Monthly Archives: November 2019

Over Thinking – Intimate Relationship Between Our Brain And Gut

A disturbed digestive tract forewarns the brain, such as a disturbed mind forewarns the intestine.

 

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There’s so much mystery to unfold with our brain and gastrointestinal system, how intimately they are connected.  The pain of the gut is the pain of both.  So it is imperative to consider the food that we will feed our body because that food is a crucial factor that will bring health to both our brain and gut.

 

Processed Foods

Are you aware that your favorite processed foods are full of bad fats, sugars, preservatives, and additives?   Of course, with our busy world, it is very convenient to just grab any processed food on the shelf without considering what impact it would make in your health. This processed food will ruin the balance of bad and good bacteria in your gut and can lead to inflammation, colitis, aches and pains, allergies, depression, acne, and many more health problems.

“Certain foods are linked to mental health issues such as increased symptoms of depression and decreased self-esteem.”  Christina L. Gmyr, LMHC, NCC  explains. So the next time you pass by the food section, avoid picking up processed food.

 

Eat Probiotics

Choosing foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, fermented vegetables, kefir, and sauerkraut can boost not just your mood but your gut’s health as well.  Probiotics are helpful bacteria that mostly line your intestine and are in charge of absorbing the nutrient and supporting the immune system.

 

Culinary Herbs

Herbs produce pleasant smells that heal our bodies inside out.  The aroma that the plant releases is their immune system fighting the microbial attacks and that same essential oils (smells) from these herbs help us fight infection and inflammation.

There’s more to herbs than making our meals interesting. They keep the harmful effects of flora away.

 

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Consider Healthy Fats

Fats have always been feared by many and considered as their enemy.   What most people are not aware of is that there are healthy fats that we can include in our diet that are friendly to our digestive system and are essential for brain development.  Take for instance the high amounts of antioxidants found in olive oil which protect cells from damage.  It also improves memory and cognitive function, and even serves as an anti-inflammatory.  Avocado is another source of healthy fats that protects our heart as it helps with digestion and an excellent choice for enlightening our mood.  Nuts and seeds, salmon, and tuna are also a great source of these healthy fats. Staci Lee Schnell, MS, CS, LMFT  once said, “Depression rates are higher among those with a Vitamin D deficiency. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna have the most naturally occurring Vitamin D.”

 

Sesame Seeds

Dietary fiber in sesame seeds helps your bowel movement.   Regular bowel movement prevents you from developing hemorrhoids and also colon cancer.  The amino acid in sesame seeds boosts the brain’s dopamine levels, also enhancing the feel-good hormone to reach its state of maximum activity as it balances out the others.

When feeling depressed and constipated, think of Open Sesame!

 

Nuts

A small plate of nuts such as cashews, walnuts, and almonds contain serotonin, an important chemical neurotransmitter that makes the body feel good, affecting mood, behavior, appetite, digestion, memory, sexual desire and function, and sleep.

The next time you feel down, boost that mood by nibbling on some nuts.

 

Mushrooms

Mushrooms don’t only make our food taste great; there are also some health benefits we can get from ingesting these fungi.  White button mushrooms are rich in soluble fiber which are crucial to digestion.  The shiitake mushroom has been found useful in treating depression as it provides plenty of vitamin B6 which helps in producing serotonin and neurotransmitters, resulting in having a positive mood and naturally reducing stress.

 

Abstaining From Gluten

For some, off-putting gluten or having a low-gluten diet results in a positive effect on their gut microbiome, leading to better digestion and absorption of nutrients.  Many famous players in the food industry are considering gluten-free recipes in their market.  The old ways of soaking, sprouting and souring grains help us digest the hard to break down gluten, but this process has been long forgotten because of the fast and mass production food industry. Note that “Research is now uncovering more information about just how consuming excess sugar impacts our overall health-not just our physical health but also our mental health.” Mary C. Wiley, PsyD said.

Try to bring back the past by making your food digestible and nutritious.

 

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This article may not fully uncover the mystery behind the intimacy between our gut and mood, but it proves one thing, whatever we put in our mouth will dictate the health of our gut and our brain.  Stop overthinking. Instead, start being mindful that the health of one will benefit the other and the rest of our body.

Herbal Medicine For Ulcerative Colitis

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Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease of the colon, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes continuing inflammation and sores in the digestive tract affecting the internal layer of the large intestine and rectum.  It can be debilitating, and sometimes the complications can be life-threatening.

There is still no known cure for ulcerative colitis but treatment can lessen the signs and can even result in long-term quiescence of the disease.

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Top 5 Common Gastrointestinal Disorders

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Gastrointestinal Disorders refer to the sicknesses that people may suffer because of some problems in their digestive tract. There are many reasons why certain individuals encounter these disorders. One of which is having an unhealthy lifestyle such as consuming foods that are low in fiber. At the same time, failure to perform some exercises and too much stress can also lead to functional disorders in the GI or gastrointestinal tract.

 

Check this list for the most common gastrointestinal disorders:

 

  1. Spastic Colon

The most common name for this kind of disorder is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. Some experts also call it a disease involving an irritable colon. A person with IBS may experience abdominal cramps and pains or feel bloated. The spastic colon is a result of consuming foods that are not good for the person involved. Aside from this, a high level of emotional stress can also result in IBS especially when not treated in the early stage.

 

  1. Constipation

 

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This refers to a situation wherein a person suffers to strain when it comes to his bowel movement. It is necessary to note that the body needs the right amount of nutrients to ensure that it will be kept safe from illnesses such as constipation. The common known cause of constipation is an inadequacy in fiber. This is the primary reason why it is good to increase the amount of fiber in one’s diet and to exercise on a regular basis.

 

  1. Internal Hemorrhoids

All anal openings of people have blood vessels inside it, which are called internal hemorrhoids.  The problem comes in when the hemorrhoids fall towards the anus because of straining and other related causes. When this happens, the inner hemorrhoids may be irritated. As a result, it may lead to bleeding that is not only highly inconvenient for the affected person but also extra painful. The best thing to do in this scenario is to get in touch with a professional doctor to get proper medication.

 

  1. Colon Cancer

 

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Colorectal cancer is on the list of the top forms of cancer suffered by people in the United States. According to a recent study, around 130,000 Americans every year encounter this cancer. Luckily, this cancer is something that is curable primarily when it is detected in its early stages. All that a person needs to do is to participate in screening tests and check whether he or she has this kind of cancer. The disease may be curable with constant medication.

 

When it comes to gastrointestinal disorders, the first thing that you need to keep in mind is that its severity differs from one another. There are those that you cannot cure while others may be treated almost instantaneously. What matters now is that you are already aware of the top four common disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. As previously highlighted above, it is essential to choose a healthier lifestyle to avoid these illnesses. You also need to find time to become physically active for your good.

 

 

Common GI Problems Encountered By Workers

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Work is essential to continue living, but it can also be as perilous as dying. The key to surviving life is to work to afford the demands of living adequately. People who are constantly working hard are motivated by their personal desires and wants in life – a house, car, travel and vacations, lifestyle and much more. Nonetheless, the human body is not an omnipotent that can withstand time and stress. Even though how sophisticated the machine is, there will ultimately come a time that it will reach its limits and will break down. If machines are prone to such situations, the human body is also capable of doing the same.

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