This year at the Women’s Health Symposium in NYC, the main message was the importance of the mind-body connection. Healthy gut = healthy mind. We each received our own copy of the happiness diet by Rachel Kelly. A colorful book with simple healthy recipes and great explanations about good mood food. Here are our takeaways from the book.
Mind: Body Connection
“All disease begins in the gut” Hippocrates
Your gut is your second brain. You are what you eat. That ‘gut’ feeling. These sayings hold a lot of truth in them. More and more studies have been done on the mind-body connection and science is proving these to be right. 90% of serotonin is made in our gut and as much as 50% of dopamine. Both of these neurotransmitters directly affect our happiness. Keeping the gut healthy will keep you calmer, lower your stress levels significantly and make you happier!
80:20 Rule
Eat well 80% of the time. Here are some of the golden rules…
Eat plants and a colorful variety of vegetables most of the time, and sprinkle them with seeds such as pumpkin seeds. Use herbs and spices, especially saffron which has calming properties and turmeric to boost your mood. Eat anti-inflammatory foods with omega 3’s such as oily fish, eggs, avocados and nuts. Cut out added sugars to keep your blood sugar balanced.
Blood Sugar: Balance
Keep your blood sugar leveled out to feel balanced.
Avoid the sugar crash which raises anxiety. It’s better to avoid snacking all day long and fast between meals instead, as well as keep a regular routine. Become mindful of the Glycemic Index and the Glycemic load, you want to avoid foods with a High Glycemic Level such as bagels as they will spike your blood sugar immediately. Carbs with higher fiber contents will release sugar more slowly, such as spelt bread versus white bread.
