Can Your Gut Health Make You Happier?
Up to 90% of your body's serotonin is located within your gut!
Our stomach does so much more than simply digest our food. What lies within in our gut will have a ripple effect on all other aspects of our health – even our happiness!
It’s all about our second brain…
Our gut is now referred to as our second brain and the vagus nerve links the two together. They are constantly chatting to each other, therefore the health of our gut can affect how we feel and how we feel can affect our gut. As much as 90% of serotonin is located within our gut, with only 10% in the brain, and our gut bacteria can influence serotonin production which relays information to the brain.
Research has even shown that daily consumption of probiotic yoghurt, which provides good bacteria, had a positive impact on anxiety levels.
Here are Lily's top tips for how to support a healthy gut for a happy mind...
1. Take A Probiotic
PRESS Probiotic Waters provide 1 billion live cultures per bottle. What’s more it tastes refreshingly great too!
2. Eat More Fibre
The current guidelines are to consume 30g fibre per day and our daily intake is just 18g. Fibre is our gut bacteria’s primary source of fuel and is essential for it to flourish and grow.
Aim for whole-grains, fruit, vegetables, beans, pulses, nuts and seeds.
3. Eat the rainbow
Whilst there is no set definition of what a healthy gut microbiome looks like, it appears that the more diverse the better. Research has shown that aiming for 30 different plant foods in our diet each week can increase diversity of our gut bacteria and the easiest way to do this is to eat the rainbow.
4. Opt for fermented foods:
By leading London Nutritionist, Lily Soutter BSc (Hons) Food & Human Nutrition, Dip NT
