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Have you had butterflies in your stomach before a meeting at work? Ever made a decision based on your ‘gut feeling’? Do you get nauseous when you’re nervous?

Gut health and gut health products have been a recent fixture in the complementary and mainstream health care industry. In both of these industries, there have been plenty of fads and fake-outs that have been enough to turn some consumers into sceptics. As discerning consumers, we must ask ourselves why gut health is so important?

On face value, it’s easy to see the importance of gut health. The most vital part of what we do as humans is eat and digest food in order to receive nutrients so that we can keep our bodies going. Therefore, of course, we want our guts to work well. However, emerging science is suggesting a far deeper connection between our gut and our wellbeing than previously thought. In fact, this connection is being referred to as the gut-brain axis – a two-way link from bowel to behaviour.

Gut-Brain Axis

It has been scientifically established that there is a link between gut health and mental health, in such a way that your mental health can contribute to gastrointestinal issues such as IBS, bloating, stomach pain and more. In addition, new research indicates that gut health issues and imbalances themselves could also be contributing factors to mental issues such as stress, anxiety and depression.

This is due to the gut-brain axis, a two-way road for biochemical signals that will trigger a mental or physical response at either end. There are studies that suggest that an unhealthy gut microbiome can contribute to mental issues such as depression, anxiety, stress and more. 

The new research creates a chicken-and-egg sort of situation. If it is a two-way road, then what came first: the mental issues or the gut health issues? The science is still out on that one, but one thing is for sure, they have a correlating relationship, so keeping your gut health in check is vital to your mental health.

Keeping a Healthy Microbiome

So now that we know what the problem is – how do we fix it? 

Gut health and its mental and emotional counterparts largely come down to a healthy microbiome. The microbiome is the population of bacteria that lives in your gastrointestinal tract and plays an important role in a myriad of health issues from obesity, inflammatory skin disorders to many more. 

Probiotics, prebiotics and a healthy diet can rebalance your microbiome. Probiotic foods and supplements are full of live bacteria and include fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, kefir and apple cider vinegar.

Prebiotics ferment in the gut and include green bananas and artichokes. A healthy diet is also imperative, so cut down on the sugar and eat more greens.

If you would like further information, please come down and visit us at Wholelife Toowong and talk with one of our friendly staff – we have a range of everything you will need to get your gut going again!

Today, many people either suffer from chronic diseases or are about to suffer from chronic diseases. What’s commonly seen among these people is that they are not optimising their life by looking after themselves and preventing their health from going downhill. 

In Australia, for instance, coeliac disease affects more than 3 million people. These individuals suffer from instances of bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, low energy, skin problems and depression. A high percentage of these people are not managing their diet well.  

Most people are also guilty of not giving ample time to address their personal health issues. Most of the time, people are so time-poor that when they go to see the GP, they tend to look for a quick fix, rather than considering options that would make them feel better, not only for today but for a longer period of time. 

Research suggests that only a small percentage of ailments get discussed with a GP due to lack of time. Patients also go online to look for solutions. Internet research can sometimes provide insights and knowledge to help solve health issues, but there is so much misinformation online that this process is fraught with errors.

Eating Right for Holistic Health

A huge part of holistic health is eating right. That is why at WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods, we make sure that you take in only what’s beneficial to your health.  

Our pharmacy located at Jephson Street and Sherwood Road in Toowong provides traditional pharmaceutical items and prescriptions. But on top of this, the pharmacy is also filled with organic health foods, vitamins and organic skincare products. At our Healthfoods section, for example, you can scoop your own bunch of organic foods supplied by Naked Foods.

We take a holistic approach to our customers’ health through our large range of products. Take for example the three types of fibre – soluble, insoluble and resistant starch. At the pharmacy, we inform our customers about the differences between these three types of fibre and how they may benefit from a particular type according to their health needs, whether that be lowering cholesterol, regulating gut health or rebalancing the gut microflora.

WholeLife’s Bare Naked Bowls café, also located at the store, lets customers choose from a wide selection of superfoods. 

Every ingredient in the cafe’s food offerings has been selected for its health benefits, in keeping with WholeLife’s axiom that health starts from the inside. Wholefoods’ range of products helps prevent and fight many chronic conditions. 

Other Wholefood products that customers usually find beneficial for specific problems include:

·         Bone broth concentrate to help heal and seal the gut

·         Collagen to help with joint repair and conditioning

·         Slippery elm to soothe the digestive tract

·         Nutritional yeast to help with vitamin B deficiency

·         Organic oats to help reduce cholesterol

Gluten-free options are also in big demand as more and more people experience gluten intolerance. WholeLife has an extensive range of gluten-free products which includes Bob’s Red Mill, gluten-free pasta, gluten-free bake mixes, gluten-free cereals and gluten-free bread.

Taking a Holistic Perspective

When it comes to preventing and battling chronic diseases, a holistic approach is the best way to go. Holistic health has become a byword nowadays, but not many people truly understand what it is. 

The holistic approach takes the focus away from just the symptoms. With this perspective, we are concerned with the whole being of the person and not just a specific disease or a particular part of the body. In holistic health, we consider the body, mind and spirit as well as the way we interact with our physical and social environment so as to achieve maximum wellbeing. 

We are what eat — that is literally true. Sound nutrition is the cornerstone of healthy living. To optimum health, it is important to be mindful of what you eat. Regular exercise and good sleep are also essential parts of the holistic approach to healthy living. Of course, vices such as heavy drinking, smoking and drugs should be avoided completely. 

Being knowledgeable about holistic health helps us focus on how we interact with our environment and control how we live our lives so that we can have that optimum state of mind, body, and spirit to manage stress and have the energy to lead a happy, healthy, and productive life.