Yesterday I shared I am reading a book I picked up by Mayo Clinic Press titled, “Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain written by Partha Nandi, M.D.. He is a gastroenterologist (GI), and clinical associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University. He utilizes a no-nonsense approach to health and wellness combining Eastern and Western techniques and philosophies.
Today I will share his Five Pillars which is beyond nutrition. He says, “Science supports the idea that we need to look at additional factors: movement, purpose, community, and spirituality.” We may need to focus on one factor more than another, the research shows together with nutrition each factor is connected to our gut health and we will discover it also is a link to brain health.
Nutrition – Microbiome research, and diagnostic tools are improving the detection of gut issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, reflux disease GERD, lactose intolerance, and digestive disorders in general. Medications, diet changes, and supplements can create balance. Refrain from sugar, refined flour, and fat. This website makes recommendations for foods to stay away from due to pesticides. Buy these organically if they are available in your community and you can afford them. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/20/dirty-dozen-2024-12-fruits-and-vegetables-with-the-most-pesticides.html
Movement – is intuitive for us. The more we exercise the healthier we tend to be. We do not need to run a marathon or extreme distances a daily twenty-minute walk is often enough. Because our muscles decrease as we age it is a good idea to do some resistance training such as yoga, stretching bands, or weights just enough to tax our muscles.
Purpose – What our purpose is does not matter as much as the fact that we have one because not living a purposeful life affects our brain. I retired in 2018 due to my physical and mental health conditions. It took me two years after retirement to find my purpose in life. I wanted to become a Certified Peer Specialist to help people with mental health and substance misuse conditions and stay on track with my Recovery. Five years later I have a website, written a book, do a daily blog, and facilitate a support group on Thursday evenings. If we have a positive sense of purpose we can reduce our cognitive decline due to mental health and aging.
Community – This includes our families, our neighborhood, and our circle of friends – Nandi says, “Those people with whom you celebrate, laugh, cry, and eat lunch. They are the ones you call for support and the ones who call on you for support. Research has shown that the people with the strongest social bonds live the longest.”
Spirituality – Nandi says, “Spirituality is purpose and community turned inward. When we have a spiritual life, we are never alone. What does that look like for (us)? It may be a connection with a temple, a mosque, a church, or nature.” Spiritual practice diminishes the impact of stress on our lives. I attended high school at a four-year catholic seminary. This experience gave me the roots I have today. My wife and I enjoy growing and developing our relationship with Christ through all the activities we engage in with our church community.
Nandi states, “I call the people who frame their lives using the Five Pillars health heroes.” Health heroes make body, mind, and spirit their priority, often because of an experience with illness.”
What do we think about his Five Pillars? How are we practicing these gut and brain principles? I welcome your thoughts ljw@superhumanbeing.net
SuperHuman Being
Peace
Larry
email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net
website: https://superhumanbeing.net/