Gut Health the Key to Aging Well

Last week we talked about Nutrition and went over ‘5 Rules to Stop Dieting’, and the week before we chatted about the Fitness and Wellness take on the word ‘Longevity’.  It only seems fitting that we bring those two together this week and cover one of our favorite subjects- Gut Health the Key to Aging Well.

There’s a reason our gut is known as the second brain.  Your brain and gut are connected through a bidirectional link called the gut-brain axis, a crucial piece of this system is the vagus nerve.  The vagus nerve is the physical connection between your gut and brain and is responsible for an array of crucial body functions, including mood, digestion, and immune response.

I present to you the key to aging well. 

Once you connect those dots it’s easy to see that taking care of your gut is not only crucial for your belly-bloat, but so much more.  Leaky gut, chronic inflammation, anxiety and depression and hormonal imbalances cascade into hair and skin issues, weight, and even an increased likelihood of dementia- to name a few.  There is a plethora of scientific evidence that a happy healthy gut can mend all of the above issues.

Aiding Your Gut

• Cut sugar dramatically. Sugar is highly addictive, inflammatory, and can even stun white blood cells (the cells involved in protecting the body) into inactivity for up to six hours. Making it a powerful immunosuppressant.

• Eat real whole foods and stay away from highly processed and low nutrient packaged foods. Along with trans fats/ partially hydrogenated fat.

• Keep an eye on high inflammatory foods to watch out for food sensitivities that may be wreaking havoc on your gut lining like gluten, soy, and corn.

• Eat high fiber, low glycemic carbohydrates like broccoli, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas to keep you both energized and regular.

• Find time to slow down and be present during your meals- thoroughly chewing your food to aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients.