since i became lactose intolerant a few years ago, i have slowly but steadily become more interested in my health and well-being. i'm not talking about weight loss. i'm interested in what i am putting into my body and its effects on my mood, my mind, and my digestion.
i don't feel i need to classify myself into any specific lifestyle whether it be vegan, raw, vegetarian, omnivore, etc. if i feel like eating a burger, i eat a burger. i do however avoid meat, dairy, and overly processed foods and try to eat mostly organic ingredients MOST of the time. i've got a long ways to go.
however, the past two months my german-italian boyfriend was visiting and all of a sudden my diet became centered around at least one carb or starch-heavy meal a day. pasta, rice, potato... you name it. pretty much anything we could put pesto on (he makes the best!!!).
i noticed i became very emotional, moody, and even irrational at times. not to mention anxious and stressed. i guess you could say i've been suffering from a form of depression. p has suffered from depression for many years. i started thinking a lot about holistic healing and natural ways to alter the mind and therefore the mood. our gut, as it turns out contains neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine, that alter our mood. it is technically known as the enteric nervous system and nicknamed the "second brain." basically, we can determine the state of our health and well-being by putting the right fuel into our gut or, eating things that we can easily digest.
typically around this time of year, i make a resolution in which i ADD something to my normal lifestyle. the past couple of years it's been travel. this year, i will be focusing on diet and documenting my moods and digestion.
here's a quick list of things i will be adding or increasing consumption of:
- cacao powder and maca powder (i love this recipe for breakfast with almond milk/nix the protein powder)
- bee pollen
- chia seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- coconut oil
- olive oil (the good stuff from the farmer's market!)
- spirulina
- chlorella
- omega 3's
- sauerkraut (YUM!!!!!)
- probiotics (i bought these and they seem to work very well for me)
- protein (eggs, nuts, smoked salmon, full fat greek yogurt)
- leafy greens
i don't like to make these resolutions about quitting anything, but obviously i will be avoiding white flour like the plague. i would also like to try switching substituting hot tea for my morning black coffee or almond milk latte. tea is also free and abundant at my office!
you can follow me on instagram @colbyreport #gutcheck14
ps. i'm not a dietician. i don't claim to be. i'm just a gal using google and listening to my gut.
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