Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
This is not medical facts but from my own experience and research I have done on my healthcare journey.
Why Am I Sharing This?
I truly believe in the 2 brains, the gut and the actual brain.
If the neural pathway isn’t cleaned up and supported properly, everything will fall apart. It has for me many times!
As women leading homes, running businesses and raising children, it is important to “trust the gut” and be in alignment.
When I tapped into this awareness that has opened up in me and to have the brains fog clear up by simply being conscious about my gut and liver, I really did feel an unexplainable glorious bliss and balance within that translated in lifted energy and clearer thoughts.
I want to share that with you and your families too!
I’d like you to experience this bliss and the optimal performance it has unlocked in me!
Your liver is one of the few organs in your body that’s capable of self-repair, which is just as well as you need your liver for a variety of functions; to break down toxins, to deactivate hormones, to filter waste products to the bowels and kidneys and to store key nutrients such as vitamins A, D and B12.
Your gut on the otherhand, represents over 70 percent of your immune system.
Here Are Signs You Have An Unhealthy Gut:
1. An upset stomach
You may be gassy and fart a lot, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or need to go to the loo straight after eating. Heartburn can also be signs of an unhealthy gut.
A well-balanced gut won’t find it difficult in processing food and eliminating waste.
2. You have a high-sugar diet
A diet high in take aways and added sugars, such as sodas, or that extra syrup on your waffles, can decrease the amount of good bacteria in your gut. This imbalance can cause increased sugar cravings, which can cause damage to your gut. These high amounts of refined sugars have been linked to increased inflammation in our bodies. And nflammation can lead to a number of diseases and even cancers.
Here’s how I remember this for myself:
ITIS = inflammation.
Eating and feeling tired or lethargic = perhaps inflammation. So maybe this food isn’t too great for me.
So I monitor my bodies reaction to food in this way. Food should fuel us to keep going, not make us feel lethargic and drained.
3. Unintentional weight changes
If you find yourself gaining or losing weight and you haven’t made changes to your diet or exercise habits at all, this maye be a sign that your gut is off balance. An imbalanced gut can impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, regulate your blood sugar and store fat.
4. Sleep disturbances and constant fatigue
Some sleep disturbances such as insomnia or poor sleep amy be attributed to an unhealthy gut , and may lead to chronic fatigue. The majority of the body’s serotonin, the hormone that affects our mood and sleep, is produced in the gut. So gut damage can really hinder your ability to sleep well.
5. Skin irritation
Some skin conditions like eczema could be related to a damaged gut. Inflammation in the gut caused by a poor diet or food allergies may cause increased “leaking gut” issues. This means your gut is “leaking” of certain proteins out into the body, which can in turn irritate the skin and cause conditions such as eczema.
6. Autoimmune conditions
Medical researchers are continually finding new evidence of the impact of the gut on the immune system. It’s thought that an unhealthy gut may increase systemic inflammation and alter the proper functioning of the immune system. This can lead to autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks itself rather than harmful invaders.
7. Food intolerances
Food intolerances are, simply put, a difficulty digesting certain foods (food allergy is something different – this is caused by an immune system reaction to certain foods).
Some experts say that food intolerance could be link to poor quality bacteria in your gut and then this can lead to difficulty digesting the trigger foods and horrible symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and perhaps even nausea. It has also been said that food intolerance is is related to the gut.
Here are things I have focused on in restoring my gut health:
1. Lowering my stress levels and how I process stress
I have added walking between work engagements or taking meetings whilst walking around our business precint to help rocess the day and the stresses better.
Meditation is also a big part of my day. I meditate when I wake up and mediatate to wind down in the evening.
I have also adapted a breath through stressful moments methosd of dealing with stress. I stress alot in my gut – I have a history of ulcers and have since realised that when I am stressed or under a lot of pressure my ‘ulcers’ start hurting, so I start breathing deeply and intentionally. This has eased the tensed up emotion in me and stress.
2. Getting enough sleep
If there’s anything that you can never get back, it is your sleep. I have previously shared how I worked myself into exhaustiona and this has resulted in quite the health scare on the article Trust Your Gut: Gut & Liver Health
Never again! In order to be functional, I needed that extra hour sleep on the weekends.
Getting enough sleep helps to lower cortisol levels and allows time for the gut to repair itself. So I have started, guiltlessly, embracing those extra hours of sleep.
3. Being conscious about my food and eating with intention
The thing with the body is that it tells you what it does and doesn’t like. It WILL signal to you when it has been irritated. Listen. Besides eating more of the food that aids gut and liver, I have also started embracing being a slow eater and taking time to chew and taste my food. This helps jumpstart the digestive process As you are breaking food down into smaller pieces with you teeth and your tongues is tasting all the various flavours, saliva is stimulate into production mode and signals to the rest od the bodt that it is time to do some digestive work. So take your time, taste and enjoy your food.
4. Staying hydrated and drinking water more intentionally
I really don’t need to elaborate on the elixir of life that is water! Boil your water and drink it warm or cooled down with a slice of lemon.
5. Taking prebiatics and probiotic supplements
Prebiotics such as onions, garlic, asparagus, bananas and legumes are amazing! And then there are probiotics. Probiotics are dietary fibers that feed the good bacteria in your gut, help reinoculate your microbiome and balance out the effects of your altered gut flora. Remember also that birth control pills can really mess with the gut flora.
6. Detoxing and then introducing food back in slowly and being conscious of food intolerances
Hubby and I recently went on a Bone Broth Fast for two days and then broke our fast with easing in foods that were high in good fats and zero sugar. We are in the process of changing our diet completely and reducing our milk, dairy, gluten, wheat and sugar. This has really rejuvenated us and assisted us in feeling so much better!
In ths process we have had to take a few supplements in addition to our staple supplements. I will share more on this in the next few weeks as we continue to explore the liver and gut conversations leading up to World Liver Day on the 19th April.
(If you remember, these are the supplements I already take daily: Vitamins & Supplements for the 30+ Year Old )
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[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/leaky-gut-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-2017092212451
[2] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/201906/heal-the-gut-17-gut-healing-strategies-start-today
[3] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction
[4] https://www.happygutlife.com/time-to-rest-cleanse-your-liver
Hi there, I’m Olwethu,
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