Mental well-being is rightly discussed often these days. The pandemic has highlighted many struggles as well, shining a light on critical issues all around the world.
Fortunately, frequent studies are also raising awareness, giving a voice to those who often feel silenced. Everyone needs to be heard, especially at times where options seem few. Feelings of hopelessness must never be allowed to persist.
Still, there are numerous ways to improve mental well-being. While many people rightly focus on things like meditation and medication, there are numerous other avenues to explore too.
Every mental wellness plan should have ‘improving gut health’ considered for the agenda. The connection may not seem obvious, but the two things are closely interconnected. You can see why for yourself down below.
Reducing Self-Consciousness
Being self-conscious about trivial things is quite common on occasion. However, should these matters go unaddressed over the span of years, some insecurities can become debilitating.
Unfortunately, poor gut health can be responsible for major changes in your appearance, including:
- Weight gain – The bacteria in your gut significantly influences how much weight you do or do not gain. You may find yourself changing size rapidly in the worst cases.
- Skin disruptions – If you have any eczema that often flairs up, it may make you more self-conscious about how you look.
- Constipation and diarrhoea – People often make light of these issues, but they are not fun to deal with in reality. Navigating your life under the threat of many embarrassing moments can be enough to destroy a person’s self-confidence, and sadly, their overall happiness too.
If you experience these symptoms, investigate your gut health further. Do not chalk these incidents up to some measure of bad karma or an unknown health defect. Pay closer attention to your gut health, which may be enough to rectify many of these problems. Always consult your doctor for guidance if you have any further concerns about these symptoms.
Improving Sleep Patterns
Poor gut health can cause major disruptions in your sleep pattern. If you do not get a good night’s rest, your energy levels and mood will decline rapidly.
From a starting point of sleep deprivation, any current anxiety disorders you experience may worsen. When you do not rest, your sense of time and perception may also become disorientated. Your appetite may be plunged into chaos. Your grades or job performance may slip, leading to undeserved feelings of inadequacy.
As you can see, spiralling out of control after so many consequences would be quite common for many people. All of this chaos could potentially be prevented by maintaining your gut health. Constant disruptions during the night will impact the quality of your sleep. In the end, your mind will only be at ease when the rest of your body is, so keep that in mind when turning in.
Enforcing Better Eating Habits
When you are in low spirits, you may gravitate toward eating junk food. It may seem like comfort food, but what you consume here can do you more harm than good after a while.
Foods that are high in sugar and fats should be swapped for whole foods and healthy meals. Coincidentally, many of these goods also increase your capacity for mindfulness, so it may be a good idea to switch things up slightly. Research some fun and delicious recipes, and you will not need to worry about experiencing more mundane meal plans either.
Healthier eating may give you a better sense of agency too. Cooking can be a therapeutic pastime, and having a more significant say over what you put in your body can give you a recurring sense of fulfilment. Take back control of your eating habits, and both your gut and your mind will benefit.
Providing Quality Support
Many of the issues highlighted so far can lead to problems with isolated suffering. You will struggle to wholly be yourself so long as you are experiencing these afflictions.
However, support services are out there if you need help during this crucial time. For instance, you could learn everything there is to know about the elemental diet under the guidance of Dr Ruscio’s Clinic. If you have short gut syndrome or bacterial imbalances, you can receive expert input here. They specialize in gut health and are passionate about providing practical, scientifically-validated and cost-effective care to all patients.
Some may elect to go through their gut health problems alone. However, knowing that there is a support framework in place could work wonders for your mental well-being. You would have a professional to confide in who can provide encouragement and set you on the right path. A dynamic such as this may also give you huge relief in finally addressing any deep-rooted insecurities.
Try not to delay in seeking the help you need. The sooner you address these problems, the sooner you can improve things. Be prepared to action any of the guidance that professionals offer you.
Motivating More Exercise
Regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy gut. Of course, exercise can improve your mental well-being via its own merits too.
Getting out of your home and being proactive can do wonders for your state of mind. New experiences and friends could await you should you join a club. You may also have the feeling of perfect multitasking and efficiency as you improve these aspects of your life alongside your gut health.
You can also prevent sickness through exercise too. The gut is a large part of your body’s immune system, so as you exercise, you will also combat many potential illnesses by maintaining your gut’s health.
Remember, you don’t need to become a world-leading athlete to mark progress here. Build the intensity of your workout over time if you can. However, a basic series of stretches and a daily walk should be enough to make a difference as well.
Conclusion
If you are unhappy with how you look or your feel, then addressing any gut problems may help substantially. It may also give you more motivation to improve numerous other aspects of your life. You may feel more energized and committed to a flourishing self-improvement regime. In time, you may come to feel more at home within your body, and more fulfilled in general.