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I’m going to ask you to do something a little strange right now. Ready? I want you to imagine your favorite, most decadent thing to eat. Maybe it’s a thick slice of rich chocolate cake … a slice of pizza dripping with cheese, hot from a brick oven … a buttery lobster ... or how about a juicy burger?  Did your mouth start to water? You probably couldn’t tell, but your stomach actually started producing juices to digest those amazing foods.
If you ever doubted that if what you’re thinking about could have an impact on what happens in your gut … well, you just experienced the proof that it really does! And this brain-gut connection doesn’t only involve thoughts about food.
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Have you lost sleep over the past several weeks? A lot of people have – with all the uncertainty in the world with coronavirus concerns and everything related to it, it definitely can take its toll! I’ve got a blog post packed with sleep tips today – all tied in with something else that plays a big role in your health. It’s your gut … and it has a complicated relationship with the quality of your sleep. (Quick catch-up: Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria. Keeping the population of your “microbiome” in balance helps support your health & wellness, from your mood and brain to your heart and digestion!)  Sleep is a two-way street when it comes to gut health.Has the coronavirus pandemic made you feel nervous, worried, or on edge? You might have had an uneasy feeling in your belly over it – and that’s because a big part of your stress response happens inside your gut. And it actually can impact your health and wellness! That stress response comes from your secret “second brain” that resides in your digestive tract. It’s called your enteric nervous system.It’s made up of layers of cells (more than 100 million of them) that line your gastrointestinal tract, all the way from your esophagus to your rectum.  And what you eat can have a BIG impact on this entire system, and so can stress.
Your “secret brain” communicates directly back-and-forth with the brain in your head through the “gut-brain axis.” This axis is an incredibly complex system involving hormones, nerves, body fluids, your immune system and more. Here’s where it gets interesting … In the midst of the Coronavirus right now, having a strong and healthy immune system is more important than ever! There are steps you can take to make yourself healthier, and I’ve got a great series that focuses on a super important part of your immune health: your gut!  There has been a LOT of buzz about “gut health” lately … and for a very good reason.
Your gut health doesn’t affect just your digestion (although that’s super important) … but also your heart, your brain, your immune system, and even your mood. And with a global pandemic happening, it seems like a good time to focus even more on our overall wellness! You have about 100 trillion (!!!) microbes living in your gut right now. And there are about 1,000 different species of known gut bacteria.
This topic was in my queue for blog posts, but seems especially relevant in our current climate, with many people unsure of how concerned they need to be about the corona virus. Please understand that I'm not a doctor and am not giving medical advice. Please consult your doctor and use your own judgement to make any decisions about your health care!
Have you ever felt a sniffle coming on and wondered whether you should work out?
It can be so confusing to know if you should exercise if you’re feeling a bit under the weather. I’m going to explain a few rules of thumb, plus outline some easy things you can do to avoid spreading or catching any “bugs.”
Your body LOVES to move … right down to its smallest molecules! In fact, we’re wired for it … and your health depends on it. Here’s a shocking statistic for you: “In less than two generations, physical activity dropped by 20% in the U.K. and 32% in the U.S. In China, the drop is 45% in less than one generation.” - designedtomove.org  Over the next few weeks I’ll be talking about how important it really is to take care of your body and muscles … and this goes far beyond the results you see in the mirror when you workout!
Today, I’ve got a great mini-quiz to give yourself a check-up on how well you’re really doing with self-care ... and your answers may surprise you! February is all about the HEART. I mean, Valentine’s Day is tomorrow! Plus, in the US it also happens to be Heart Awareness month. As I've said before, it's really important to add our health into the equation of our success or lack thereof. With my High Performance Coaching clients we spend at least as much time on Energy that we do on Clarity, Influence, Courage, and Productivity. If you don't feel well, it's hard to perform well! Taking care of your heart is big...for everyone! Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States and in many other countries around the world, including Australia and major parts of Europe. Here’s another statistic that’s super shocking. According to the American Heart Association, about 80% of all cardiovascular disease can be prevented. EIGHTY PERCENT!!!!  That’s why this assessment is SO IMPORTANT.
Today I am going to share one of my FAVORITE GOAL-GETTING tactics with you! It’s perfect for you if you’ve set a BIG resolution for 2020 or even better, big dreams for the new decade. I’m talking about that big scary goal that’s lurking in the back of your mind ... … something huge, like running a marathon, dropping clothes sizes, becoming more “minimalist,” saving $$$ to buy/pay off a house or retire, or … well, you get the picture.  These are BIG GOALS that require a big commitment!
They can take time … energy … and a LOT of patience. Which can make them seem OVERWHELMING … which means it will likely be harder to keep your energy and motivation up! I have a trick when it comes to achieving those huge goals. Picture this for a second.... You’re at a holiday party. You’re surrounded by your family, friends, or coworkers and are having a great time. Drinks are flowing and food is everywhere. And it’s delicious. In fact, you’ve already indulged in some of your favorites, in moderation of course ;-)  But then your friend asks you to have another drink, and then someone else asks you to try that amazing casserole they made. Or maybe a plate of cookies has caught your eye. Even though you’re full, you can feel yourself about to give in to those temptations – and break the commitment you made with yourself not to over do it. Ever been there before? I know I have. Here’s something that can change EVERYTHING for you:This is one of my favorite times of the year, because it’s all about reflecting on what we are grateful for in our lives. Although, for the last four weeks I've been writing out five things I'm grateful for every single morning as part of my journaling routine. It definitely gets more press on this one day of the year! Taking the time to really FEEL gratitude is actually good for your health.  First of all, what is gratitude, exactly? |
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AuthorHi, I’m Crystal! If you'd like to access my Farmer's Market Friday posts from 2018, click here!
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