10/10/2025
When we’re stressed, our body doesn’t just 'feel anxious' it shifts into survival mode.
Cortisol rises, digestion slows, blood sugar fluctuates, and the gut microbiome, that intricate ecosystem influencing everything from mood to immunity, starts to change.
This is the gut–brain axis in action: a constant conversation between your digestive system and your nervous system.
🧠 When your mind is stressed, your gut feels it. You might notice bloating, appetite changes, or tightness in your stomach.
🌿 When your gut is inflamed or imbalanced, it sends signals back to the brain, exacerbating anxiety, fatigue, or low mood.
Over time, this two-way conversation can create a feedback loop of stress and inflammation unless we interrupt it with nourishment, rest, and regulation.
Here’s what helps to restore balance:
✨ Eat regularly and slowly - balanced meals, steady blood sugar, and signal safety to your nervous system. Slowing down aids digestion also.
✨ Prioritise anti-inflammatory foods – think omega-3s, colourful plants, herbs, and fibre.
✨ Support your gut microbes – fermented foods, prebiotics, and mindful eating all help.
✨ Regulate, don’t restrict – the goal isn’t perfection, it’s communication between mind and body.
This is what the Nourished Mind series is all about, exploring how mental health, hormones, and nutrition are deeply connected.
Follow along for more insights that bridge food, mood, and midlife.
