Foods That Can Impact Your Mood And Gut

More than three quarters of 18-35-year-olds say their gut has a direct impact on their mood according to Kellogg’s Happy Gut Survey.

The World Health Organisation found through their research that people who eat lots of high-fibre and wholegrain foods are at a much lower risk of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes.     

When knowing what foods are good for your gut health, it’s important to know the signs first for when your body has bad gut health. 

Knowing the difference between how different food groups can affect your psychological well-being is important to understand, as experts at Cambridge University found the consumption of unprocessed foods has been linked to causing fewer psychological health issues. 

Gut health experts, PrecisionBiotics, want to make the UK aware of the foods that people are consuming and how they can impact your gut and also your mental health. 

But what are the symptoms that we need to look out for to be able to know if our gut is unhealthy?

Firstly, some of the main signs to look out for when knowing your gut health is bad are gas, bloating and stomach issues. Experiencing symptoms such as gas and bloating may be an indication that the bacteria in your gut aren’t breaking down the foods the way they should. Having random weight fluctuations can also be a sign of your gut being unbalanced, as the gut microbiome helps to break down the food in your system. If you’re experiencing unintentional weight loss or weight gain, this can be a result of a lack of diversity in your microbiome, however it’s always best to consult your GP at first instance if you’re experiencing extremes of these symptoms.

Other symptoms to look out for are fatigue, insomnia, skin issues; such as eczema, acne or psoriasis and changes in your mood such as experiencing moodiness, irritability and trouble with concentration. 

What Are The Foods That Can Impact Your Mood?

Get plenty of fibre in your diet

If you’re experiencing lots of anxiety and stress, this can cause your gut to slow down or speed up. 

Therefore, incorporating lots of fibre in your diet is a great way to encourage bowel movement and. This can help to reduce chances of experiencing anxiety, low mood and feeling stressed. The specific types of foods to look out for are wholegrains, oats, beans and surprisingly even avocados (which are particularly high in fibre).

Protein To Regulate Your Mood

Protein is full of amino acids which help your body feel fuller but also, they help to raid in recovery and muscle growth. However, amino acids are also very beneficial in regulating your thoughts and feelings, therefore getting plenty of meats, fish, eggs and beans e.t.c are great sources of protein that can help towards improving your cognitive health. 

A Fruit and Veg A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Vegetables and fruit contain lots of minerals and vitamins to help support your immune system as they are rich in nutrients. In Psychology Today, they reported that people who regularly ate fruits had lower levels of depression and improved mental well-being. Eating a range of fruits and vegetables is also perfect in encouraging positive bacteria to grow in your gut. 

Lay Off The Caffeine!

Everyone likes a morning coffee to give them the boost of energy they need. Some of us will have multiple in a day to stay focused on our daily tasks. Although, caffeine can massively affect your sleep and be a catalyst for causing feelings of anxiety and depression. Too much caffeine can affect the lining of your stomach and intestines due to how acidic coffee is which doesn’t make it the best component for boosting your gut health either. However, if you stick to a balanced diet and reduce the caffeine intake then this won’t have a negative effect on your gut health.      

Feed Your Gut Fermented Food

Fermented foods are full of plenty of benefits for not just your physical but your mental health as well. Foods such as kefir, kimchi and kombucha contain yeast and bacteria which help your body to break down foods helping to keep your gut clean and healthy. They also have been proven to help lower stress levels, and as well as exercise or trying meditation to practise mindfulness, our diets can have an impact on our mental health.