Did you know that your gut can tell you a lot about how you really feel right now? Our expert Sandra van Leeuwen, who trains Hormone Factor and who specializes in menopause, tells us about it based on an example from her own practice.
She enters my office with a big smile. She sits down, talking. Her breathing is high. She keeps talking. About how happy she is with husband and child. Something that at first seemed impossible, but was nevertheless successful. She tells about her parents and that there is no contact with them anymore. But everything is and feels good.
Read also Sandra's previous blog: 'From witch to fairy in 5 steps:this is how your cycle works'
The reason for her visit? The Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS. Something many women have to deal with. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, severe cramps, gas and a hard, swollen abdomen are symptoms. My client says that she lives and eats healthy, as is also apparent from the anamnesis form she completed.
During the two-hour consultation, she does not give any indication of what could be the cause of her complaints. In her own words, her life and lifestyle are perfect.
Fortunately, I do get information from her body language and appearance. And in between the lines she showed more than she might have wanted.
This woman is stressed. Chronic. She keeps her emotions and real thoughts to herself. But feelings want to be recognized and lived through. If you don't pay attention to this, the body will bring this to the surface via the physical way.
The autonomic nervous system consists of a parasympathetic and sympathetic part. One (sympathetic system) is our accelerator and the other (parasympathetic) acts as a brake. If these two are in balance, this means, among other things, that your body takes sufficient action and you then give it the space to recover.
The sympathetic part is the fight or flight mode. It ensures that we survive in acute danger and it acts completely beyond our will.
When the cause of the stress has disappeared, the production of the neurotransmitter endorphins ensures that the parasympathetic part becomes active again. We then feel good and relaxed again.
The sympathetic system has an inhibitory effect on digestion and the parasympathetic part has a stimulating effect. In addition, our digestive system has its own nervous system, also called the enteric nervous system. This is located in the wall of the stomach and intestines. From there there is a direct line to the brain. That is why the gut is also called the second brain.
In practice, this means that your diet and overall lifestyle have a major influence on how you feel and what you think.
Digestion starts even before you put anything in your mouth. Just think of something you really like. What is happening? Saliva is created in your mouth, which is rich in digestive enzymes. When you actually put something in your mouth and it mixes with the saliva, the digestion of the carbohydrates starts.
Food enters the stomach via the esophagus, after which the breakdown of proteins and fats also starts. One of the functions of the stomach is to kill any bacteria present.
If this first part of the process goes well and everything is neatly 'cut' into small food particles, it can enter the bloodstream through the intestinal wall for further energy supply to your body. The part that remains leaves the body via the large intestine.
For support, you can also include the following herbs in your diet:
Do you have problems with defecation and are you taking in enough fiber through your diet? Then you could temporarily use extra fiber in the form of psyllium or glucomannan.
Back to my client with IBS. She was disappointed in the plan of action. In addition to advice on nutrition, this also contained guidelines for more relaxation, exercise and further self-examination. Unfortunately, this was a step too far for her. She maintained the position that only an adjustment of her diet would make the complaints disappear.
Do you experience complaints that are related to IBS and do you want to get started? Start by making a food diary in which you also write down the moments of stress.
In addition, take a look at the things that really give you energy and what you need to relax. Then add this to your daily routine.
Sandra van Leeuwen is a Hormone Factor trainer and specialized in menopause. Her goal is to educate all women over the age of 40 about the transition and menopause. She gives workshops and retreats throughout the Netherlands. A healthy lifestyle is very important and that is why she would like to inspire and inform as many women as possible when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Sandra lives in Weesp with her husband and his children and also has her own practice there. More information can be found at sandravanleeuwen.com.
