We constantly receive advice on things like what to eat, how to work out, and how to keep our minds sharp.

However, what if the key to overall health isn’t just a bunch of separate health habits?

What if the key lies in the way that our gut health and mental health work together to make us healthier?

Problem: Health practices that aren’t linked to each other

a long time, we have divided the practice of health into distinct areas. As for mental health, we have different types of exercises for the brain, different ways to rest for the body, and healthy eating plans for the body. Evidence-based data has started to show this connection, and people all around the world are getting good results after working on this connection. This connection is bidirectional. Gut health affects mental health, and mental health affects gut health. The trouble is that a lot of us don’t know about this connection and don’t do anything to strengthen it. There are times when the food we eat is good for our looks but bad for our gut health.

Or

We might do things that make us stressed out and hurt our mental health, which in turn hurts our gut health.

How to Fix It: Habits for a Mutually Beneficial Partnership

The first step is awareness about this bidirectional connection between gut health and mental health.

Four habits that improve gut health for better mental health.

Here are some habits that you should have:

Take in a lot of veggies, 2 servings of fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains. This will help your gut stay healthy. Fermented foods will help improve gut health.

Do a lot of physical exercise. This can increase the variety of bacteria in your gut, which is good for your mental health. It also helps you deal with worry and sleep better.

You should have 7-8 hours of sleep.

Not getting enough sleep or sleeping at odd times can mess up your gut flora, which can cause mental health problems like anxiety and sadness.

Learn how to deal with stress. Long term stress can hurt the bacteria in your gut and cause imbalance.

Managing your stress can be done by doing things like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.

References

1. The Gut-Brain Connection – Harvard Health
2. The Gut-Brain Connection – Psycom
3. Exploring Gut and Brain Connection in Mental Health – Beyond Blue
4. Gut Feeling: How Your Microbiota Affects Your Mood, Sleep, and Stress Levels – The Conversation
5. Gut Microbiota and Mental Disorders – NCBI
6. Surprising Link Between Your Microbiome and Mental Health – Optum