“For every positive change you make in your life, something else also changes for the better- it creates a chain reaction." Leon Brown
Housekeeping from last week...
PPI's and the whole realm of acid reflux is a popular topic apparently. In addition to discussing it last week in this newsletter, I had a couple tweets discussing acid reflux, PPI's, and how using diet and lifestyle changes has helped me curb usage.
Many of us found each other on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. If not and you're an X user, you can follow me at @jeffjamesalive. I follow a lot of wicked smart people in the gut microbiome circles that post some great stuff. Check it out if you're interested.
Reader Results
A short read this week with less visual distraction, but hopefully it helps to hear some of what I hear on a regular basis.
While no two stories are the same, it is incredibly beneficial to hear about the results others share. Making meaningful diet and lifestyle changes can be a challenging and lonely place at times.
You're miles ahead of many people for just starting to address your gut microbiome- don't forget that.
Weight- Easily the most common result I hear about is dropping some pounds early in the process of incorporating fermented foods AND fiber. The reason I say "AND" is because fiber is the half of the equation most beneficial to weight management.
While I think both are the recipe for lasting success, fiber-filled whole foods have a greater role in producing satiety that tells our brains "we are full". It provides a lot of mass with not a lot of calories generally speaking.
So, when the change is made from eating foods that have less nutrient density, less volume, and a higher "empty" calorie profile to foods that are the polar opposite, we see good results.
Blood Sugar- Being a diabetic and knowing a lot of diabetics, the subject of blood sugar comes up a lot. I'm not sure why this still surprises me, but I set out on this journey to fix my gut, not my blood sugar.
As I've mentioned on many occasions, there are exponentially more people that have or will likely have to deal with pre-diabetes or diabetes than colon cancer. And it shows in the feedback circles. I'm not shy about sharing my results with blood sugar management and I hear about it all the time from others.
I'm thankful for modern medicine and the ability to control blood sugar with incredible advancements in pharmacology, but there has not been a bigger impact from whole foods, fermented foods, and plenty of fiber than blood sugar management.
If this is not something you're familiar with, consider yourself lucky. If you are in the diabetic family, mercy, start eating like you are.
Energy Levels- This is something I talk about and I hear about frequently. I wish I had a little more science in my pedigree to explain it but energy levels increase when your diet is improved.
It's yet another testament to how much your gut microbiome influences so many other systems in your body. Resetting the bacterial balance by properly fueling your body pays dividends. It's the chain reaction effect mentioned in the quote- small changes start the process.
Feeling energized leads to more movement and activity. It's truly a chain reaction that is self-sustaining.
Improved Bowel Habits- I really try to tread lightly here because I know the subject is not something we're conditioned to discuss freely. "Jeff, how do you know this gut stuff is working?" Pay close attention to what you put in your body and pay closer attention to how things leave your body.
When you focus on improving your gut, you will see positive changes in the bathroom. Consistent, regular, and uneventful is how I describe it. I have had plenty of conversations with plenty of people about this area because I know how important it is.
There's something about facing the possibility of not having a functioning sewage system ever again, having a Ginsu knife temporarily sever the pipes, and cross your fingers that reattachment works, to completely strip away all inhibition about discussing this with others.
And I'm glad to report, gut health works. It has worked for me. And it has worked for many others.
Mood- This closely follows the "energy" effect. I have made huge strides in understanding the gut-brain axis and how fixing your gut has a huge impact on mental health. I don't want to get in the weeds here or get too philosophical, but people feel better when they fix their guts.
It stands to reason that if the chain reaction is in full force, when we change the way we eat, we shed unwanted weight or manage our weight better, have more energy, control blood sugar if applicable, and feel like we can use the bathroom more as an afterthought than an ordeal, our mood WILL BE better.
I don't have the qualifications to provide counseling, but I'm a damn good listener and I hear it a lot. Fix your gut and you will fix a lot, your mood especially.
Wrap Up
Are we a bunch of Lazarus's now...we were blind but now with good guts we can see?
Hardly.
But you need to keep one thing in mind.
You will see positive changes by fixing your gut. The degree and length of time you get to enjoy these improvements will vary. But you control that. Just as no two stories are the same, effort levels and commitment will vary too.
Remember what you did to see the first bit of success. And repeat it. And when you stumble, get up and get after it again. A stumble just means you have the opportunity for a fresh start.
Next Week- Some of my favorite recipes or "mash ups" (recipes sound too formal) I can throw stuff together quickly that is quite a gut punch.
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
