Gut Instinct

When observing the health of our bodies, it is important to consider the greater, external factors that play a major contribution.  In school I learned to call these things ‘primary food,’ which include interpersonal relationships, overall satisfaction with career, and spirituality.  It is a common misunderstanding to believe that the food you eat and exercise are primary elements of physical health; did you know that emotional health is perhaps more influential than the actual contents of consumption in your body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients?  The cells in our body respond to our mental process in very direct and powerful ways.

70% of the immune system resides within the digestive tract and stress is an underlying cause of 80%+ of all illness.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s no denying that you are what you eat.  Your thoughts, attitudes, and overall happiness are products of the how you choose to nourish your body.  Scientific evidence shows that emotions such as anger and aggression speed up the digestive process, while sadness and fear slow it down.  Negative emotions contribute to malabsorption of nutrients as well.  A lot of times people struggle with weight loss even when they are following strict diet and exercise routines.  This is usually because they are holding on to an experience of the past that is preventing them from moving forward, and out of fear and stress, the body does not respond the way we expect it to.   

There are a handful of areas in the world known as Blue Zones, all tropical, and all home to the world’s longest-living populations (Okinawa, Japan and Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula to name a few).  These areas are generally inhabited by small communities of manual laborers, who spend a lot of time outdoors, on their feet, and in close contact with family and friends.  They eat fresh, local, and seasonal foods, drink mineral rich water (which comes from its close proximity to the ocean), share religious beliefs, and participate in tradition.  It is believed that the health and longevity of these populations are achieved through lifestyle and relationships.  The people for the most part are happy and relaxed, and we should let it be an example to our own health as a population.


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