Your gut is the true brain of your body. It dictates how you feel, how well you sleep and how optimally your body functions. So, if we take control of it, we become limitless.
Let me break this down for you in a simple explanation.
The vagus nerve is the most complex of all nerves in the human body; it connects your gut with your brain. It delivers signals to the brain (in the form of neurotransmitters) based on what it needs to efficiently function. It tells us when we need food, suggests to us what we should eat and how we will respond to it. The gut, coincidentally, also is the driver of producing 90% of our serotonin – the feel good hormone of the body. So it can sometimes bias our cravings through releasing unstable levels of serotonin based on the perceived outcome of eating certain foods… you know the culprits… chocolate, deserts, pizza, etc. This occurs primarily based upon habits and eating rituals we have sustained in life – for example; the French cuisine being largely made up of heavy carbohydrates, bagels, pastries and so forth. So the “French gut” craves and signals the brain for these foods…. up until you are able to break the cycle that is!
And, finally, the last piece of anatomy we need to appreciate in the body is a little thing called the Mitochondria. The is the engine room of every single one of the trillions of cells in our body. It’s the energy factory of our cells. So if we want to feel good and have plenty of energy after a full day of work the gut needs to absorb the right foods. What isn’t spoken about enough in the media or through governing bodies (like Nutrition Australia) is that food isn’t just a matter of getting the calories in nor is it just in regulating the consumption of macro-nutrients (carbs/fats/proteins). Food presents the body with information. Let’s take carbohydrates as an example; eating a Mars Bar and 3/4 cup of rice both deliver the body with around 30g of carbohydrates. That said; only one of these foods has a sustained energy release profile, regulates a stable blood sugar level for 3-4 hours beyond it’s consumption and creates satiety. I’m sure you’ve got a good idea of which one.
If our gut continues to break down foods where our energy levels start to get out of control (ie. the wrong types of energy or an overload of energy), the gut will simply turn our mitochondria off. And that’s why when we over-eat or consume high volumes of the wrong foods over a short period of time we start feeling lethargic. What we eat is what ultimately feeds the microbiome of our gut. If our microbiome become out of balance, the immune system is out of balance and this interaction influences the production of inflammation in our body. Inflammation is generated from our immune system and the majority of our immune system resides inside our guts.
Chronic inflammation is now understood to be the precursor to 95% of major persistent diseases including; heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, autoimmune disorders and, over time, can cause DNA damage and result in the rapid development of cancerous cells.
So if i was to summarise everything to this point, i could do it in 5 words;
You are what you eat.
In short; poor quality food puts your body under attack and signals your inflammatory markers to go to work to remove the threat. If you do this over a period of time, your body remains in an inflammatory state which creates all sorts or problems you really don’t want to deal with. But the purpose of this post isn’t to tell what you shouldn’t eat – it’s to tell you that there are a number of foods that can be consumed to boost the effectiveness of your immune systems defence mechanisms immediately. These pantry staples are sure-fire immune boosters that will not only re-ignite your energy levels but fight your body’s inflammation the moment they’re consumed.
Garlic
The essential comfort of so many dishes, garlic is not only delicious but it’s oh so good for your immune system. Garlic is found in almost every cuisine for good reason. It contains compounds including allicin which help to boost the effects of white blood cells. Have it roasted in your favourite dish or throw a few cloves back raw and embrace that garlic breath.
Spinach
Spinach is not only a classic green for every meal, but it packs a punch for the immune system, too. Rich in Vitamin C, it’s also packed with antioxidants and nutrients including carotenoids and flavonoids which enhance your immune system’s ability to fight infection/inflammation.
Turmeric
Golden warmth for any day, turmeric is the on-trend medicinal spice on everybody’s lips. Used in South East Asian cooking and more recently enjoyed in lattes, turmeric is unique in colour and taste. The spice contains high concentrations of curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory effects.
Green Tea
Sit down with a cuppa and enjoy the health benefits of green tea. Green tea has large levels of epigallocatechin (EGCC) which is a powerful antioxidant that can enhance the strength of your immune function. It also contains L-theanine which can help with the production of germ fighting compounds in white blood cells.
Almonds
These common nuts are packed with Vitamin E which is essential to a healthy immune system. Half a cup of almonds will provide 100 per cent of the recommend daily amount of vitamin E.
I’m a firm believer that we should attack life with the mantra of ‘everything in moderation’ – whether that be food, activities, lifestyle, holidays, etc. When something comes out of balance – even going on too many holidays in the course of a short period of time – we can lose focus, become undisciplined, we lose our vision and we get out of routine. Humans are creatures of routine, creatures of stability and we like to be in control. So staying in control and managing a moderate balance in the way we approach life ensures not only our overall happiness but sustained energy levels and nullifying the risk of chronic disease in the long term.
So yes you can absolutely have your cake and eat it too but, next time, give a second thought to how often you are eating that cake.
Live the life you love.