Healthy Gut For Healthy Brain

Credit: Johns Hopkins Medicine

The link between your belly and your mind is astonishing, so choose the right foods to nurture it.

The gut isn’t called your second brain for no reason. What you eat directly affects the health of your mind, and numerous researches prove this connection can provide you with a better mood, a healthier heart, and improved looks. So, saying that “we are what we eat” is not so far fetched, after all. Let’s dig into foods that will help your gut and, by extension, your brain.

The communication system between your gut and brain is called the gut-brain axis. That feeling you get in your stomach is actually your brain communicating, so don’t let them get into a fight. To avoid conflicts, one of the best things are omega-3 fatty acids, which you can find in oily fish. They increase good bacteria in the gut and reduce the risk of brain disorders.

Fermented foods can alter the brain’s activity but in the best way possible. Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and cheese contain healthy microbes such as lactic acid bacteria. This means that if your gut were a yard, these foods would be the most precious and relaxing flowers.

Foods rich in fiber are your best friends in losing weight and reducing stress. Whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables all contain prebiotic fibers that improve the overall health of your gut bacteria. All of these foods are ideal snacks, so remember that next time you want to put chips into your grocery basket.

Cocoa, green tea, olive oil, and coffee contain polyphenols. Polyphenols are responsible for healthy gut bacteria and may improve cognition. Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet; add in organic honey or lemon if you aren’t a fan of the taste. Your gut will be thankful, and so will your brain.

Foods that are high in tryptophan such as turkey, eggs, and cheese are essential for your gut, and even more for your mind. This amino acid converts into serotonin, which is responsible for your mood. It’s a hormone of happiness, which is precisely why starting a day with a cheese omelet sounds ideal!

Previous
Chiara Ferragni: Fashionista Turned Global Phenomenon