God Works Magazine - May-June 2024 - Flipbook - Page 61
W
hile the impacts of trauma are far-
•Eating fiber-packed plant foods like vegetables,
reaching, one area that is often over-
fruits, legumes and whole grains
looked is the gut. Emerging research
reveals intimate connections between the gut microbiome and mental health, shedding new light on
•Incorporating fermented foods like kefir, kimchi,
sauerkraut and miso
•Taking a quality probiotic supplement
nutritional pathways that can support survivors on
•Practicing mindful eating and stress management
their healing journeys.
techniques
The gut is sometimes referred to as the "second
brain" because of the vast neural network—
•Staying hydrated
containing around 500 million neurons—that lines
As you repopulate the gut with diverse beneficial
the gastrointestinal tract. This enteric nervous sys-
bacteria, inflammation subsides while feel-good
tem produces many of the same neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters produced in the second brain can
as the brain, like serotonin, dopamine and GABA
better communicate with the first brain. The result is
that regulate mood, cognition and anxiety levels.
enhanced resilience against the mental health fall-
When chronic stress from traumatic events persists,
•Getting sufficient sleep
out of trauma and more emotional equilibrium.
it can disrupt the delicate balance of gut bacteria,
Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field that
compromising the integrity of this neural communi-
views regaining gut integrity as a cornerstone of
cations highway. This gut-brain axis imbalance may
recovering from disorders like depression, anxiety
manifest as inflammatory conditions like IBS, leaky
and PTSD. By gently restoring the gut-brain axis,
gut, food intolerances and vitamin deficiencies that
survivors can create an environment for the body
can worsen mental health symptoms.
and mind to heal in unison.
Nurturing Your Microbiome
Fortunately, adopting an anti-inflammatory, prebiotic-rich diet can be a powerful way to rebuild gut
equilibrium while nurturing a state of "rest and digest" in the body. Some gut-friendly lifestyle prac-
tices include:
Your body is a sacred vessel, nurture it with love,
respect, and tenderness for it to blossom into its
highest poten琀椀al.
May/June 2024 | God Works Magazine | 61
