Fermented foods make a healthy gut and a healthy brain

First, it’s important to note that I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have any degrees in nutrition or psychology. These are simply some things that I learned and was compelled to share.

I went to a seminar about childhood anxiety this week. The second half was presented by a wonderful osteopathic doctor who spoke about how your gut talks to your brain. 

It’s quite amazing. The foods we eat and how we treat our digestive system have a direct link to the health of our brain. 

The gut is complex and important. It’s our second brain. The gut contains more neurons than the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system. It has 100 million neurons! And, it’s interesting to note that 95% of the body’s serotonin is found in the gut. 

80% of our immune system is also in our gut. Our gut’s microbiome can weigh up to 4.5 lbs and contains about 100 trillion bacteria. There are 1,000 different species with more than 3 million genes just in our gut.

The gut sends many signals to the brain. But the brain sends only a small fraction back to the gut. 

Signals from the gut can reach certain parts of the brain that control self awareness, morality, emotion, fear, memory, and motivation. There is definitely truth to the saying “trust your gut”.

Your gut is your second brain. So, if you want good mental health, you may want to move digestive health to the top of your list.

You may have read some exciting new research linking gut health to autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, and other diseases. We still need a lot of research to understand the complexity of our second brain and how it can influence us, but we can be certain that there’s a link.

So, what can we do to improve our gut health?

One thing to do is talk to your doctor. They may have some advice for testing and nutrition. 

Stool testing is great for finding out the balance of your gut microbiome. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a stool test, or you can order an at home kit that you mail to a lab.

There is no one diet that works for all bodies. Although finding foods that work for you is personal, there are some overarching food guidelines for good gut health.

One thing’s for certain - prebiotics and probiotics are imperative. You can get this most naturally through fermented foods (but there are also supplements available).

Raw or cultured dairy, fermented veggies, kombucha, and other fermented foods will help cleanse and add good bacteria to your gut. 

Eating fibrous foods is very important as well. Oats, popcorn, beans, dark colored vegetables, and fruits are all great sources of fiber.

And, of course, quality matters. The food produced with the most care and the least processing will have the biggest impact on your gut health.

So here’s to your gut. Trust it, listen to it, and love it. In return, you will feel better physically and emotionally.