The Gut and Brain Connection To Midlife Emotional Health

You just may not know it yet, but this is very important to your well-being in midlife. This isn’t an idea, it’s actually a fact...

We have not one, but two brains. There’s the brain in our head of course, but there’s also the brain in our gut, and the two are very closely connected via the longest nerve in our body, the vagus nerve. The Gut Brain Connection is not only important to our physical health, but it’s also massively connected to our emotional health. So, on today’s episode of the Life after Kids Podcast, we're talking about our gut health, the gut and brain connection, and how what we feel in midlife can be related to more than just our emotions and our brain. We have so much to say about this. It's actually a huge topic, because the health of our gut impacts our mood and overall well-being. An unhappy gut makes for an unhappy person.

**Key Takeaways:**

1. The gut and brain are closely connected through the vagus nerve, and the health of the gut can impact our mood and overall well-being.

2. Friendly bacteria in the gut, known as the microbiome, play a crucial role in producing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that affect our mood.

3. Eating a variety of plant foods, consuming prebiotic fiber, and incorporating fermented foods into the diet can improve gut health.

4. Factors like excessive sugar consumption, alcohol, and antibiotics can harm the gut and disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria.

5. Managing stress and emotional well-being is essential for maintaining a healthy gut and overall health.

If you are gassy, bloated (especially after meals and at the end of the day), constipated, having diarrhea, or dealing with heart burn, it’s probably time to work on the health of your gut. Follow the tips above for help, and be sure to manage stress and emotional well-being. Listen to today’s episode of The Life after Kids Podcast to learn more about prioritizing gut health and the steps needed to improve digestion for overall health and longevity in midlife.
Timestamps:
0:00:00 | Introduction to the topic of gut health and the gut-brain connection
0:01:07 | The gut and brain are connected by the vagus nerve
0:03:00 | The importance of friendly bacteria in the gut
0:04:47 | The role of friendly bacteria in mood and neurotransmitter production
0:07:09 | Ways to rebuild and support a healthy gut microbiome
0:09:30 | The impact of stress, antibiotics, and sanitization on gut health
0:11:39 | The potential for a die-off reaction when improving gut health
0:14:04 | The connection between gut health and mental health
0:16:06 | The importance of good digestion for overall health
0:19:11 | The potential for food sensitivities to improve with gut healing
0:23:48 | Considerations for individuals with conditions like Crohn's disease
0:25:11 | Closing remarks and call to action

Enjoy the show, and we hope you learn a little bit more about living a fulfilling, vibrant, and meaningful Life after Kids!

If you like what you hear please rate and review the podcast, hit subscribe, and pass it along to a friend.

Making tomorrow even better than today,

Dr. Brooke and Dr. Lynne
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