GritWell

Thank you so much for your recommendation Laura, your dedication and grit inspires us. Thank you for sharing in hopes to spread the word and help others!

As explained in a previous post, there is a major link between your gut microbiome and mood. Taking care of your gut microbiome can drastically improve your mood and your health overall. The chemical messages passed between the gut and the brain are greatly affected by bacteria, fungi, and toxins that live in the gut microbiome. It is important to be aware of gut offenders and ways to support your gut microbiome because we are exposed to more toxins in our food and water systems today than ever before (damaging our microbiome and contributing to a very sick population). Here are some ways to support your gut microbiome, in turn improving your mental health and mood. #guthealth #mentalhealthawareness #microbiome #holistichealth #functionalmedicine

Prebiotics are forms of dietary fiber that feed the friendly bacteria in your gut, helping the gut bacteria produce nutrients for your colon cells and lead to healthier digestive system. Prebiotic foods are also known to improve metabolic health and even help prevent certain diseases. Some healthy prebiotic foods include: garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, barley, oats, apples, cocoa, flaxseeds, jicama root, and seaweed. #prebiotics #guthealth #holistichealth #functionalmedicine

In the past few months we have been overwhelmed by the number of women and men who have come to us with multiple chronic symptoms. These patients have seen several doctors/specialists, tried multiple supplements and diets, but have still found no relief. We are here to guide you to the right level of care whether you are looking for lasting relief for your migraines, or want to prevent the advancement of an autoimmune disease. Our mission here at GritWell is to shift the focus of healthcare from the symptom to the root cause, empowering patients to understand why they are sick in the first place. #holistichealth #chronicillness #functionalmedicine

There is a major link between gut health and mental health. Research has indicated that the gut directly affects the brain through the gut-brain axis. Internal medicine physician Dr. Austin Perlmutter explains how the gut-brain connection transmits critical data between the GI tract and the brain, and how inflammation is one of the biggest links between the gut and one’s mood. Our gut plays a major role in determining levels of inflammation throughout our bodies, and inflamm...ation in the brain can contribute to depression and anxiety. Depression is actually rarely due to a direct emotional cause; instead it is known to develop when the frontal lobes of the brain do not fire properly ldue to inflammation in the brain. Some ways to support your gut health (and in turn mood) include eating gut friendly foods (i.e. fermented foods, anti-inflammatory foods), taking supplements to strengthen the gut lining, avoid gut offenders such as excessive use of antibiotics, processed foods, toxins and managing stress. #guthealth #holistichealth #functionalmedicine #brainhealth #mentalhealth

Although there is no definitive answer as to why far more women than men have autoimmune diseases, we do know that hormones and inflammation play a major role, and in many cases estrogen can increase inflammation. As rheumatologist Dr. Bakewell explains, estrogen predisposes women to autoimmune diseases. Additionally, women have enhanced immune reactivity (compared to men) which makes them less susceptible to viral infections, but more susceptible to autoimmune diseases due... to their hyper- immune responses. There are also genetic influences and various life events--particularly high stress events such as pregnancy that can act as inflammatory triggers and contribute to the development of an autoimmune disease. For more on this, check out this nicely written article on intermountainhealthcare.org titled Why Women Have More Autoimmune Diseases.