Food – we love to make it, talk about it, read about it, and of course eat it. For many it is the highlight of the day, for others just a necessity to quiet the rumbles of the belly. Regardless of motivation, the average Joe consumes between 2 and 5 meals a day.

But in this age of intolerances, low energy and demanding needs – should we take more care selecting what we actually introduce into our bodies? Could our very source of fuel be causing more harm than good? Neurofeedback experts at the Perth Brain Centre frequently advise their patients on diet and nutrition to improve their brain and gut health.

Energy – a fleeting resource

If you know what it’s like to hit mid-day and that once-so-promising energy is suddenly draining away, you know how easy it is to reach for the nearest and dearest snack to keep low blood sugar at bay. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics we are consuming more sweets and coffee than ever before, and most of us are doing it to buy some extra energy to carry us through the demands of a busy day.

If you are one of the many people who eat a fairly normal diet but experience symptoms like low energy, brain fog and occasional tiredness and lethargy, you might not be feeding your body what it needs to support the optimal function of your biochemistry. Some expressions of this might be poor immune health, gluten and dairy sensitivity, Irritable Bowel syndrome, constipation and digestive upset, but also other more subtle signs can point us in this direction.

Is my food serving me?

For many this is linked to energy, and let’s face it, having ample energy is vital for us to make the best decisions about health and wellness. This also impacts our families and the time we can dedicate to being them. With the research now finding more and more links between our gut health and our immune system, our mood, our emotional and physical wellbeing and our stress response, it is more essential then ever to empower yourself with tools to make the optimal decisions for your brain and gut health.

At Perth Brain Centre we are experts in optimising brain health and empowering you with the right tools to look after your brain and body so you can achieve your best potential. To take action and make sure you are not settling for less than best function, call (08) 6500 3277 to schedule an appointment today.

What is gut health, and why is it important?

The human body contains over 100 trillion microorganisms that are essential for our best expression of health and wellbeing. These little creations helps us digest our food, break down chemicals, keep foreign invaders at bay, they even help us synthesise vitamin K that plays an important role in maintaining blood, bone and tissue health. Perhaps you have experienced butterflies in your tummy when you think of something that excites you? We know that our brain influences our gut, but recent research is revealing a much greater impact from the gut to the brain then previously thought. Because your gut contains over 100 million neurones – more than the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system itself, it is safe to say that maintaining good gut health is of essence to our health.

How does this relate to my energy?

Amongst the trillions of microorganisms that make up our gut flora, we also find the main residence of our immune system here. These little soldiers work night and day to protect our bodies from foreign and local invasions, so maintaining a healthy environment here is also imperative for optimal immune function. But it doesn’t just stop there, researchers are now making interesting links between gut flora and several of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimers. It appears looking after your tummy health can have far reaching effects for your overall health – both now and for the future.

To take action and make sure you are supporting your best brain and gut health for you and your family, make sure you contact Perth Brain Centre at (08) 6500 3277 to book an appointment now.

Resources:

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/46/15490.full

http://www.nature.com/news/the-tantalizing-links-between-gut-microbes-and-the-brain-1.18557#gutbrain

http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v18/n7/full/nn.4030.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/