The role of a healthy gut in our overall health is quite impressive — from improving skin to a better way to manage stress, everything begins inside the gut. When it comes to supporting our microbiome, there are factors that science confirms to make a difference. for a happy mood and gut health

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Founder of The Gut Co and naturopath Pernille Jensen has been researching gut microbiome and the relationship between gut function and the rest of the body for the past 12 years. She decided to create a sustainable product range that contains high quality and scientifically researched ingredients that dissolve easily (even for those with sensitive guts) and can be simply incorporated into your daily routine.

The Repair (Gut+Skin) and Feed (Gut+ Immune) are all super-powered with natural antioxidants, prebiotics, and probiotics, that helps to achieve better skin, digestion, and control our moods, because — happy gut may also mean a happy brain —

Why is the gut so important to our health, and what is the relationship between processed foods and gut health?

The gut is the foundation of all health. If your gut is working optimally, you will receive all the nutrients from the food you eat, giving you the energy you need to take on your day, helping to renew your cells and reducing inflammation. If your gut is dysfunctioning, you can have increased inflammation in the body leading to premature aging, allergies, fatigue and numerous diseases.  

The composition of the microbiome in your gut determines how well you digest foods, the strength of your immune system and can also have a profound impact on your mood.

Processed foods contain bad fats and added sugars which can have a negative impact on the microbiome in the gut. Processed foods are void of fibre, and fibre is essential in maintaining a healthy gut; the lack of fibre and increased amount of sugar are beneficial for the bad bacteria and detrimental to the good bacteria, which could contribute to an imbalance in the bacteria that make up the microbiome, which over a period of time can lead to gut issues

Any food that can help to boost our mood and support a healthy gut?

Studies have shown that supplementing with probiotics can reduce depression and anxiety. If supplementing is something that you are interested in, you can see The Nutrition Advisor probiotic review here. Eating foods high in probiotics, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, and yogurt, can add probiotics to your diet too.

Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin (the happy hormone), Tryptophan is found in foods such as chicken, turkey, eggs, nuts and seeds, cheese (especially parmesan), oats, tuna and salmon.

90% of serotonin is made in the gut; another great reason to make your gut a health priority. 

Why the gut is considered the “second brain”? 

The gut has an independent nervous system called the enteric nervous system (ENS). We used to think the brain called all the shots, but it turns out the gut, and the brain communicate with each other (gut-brain axis). Dysfunction in the gut, such as inflammation and dysbiosis (imbalance of the good and bad bacteria), can cause anxiety and depression, emotional states we used to think only originated from the brain.

Any suggestions for a happy mood and gut health?

Include prebiotic fibre in your diet. Prebiotics function as a food for the good bacteria so they can grow and diversify, the more diverse the microbiome the healthier it is. You want to achieve a healthy balance of good to bad bacteria as they all have a function, but if the bad bacteria take over it impacts your mood and result in poor digestion of foods and possibly reduced immune system as well.

Prebiotics are found in foods such as garlic, onion, chicory Root, dandelion greens, Jerusalem Artichoke, leeks, asparagus.

What should we do when the system gets out of balance? 

A morning routine can set you up for a healthy day, so make sure you have yours planned.

Go back to basics; eating foods in its original form, omit processed foods, include lots of fibre in your diet, eat omega 3 fats from fish, nuts and seeds, eat lots of leafy greens and some root vegetables, avoid sugary foods and refined carbohydrates. Drink 2 litres of water between meals, not with meals

Get some help from a quality pre and probiotics supplement and add a superfoods powder to your routine.

mood and gut health

The Gut Co – REPAIR (gut+skin) mood and gut health

It is a complete, naturopathically formulated super-powder of ‘skin vitamins’ designed to aid in skin health and strengthen hair and nails.

mood and gut health

The Gut Co – FEED (gut+immune)

It is a proprietary blend of naturopathically formulated prebiotics and probiotics. Replenish the good bacteria in your gut by feeding it the clinically trialled dosages needed to achieve results without causing bloating.

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