Food as Thy Medicine
There’s a phrase that many of us have heard time and time again, repeated to us like a broken record: “you are what you eat”. However, the phrase is a little inaccurate. It should be more like “IF YOU DON’T EAT THE RIGHT THINGS YOUR HEAD WILL HURT.” Ok, this is probably an exaggeration. But recent discoveries show that this phrase is a lot more true than you would think. As it turns out, certain nutrients, such as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12, play a vital role in maintaining the gut microbiota and keeping your brain healthy.
How exactly does an apple a day keep the doctor away?
How does eating gut healthy foods lead to improved nutritional psychiatry? Well, the gut microbiota contains trillions of microbes that all play a role in regulating the brain, which you can read more about on our blog. It’s pretty important for your health. And thus, it’s imperative to keep the gut microbiome diverse and healthy. Now you may be wondering, how exactly do you do that? Fortunately for you, just eating the right types of foods, rich in nutrients, can have a greater positive effect on your health than any medicine.
What kind of nutrients should I be looking for?
So what nutrients should we be adding to the roster? Recent studies highlight the crucial role of vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc in maintaining a healthy gut microbiota. Vitamin B12 is essential for the cellular metabolism of gut bacteria, helping them survive and thrive. It has also been found to restore gut microbiota balance and exert anti-inflammatory effects, which could potentially aid in stroke prevention.
Meanwhile, omega-3 fatty acids promote gut microbial diversity, strengthen the gut barrier, and reduce inflammation, supporting immune responses against infections and gut-related diseases. Not to be left out, zinc also plays a significant role by reducing inflammation, fortifying the intestinal barrier, and shifting the gut microbiome toward beneficial bacterial strains. Through this, these nutrients help prevent gut-related diseases so it can continue to do its job—making your brain (and the rest of your body) healthy and happy.
How do I get these nutrients?
Great question. Well, the main way of getting all of these vitamins and nutrients is through your diet. Fortunately, here at ABioMe, we have plenty of recipes and resources on our blog for you to check out. So keep eating those apples and having a healthy diet and the doctor will (hopefully) be very far away. And just know, a healthy, well-balanced diet is medicine greater than any fancy drug could offer.