Focus on mental health and gut health
Tania Gustafson
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered our lives in countless ways, upending daily routines, social interactions, and especially our overall health and wellness.
While physical and mental health in North America was not at its best before the pandemic, it has certainly worsened since, as it emerges, becoming increasingly clear. Research shows a spike in overall negative mood states and a decline in positive mood states, highlighting the urgent need for a holistic approach to health that includes not only the body but also the mind.
Even before the pandemic, the health and wellness industry was awash with widespread issues, primarily focused on weight loss. There is no disputing that, as a society, we are the fattest and most unhealthy we’ve ever been. Yet the calls to turn it around are driven not by health, but by social pressure, social media influencers, and the lucrative diet industry. This focus distracts from addressing all aspects of true health, including mental health. Have a casual conversation with anyone and you’ll hear the great need. Many were trapped in a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting, chronic stress, and poor mental health.
The pandemic has exacerbated these issues and created the worst of the health challenges. Lockdowns, social distancing, and the constant threat of disease have led to unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The World Health Organization reported a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide during the first year of the pandemic, highlighting a mental health crisis. Negative mood states such as fear, anger, and sadness have become more common, while positive mood states such as happiness, contentment, and hope have declined significantly.
As weight gain and lack of exercise have replaced anxiety, stress, and depression as top corporate concerns, employers are also realizing the importance of supporting their employees' mental health. Many companies have expanded their employee assistance programs to include mental health resources, mindfulness training, and stress management workshops. The rise in remote work has led businesses to explore new ways to foster a healthy work-life balance, recognizing that mental health is essential to productivity and overall job satisfaction.
The fitness industry is also undergoing a transformation. While physical exercise remains important, the focus has shifted from just losing weight to promoting overall health. Fitness apps and online platforms are offering classes that integrate mindfulness and mental health, such as yoga, meditation and breathwork. This holistic approach recognizes that physical activity is not just about aesthetics, but can also increase mental clarity, reduce stress and improve mood.
While these changes and adaptations are good, one of the most effective yet often overlooked aspects of addressing the root causes of mental health is gut health. The gut-brain connection is a well-established concept in medicine, highlighting the link between the digestive system and mental health. Gut health plays a key role in regulating mood, and studies have shown that a healthy gut microbiome can help reduce anxiety and depression. Probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir and fermented vegetables, combined with a fiber-rich diet, can support gut health, which in turn improves both physical and mental health.
With increasing emphasis on the relationship between diet and mental health, the growing popularity of “mood foods”, or foods known to boost mental health, reflects the recognition that nutrition plays a key role in maintaining mental health. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins have been highlighted for their benefits in fighting anxiety and depression. This approach goes beyond calorie counting and weight management to encourage a balanced, nutritious diet that supports both the body and mind.
Improving the quality of the food you consume is always a good starting point.
Depending on the state of your microbiome, food alone may not be enough to help you. Supplementing with the right prebiotics, probiotics, and phytobiotics that support the bacteria that help with mood, anxiety, sleep, focus, and more can definitely help you feel better.
Improvement.
The shift from weight to mental health marks a huge shift and shows the impact that mental health and gut health have on our overall health and wellbeing. This is not a head issue, it's a gut issue.
Repairing your gut microbiome, feeding the good bacteria and starving the bad bacteria, actually promotes an increase in positive mood states while simultaneously decreasing negative mood states: reducing anxiety, stress, depression, etc., and restoring vitality, energy, resilience, and an overall sense of well-being.
By continuing to prioritize our mental health and gut health, we can build a healthier, more resilient self, which will lead to a healthier, more resilient community and beyond.
For more ways to optimize your health, check out Tania's website at fuelignitethrive.com.
