The mood food connection is an area of study that is somewhat new, and while it has been tracking more support and interest in mainstream conversations, it is still something that you might have questions about and how it relates to body based healing.
To begin understanding this connection it is first important to look at the connection between the brain and the digestive system. One might not traditionally think that the two are linked in any way, however, consider what it means to make a “gut decision”… Or maybe consider a time when you have thought about an unpleasant memory from the past and noticed how your stomach might begin to turn. Now we can start to sense how the gut and brain talk to and work with one another!
One fun fact about the gut is that this is where we store 95% of our serotonin, have you heard of it?
It’s a neurotransmitter (fancy word for messenger) that we usually just associate with the brain! Serotonin is responsible for functions like sleep, appetite, pain sensitivity, mood, and well-being. With all that serotonin- our gut can really impact how we think and feel on a day-to-day basis.
Considering our gut health and food choices makes perfect sense when looking for a holistic approach to healing depression and other mood disorders.
Our guts are full of microbes, which are bacteria, archaea, fungi, and tons of other things- these are all essential for a healthy and properly functioning digestive system so long as their ecosystem (what we call the microbiome) stays in balance and harmony.
These microbes all communicate with one another and throughout the body using the gut-brain axis. Messages are transferred by anatomical connections through our blood and creates a connection between our autonomic nervous system, our nerves in the GI tract (gastrointestinal), and our HPA axis (our hypothalamic- pituitary- adrenal gland).
When the microbiome of the gut is out of harmony, the gut-brain axis starts sending out signals. This is where we see things like depression, IBS, and other diseases start to show- those are the signals!
Another fun fact about the gut is that this is where the enteric brain is located. The enteric brain is like a hidden brain in your digestive walls, picking up and receiving information about digestion and your microbiome. The enteric brain is also called the “second brain” – it tells your brain when something is wrong.
It is important to have a diet that will help promote the function and balance of your microbiome. Studies have been done to start understanding which foods affect the body in which ways.
Crazy, right?!
SO, what does it mean to eat foods that are good for your gut and your brain?
This is a dynamic and fun topic- and I suggest anyone who is interested reads either of these books!
Remember, body-based healing doesn’t end with somatic practices. The goal is a whole, integrative approach to health and healing!
