13/03/2024
Stress is a part of everyday life, it is necessary to give us the drive we need to get things done.
However, when it comes to chronic stress, this is something that we have come all to familiar with as a part of a normal way of being.
Stress is defined as a strain or overexertion on our bodies, and our minds.
It is associated with feelings and actions we all know too well, the overwhelm, sleepless nights, excessive thinking, emotional releasing, outbursts, anger, frustration, helplessness, constant worry, nausea, panic and uncontrollable crying.
While these are all outward expressions of stress, it is also relevant to address the internalisations of it as well, for those whom tend to keep the feelings bottled up inside and perhaps not to show a physical exertion, and yet are just as effected by the underlying health issues this can have on the mind and body.
Stress has a huge impact on our physical and emotional body. It effects our gut flora and in turn therefore effects our mental well-being.
The microbiota in our guts are directly linked to our mental and emotional health. As our body breaks down the gut microbiome, it releases by products called metabolites. These metabolites, along with the microbiota, communicate with the brain via the vagus nerve.
When we have a healthy selection of microbiota in our guts then we can send healthy and harmonious messages to our brain.
However, if our gut flora has more of imbalance and therefore is dominated by a higher selection of dysbiotic flora, it can send stress signals to the brain and lead to emotional and mood disorders such as anxiety, stress and depression.
Which in turn leads to more dysbiotic gut flora, and the cycle continues.
