Are you easily irritated? Do you struggle to stay focused? Mental/brain health problems like anxiety, depression and decreased cognitive function may seem like they stem entirely from the brain—they’re called “mental” health problems. However, it’s your gut that’s likely contributing to problems like anxiety and foggy brain. There is a direct connection between the gut and the brain, so people who have anxiety and lack of memory might also have gastrointestinal issues such as IBS, abdominal pain and constipation. An unhealthy microbiome can lead to imbalances that trigger mental/brain health problems, fatigue, and foggy brain. You can support balanced brain health with reduced refined sugar intake, going to bed at the same time every night and sleeping for 7-8 hours, daily exercise, Omega 3, nature walks, reduce blue light and consume proper amino acids. Below are 5 ways to revive your brain-gut connection and supporting herbs to help restore clarity.
Brain-Gut Balance for Clarity
-Practice cultivating mindfulness so you can identify foods that are particularly toxic to both our gut and brain, reduce our stress hormones by stimulating the vagus nerve and give our body the time and space it needs to thoroughly digest food.
-Feed gut nerve cells that communicate with your brain. These nerves can trigger emotional shifts from poor gut health by consuming lots of processed and sugary foods. These foods lead to spikes in blood sugar and the production of excitotoxins causing your gut’s nerve cells to send a signal to your brain putting you into fight or flight mode.
-Regulate inflammation with polyphenols. Polyphenols from fruits & veggies may reduce cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, lower blood pressure, protect the brain, present prebiotic properties and exert antimicrobial activities against pathogenic gut microbiota.
-Practice brain health basics including physical exercise, balancing blood sugar, sleeping regularly 7-8 hours a day, a diet rich in antioxidants and Omega 3’s helping to fend off the harmful effects of oxidation in the brain and meditation for increasing activity on the lateral sides of the brain.
-Intermittent fasting directly affects gut microbial composition and function. Research suggest intermittent fasting can improve markers of longevity, reduce markers of aging, help balance blood sugar and support liver function.
Supporting Herbs Chamomile and Burdock
Chamomile-- Chamomile may help support the solar plexus (surrender), lower blood pressure and help support digestive health. She is a carminative, anti-spasmodic, mild sedative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and may help to relieve intestinal cramping and inflammation. She may help in easing stress and anxiety, decreasing inflammation, boosting natural detoxification processes of the body, restoring a healthy gut lining, and strengthening the immune system. All of this helps to keep the gut microbiome balanced. Due to her beneficial effects on the gut, chamomile tea may help with conditions such as colic, flatulence, indigestion, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This pleasant tasting spiritual herb relaxes your energy, which allows you to become receptive, not resist moving in a different direction. A decoction of the herbal tea from dried flowers instead of from tea bags ensures that all the goodness of Chamomile tea is obtained.
Burdock-- Burdock contains multiple types of powerful antioxidants including quercetin, luteolin, and phenolic acids that reduce inflammation. Her root has long been used to treat skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema. The water-soluble fibers in burdock help the intestines get rid of toxins from the body and the inulin content is a PRE-biotic, which feeds healthy gut bacteria (remember happy gut, happy brain function).The liver is also supported by the presence of phytochemicals in burdock root that reduce the formation of cysts and remove toxic hormones that have been ingested from external sources such as herbicides, pesticides and other environmental influences. Her anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties been shown to heal liver cells from damage caused by alcohol, acetaminophen, or other liver-damaging toxins. Burdock root contains potassium, which may help to lower blood pressure and open blood vessels to improve blood flow. In addition to a herbal tea, burdock root can be consumed as a vegetable or cooked in stews, soups, and other recipes.
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