The definition of a “drug” according to the Britannica dictionary is: any chemical substance that affects living organisms. It isn’t too much of a stretch to say that the foods we eat have consequences and can alter our state of health once they’re consumed.
Think back to thanksgiving time. We’re gathered around the table and gorging ourselves on copious amounts of food. How did we feel afterwards? Sluggish and sleepy? Full and miserable? Can you reflect on a time when you ate a healthy meal and felt fantastic afterwards? Did eating a fatty steak make you feel energized and an overall better mood? Just food for thought, literally.
Food has a substantial impact on the way we feel and the way our bodies function, whether good or bad. Certain foods have psychoactive effects on our mental health as well as our physical health. We’ve all been “hangry” before when our blood glucose dips too low and we know it’s time to eat.
Sure, eating a doughnut always sounds great but the foods we consume have a downstream impact on each aspect of our health. Picking on donuts for a minute: donuts may be one of the worst foods we could eat for three simple reasons. It’s made of grains, it has a ton of sugar, and normally fried in seed oils. All three of these things can cause a massive amount of inflammation in the body and in the brain. Although brain inflammation isn’t really felt, but experienced through poor mental health, like depression and anxiety. Processed foods are devoid of nutrients and can negatively influence poor mental health as well as suboptimal physical health.
Gut/brain connection: viva las vagus (nerve). Prebiotics and probiotics and the effects they have on our health
Prebiotics and probiotics have a profound impact on our mental health, digestion and our overall physical health. Prebiotics are indigestible fiber that the beneficial microbes feed on once they’re introduced into our digestive system. Probiotics ARE the beneficial bacterial strains themselves. To recap: probiotics are health bacteria and prebiotics are their foods they need to proliferate and thrive.
When a baby is born traditionally(non c-section) once the baby traverses through the birth canal and is breast fed, it establishes a strong microbiome populated with healthy bacteria as well as a robust immune system.
The good, the bad, and the insulin
Metabolic syndrome is an umbrella term used to describe a combination of the multiple health ailments listed below.
Insulin plays an important role in our overall metabolic status. Insulin is a hormone secreted by our pancreas in order to lower blood glucose and to store the glucose as energy. However, a problem occurs with constantly elevated insulin(also called hyperinsulinemia). Cells become less efficient at absorbing insulin and storing energy and cannot keep up with demand.
In other words the body becomes overrun with excess insulin and becomes less efficient at storing and using energy. This is why I’m such a strong believer in a fasting insulin lab panel being the gold standard to prevent diabetes as well as determining overall metabolic status.
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