***Can Intestinal Health Help Brain Function in Addiction Recovery ?

5 Tips for Intestinal Health to Help Improve Brain Function

Can intestinal health help brain function in addiction recovery ? It is easy to see why holistic practitioners urge their patients to make dietary changes, because more information is coming to light that shows a direct connection between intestinal health and brain function. Even though additional research is needed to determine exactly how the brain and gut are connected, there is no question that many people can benefit by improving their gut health. Whether you are working to overcome an addiction with holistic treatment methods or you want to increase your energy levels and improve your health, you should start your journey to better brain health by focusing on your gut.

Here are five tips that you can implement to improve your intestinal health, which will have a direct impact on your brain function:

Avoid Antibiotics Whenever Possible

There are certain medical situations when antibiotics can be used to save a person’s life, but too often doctors overprescribe antibiotics. The use of antibiotics wipes out the gut flora in your intestinal system, which has a domino effect on other aspects of your health. Don’t take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. If you need to use antibiotics, make sure to re-populate your gut with probiotics and fermented foods after you are done with the medication.

Eat Fermented Foods

Natural probiotics can be found within fermented foods, and these food sources provide the good bacteria that is needed for balancing your gut. These are a few healthy fermented foods that you should eat: unpasteurized yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchee, tempeh, kefir, apple cider vinegar, and any type of fermented vegetables.

Avoid Processed Foods

As you are adding fermented foods into your diet, you also need to eliminate processed foods at the same time. Processed sugar, gluten, preservatives, and other chemicals in our food can destroy the delicate balance of good flora in your gut.

Use a High Quality Supplement

One of the easiest ways to improve intestinal health is by using a probiotic supplement. Find a high quality brand, and use the supplement on a daily basis to boost your gut health. This is a simple habit because it only takes a minute to swallow down a few capsules every morning. It is important that you choose a high quality brand, because you need to make sure that the bacteria strains will be able to survive the acid in your stomach and make it to the intestinal tract.

Reduce Your Stress Levels

The connection between the gut and the brain is quite strong, and certain mental factors can impact your gut health. If you are experiencing a lot of stress, then the stress hormones can have a domino effect within the body which can impact your gut health. Use methods such as meditation, breathing, yoga, spending time outside, therapy, or anything else that you need to lower your stress levels and improve your gut health. These are a few examples of how Intestinal Health Help Brain Function in Addiction Recovery.

Here at The Sanctuary at Sedona, we understand that gut health is a key component to physical and mental healing. Our non 12 step holistic addiction recovery program teaches people the importance of eating healthy food and how to improve their gut health in order to positively impact brain functions. We also have a number of other holistic addiction recovery treatment methods that are used to overcome addiction. Contact us today to learn more about the treatment options that are available.