#016: Is It Willpower, Or Is It Your Microbiome? Discussing The Foods & Lifestyle Habits That Are Effecting Our Gut Health On A Daily Basis - with Brigid Titgemeier

Gut Health is one of the major key factors we should all be becoming increasingly aware of when it comes to protecting our long-term health. We're only just beginning to understand, as a society, how intricately related the balance of our microbiome is to our mood, our energy and our immune system. In this episode: Antibiotics, processed foods, refined and artificial sugars, prescription medications, pesticides covering conventional produce & all of our community parks, living in sterile work and home environments, willpower & calorie counting, as well as the impact that a lack of exposure to the outdoors, fermented foods, pre-biotics and pro-biotics are all having on our long term health. According to Brigid Titgemeier, MSN, RD, LDN -  Food cravings aren't actually a willpower problem at all – she says it's actually a problem with the food environments that are being made available to us. Change your food "norms" - from what you believe to be acceptable, to what is actually nourishing and healing you. Within 3 days of changing your diet – you can alter the balance of your microbiome for better or worse. It's important to be cognizant of the relationship, because it truly has everything to do with the foods we're eating. Food provides us with more than just nutrients, vitamins and minerals – it's also providing the potential to feed or starve certain bacteria living within our digestive tract - which therefore triggers a cascade of signals that are sent out based on the size of the colonies and the chemical messages released from the bacteria living within us. Actionable Takeaways from This Conversation: Really focus in and begin paying even closer attention to what you're eating on a daily basis If it's in a package – take a second & turn it around to read the ingredient label. If there are more chemical ingredients than there are real food ingredients – you should consider not eating it, or at least not buying it again Increase the variety of the fruits and vegetables you're eating – more color. Eat the rainbow. Pay attention to the colors on your plate. Manage your stress . it's wreaking havoc on our digestive system, microbiome balance, food cravings and long term health outcomes Make changes in your life to decrease external stressors and chemical exposures wherever possible Get outside & get exposed to your outdoor environment Find a hiking trail, explore a nearby park, book a trip to somewhere new Switch up your cleaning products to something less toxic. The less chemicals you're exposed to on a daily basis, the stronger your microbiome will be.   It's no longer just about sugar and alcohol and calorie counting. We need to be informed. We need to be aware. We need to be motivated to nourish and fuel our bodies with the best options available to us and decrease our exposures to the harmful things within our control. Join me this Saturday - Nobvember 17th for a Healthy Holidays & Wellness Workshop at Prana: REGISTER HERE -Briana Reesing & Brigid Titgemeier -   Questions? Comments? Ideas for future Episodes? Reach Out! additional resources & extended show notes available at: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode016 EVENTS & UPDATES: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/events & Direct Messages always welcomed @CriticalConversations