Mind Body Connection

Gut – Brain Connection

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Healthy Nutrition Against DementiaRecently, a lot of research has emerged suggesting that there is a connection between gut health and your mental health. Though this seems odd, in a way this does seem quite logical. Within our guts is an additional nervous system called the enteric nervous system that responds to hormones in the gut, and so, by association, one might think that this nervous system would connect to our central nervous system. Therefore, the health of the one nervous system might in turn affect the health of the other nervous system. This in theory is poorly understood, but much research has shown that this could be useful for treatment of mental health concerns.

To begin with, some mental health concerns are due to inflammation in the brain, specifically in neurons. When neurons are inflamed, the system cannot function the way that it was meant to. Some studies have shown that an inappropriately balanced gastro-intestinal system (in regards to microorganisms) can lead to increased inflammation in the gut, which is associated with increased anxiety. By correcting the inflammation and altering the gut micro-flora, the inflammation and resultant anxiety was decreased.

Some research has also shown the influence of the specific gut microorganisms on hormones. Specifically, it has shown these the micro-organisms secrete dopamine and serotonin. These two compounds that are secreted are hormones that are related to mood and energy. I like to call them your happy hormones, though to be honest, undermining the full potential of these two hormones.

Finally, research has also shown that the appropriate gut micro flora can help to decrease the stress hormone cortisol. This could be due to several mechanisms including improved mood, therefore improved tolerance to stress.

If you are concerned that your gut health could be impacting your mental health, or that your gut could be in a healthier state, do not hesitate to consult a naturopathic doctor or seek health. The concerns you have could be very simple in origin and fixed simply if addressed sooner than later.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

Your Mind and Your Brain: What you did not know

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Abstract light human brain, vector illustrationRecently, I had the privilege of attending a conference where the guest speaker was Dr. Caroline Leaf, whom happens to be a cognitive neuroscientist. There were quite a few take home messages that I received from listening to her, that I have summarized into 5 key points, that I wanted to share with you, my readers:

  1. You are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

Your body is a wonderful, amazing piece of machinery that has the capacity for health and wholeness. You are unique and there is no one like you. Embrace this, and embrace who you are and who you were created to be.

  1. You have a great gift

Though most people might think that this strictly means talents, it actually doesn’t. Yes we all have skills and abilities that are wonderful and unique, but we also have a great gift within us which is the gift of choice. You have a choice as to whether you live your life happy or sad. Some people might immediately start to think “You have no idea what it is like to be me or live in my shoes.” And you are absolutely right, but you have a choice. You can choose to be sad, angry, envious, etc.; or you can choose to step out from your circumstances and choose to be happy, loving, caring, compassionate, and whole. No one said this was easy, or that it could be done overnight. But you do not have to wake up and be depressed just because you feel depressed. As Dr. Caroline Leaf eloquently put it, “Your mind contributes to the cause and healing of what ales you.”

  1. Negative Thoughts can be Destructive, Positive Thoughts can be Protective

Not only do negative thoughts lower your self-confidence and make you feel angry, depressed, or anxious; but they can also be physically destructive. Negative thoughts can cause inflammation in the brain (which could transcend to the body) and also cause destruction and decreased connection of brain cells. Positive thoughts have the benefit of not only making you feel better, but also of protecting your brain from damage, as well as causing the growth and increased connection between brain cells.

  1. Your Thoughts can Impact Others

Your thoughts have great potential beyond yourself. This can be explained through research in Quantum Physics (stay with me, I will not go into it too much). Basically, the way you act and think impacts those around you (and even those not around you). Quantum physics explains that basically time and space are endless, and our mind and thoughts are able to reach across this expanse, and impact one another, because of this common connection that we each possess. As a result, if we are angry, bitter, and ungrateful; this not only affects our bodies, but can also impact others.

  1. Stress is not the Enemy

Many people think that stress is a bad thing. This is actually not quite true. It is actually how we respond to stress that is either beneficial or destructive. If you remain positive in the face of struggles and stress, you are more likely to live longer according to recent research. On the other hand, if you tend to be negative in regards to your stress, you are more likely to die early.

The bottom line is, don’t you owe it to yourself to start changing your thinking? You do not have to continue to live in the critical mindset that you may have, and you can choose to change your thoughts and perceptions to those that will be health promoting.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC today and let me help you achieve your health goals.