Page 29 - Tropic Magazine Issue 30

TROPIC • HEALTH

Good gut feeling

WELLBEING
Tropic columnist Dr Alex
Bernhardi shares her
expertise on how the gut
and the brain are
directly connected.

A staggering 45-per-cent of Australian
adults will be affected by mental illness
at some point, and this number is on
the rise according to the Mental Health
Council of Australia.
Depression and anxiety are the
most common diagnoses, while 2 Neurotransmitters 4 My advice
contributing factors to poor Neurotransmitters are specific If you are worried about any mental
mental health can include chronic chemicals that the body produces health issues, take a good look at
stress, genetic predisposition and from amino acids – the particles your lifestyle and your nutrition first.
environmental factors, as well as that compound protein – with the Whole food is food that grows in the
poor nutrition. help of vitamins like B6 and minerals soil or on bushes and trees and does
But what does your diet have to do with such as zinc and magnesium. not contain any other ingredients.
your mental health? Aren’t the brain Neurotransmitters are responsible for Think vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
and the gut two completely our emotions but also how we sleep legumes, and if you choose to, small
different organs? In fact, the two are and for most other systems happening amounts of grass-fed organic meat and
tightly connected and expressions such automatically in the background. other high-quality unprocessed animal
as “butterflies in your stomach” or One of the better-known products. This ensures you are having
having a “gut-feeling” reflect this. neurotransmitters is serotonin, often enough fibre – only present in plant-
There are several ways the brain and referred to as the ‘happy hormone’. based food – as well as minerals and
the gut communicate with each other. Interestingly, a large proportion of vitamins. You’ll also avoid the artificial
neurotransmitters are produced by the stuff that sneaks into processed food,
1 The vagus nerve system cells and the bacteria in your gut. which can kill the good guys and
The vagus nerve is one of the biggest cause inflammation.
nerves connecting your gut and 3 Chemicals produced by
your brain, sending signals in both the gut microbes MORE: doctoralex.com.au
directions. Special nerve cells Various forms of fibre in our food are
(neurons) are found in the brain as well digested by trillions of gut bacteria,
as in the gut. That is why some people which in turn produce lots of short- Top three chronic
call the gut our ‘second brain’. chain fatty acids. These special fatty conditions
acids affect brain function in a
number of ways, as well as help to Mental & behavioural
regulate appetite. conditions
Our gut health can be disturbed by a
million
variety of factors including lack of sleep 4.8 people
and exercise, chronic stress,
too much junk food, being overweight, Back problems
genetic predisposition and infections.
million
Environmental and climatic factors 4 people
including pesticides and heatwaves can
also have an impact. Our diet certainly
plays a major role in this and emerging Arthritis
million
evidence shows that eating whole 3.6 people
food can significantly improve your
mental health. Source: The latest Australian
National Health Survey

29 • tropicnow.com.au