are.

But you do have another “brain” working behind the scenes, affecting your cognition, impacting your behavior, influencing your mood and mental health…

Let me introduce you to your gut.

Your gut is the home to a little community living inside you. But it is only little in size – in number, it is actually about 50 trillion bacteria strong. These bacteria make up a system called a microbiome that works to break down the food you eat and absorb its nutrients.

And this community works very closely with the brain, using the nervous system, the immune system, and the endocrine (hormonal) system to communicate.

Now, of course, the gut is not actually a second brain. The gut cannot think, or act, or make decisions, or perceive sensations. The gut cannot do your taxes or make your dinner or solve complex equations.

But the gut and the brain are a package deal. The gut is like the brain’s trusted advisor – when the gut is happy, he helps the brain to be happy; when he is not, he helps the brain not to be.

Studies have shown that people with poor gut health are more prone to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. The guy is also the main production facility of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation – so if your gut is unbalanced, your brain may well be serotonin-hungry.

So as you are celebrating this coming week, here are 5 things you can do to keep your brain and your gut happy!

1. Eat a varied and balanced diet.

Your food is your fuel – if your brain and your gut are the construction team of your mental, intellectual, and physical health, your food is the tools and materials you give them to work with.

Keep your brain sharp with nutrient-dense foods, and keep your digestive system working efficiently with fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 

2. Stay hydrated.

Your body, your brain, your mind, your gut – hydration is a top priority for all-around wellness. But for your gut, it supports the growth of healthy bacteria and keeps your GI tract working properly.

3. Avoid processed and sugary foods.

Studies have shown that high-fat, high-sugar diets not only lead directly to weight gain and metabolic diseases, but also reduce the presence of bacteria in the gut that help fight those harmful effects, making the consumer even more susceptible to them.

4. Eat probiotic.

Probiotics are substances that contain beneficial bacteria. Foods containing live cultures, like yogurt and kefir, and fermented foods, such as kimchi and sauerkraut, are great for keeping your gut in check.

5. Relax.

Like eating a balanced diet, drinking water, and avoiding sugar, reducing stress is good for maintaining overall health. Cortisol – the hormone released when we’re experiencing the stress response – is good for some things, but long-term health is not one of them.

Chronic exposure to cortisol impacts heart health and mental health, but for the gut, it means a change in bacterial composition. This can lead the gut to negatively influence your mood and even encourage unhealthy eating habits.

Are you looking for a last-minute gift to get someone on your list? Pass on the gift of knowledge and forward them this article, if you think it will help them!  🙂

Once again, happy Christmas Eve – and Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Make today your masterpiece!

Florina