The road to happiness starts with your Gut

Did you know that the gut has its own brain?

70% of your immune system is located in the gut.

And furthermore, that the key hormones to your happiness, motivation, mood regulators and libido are also produced in the gut?

With a whopping 95% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine being created in the gut, it’s fair to say that the road to happiness starts with your gut!

What is the gut?

The gut is the long tube that starts at the mouth and end at the anus. Think of it as a long hose that separates the outer world from the inner world, to handle interactions with foreign matter like food and chemicals, medication and basically anything you put into your body. 

When a potential threat is sensed in the gut in the form of processed food, sugar or medication, inflammation occurs and this inflammation travels from your gut to your brain through the vagus nerve.

In order to be health and happy, you need to pay extra attention to the guts in order to prevent depression, inflammation, leaky guts, lack of serotonin and dopamine to name a few….

This is a fantastic video by Dr. Kelly Brogan, on the gut-brain relationship.

Does and Don’ts for great gut health…

DON’T EAT or DRINK

• Processed foods or anything in a package!
• Drink energy drinks – pure toxicity to the body
• Fizzy drinks such as coke. Diet drinks are just as bad for the brain and body!
• Gluten – where possible avoid gluten because it creates inflammation in the gut
• Sugar is a toxin and creates inflammation
• Artificial sweeteners
• Antacids

DO EAT and DRINK

• Take a probiotic – live bacteria such as greek yoghurt
• Add turmeric into your diet – a FANTASTIC natural inflammatory
• Drink apple cider vinegar first thing on a morning to address the PH balance in the gut and kick start your metabolism
• Add whole foods, good fats, and therapeutic foods to your diet
• Take a spoonful of coconut oil in the morning and evening in hot water or to smoothies, or use in cooking 
• Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake
• Be mindful of the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs
• Eat organic where possible
• Take a daily magnesium supplement – As this great article highlights, magnesium is a precursor to serotonin so it’s important you have high levels of magnesium in the body

…… and finally love your gut!

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Sara Maude

Sara Maude is an Edinburgh Hypnotherapist, Solution-Focused Psychotherapist, EFT Practitioner, Transformational Coach and International Wellbeing Trainer providing in-person and online sessions. Sara provides problem-free therapy which goes deep into the heart of the unconscious mind to create powerful lasting change.