Gut Health and Stress Management for Weight Loss

When working with others, I often hear frustrations around the inability to lose weight, bloating, anxiety, GI problems and more.  There are many possible contributing factors but there are some important variables that I want to shine light upon.

Let’s take a step back first and think about everything we’ve been through over the past year and a half. We’ve lived through a pandemic and a time where many were isolated, separated from their families and communities, stress was heightened and many consumed food and alcohol in larger portions.  The stress alone is enough to greatly impact the body and mind.  There isn’t one person who hasn’t been impacted by this time, so if you’re feeling alone, you’re not.

Today I am going to shine light on two important parts of the body- the gut and liver.  Are you wondering what your liver has to do with your gut? It’s ALL connected, believe it or not.

Bacteria flourishes throughout the body, not just in the gut.

The human microbiome is what we call all of the gut flora plus all of their metabolites throughout the body. I am sure you’ve heard about the role that the microbiome plays in your gut health. It also plays a part in your liver health. When there is too much bad bacteria in the body, we can experience inflammation and an imbalance in the gut.

When the body is inflamed and experiencing a toxic load, it can easily carry around an added 7-10 pounds (more or less) that may be hard to release when it’s in a stressed and inflamed state. 

That imbalance and inflammation can also impact  the liver, since they’re ALL connected. Inflammation in the liver means difficulty detoxifying and insulin resistance. This is one of the main reasons why we see resistant weight loss — an overburdened liver and microbiome imbalance which puts the body into fight or flight- a chronic state of stress. A stressed body is an inflamed body. A stressed body is going to focus on survival, not weight loss, not reproduction… survival.

It’s important for us to nourish our body and be mindful of the stress levels that we are living with on a daily basis.

Good digestion and a healthy microbiome are essential to your overall health.

Without a strong digestive process, your body cannot assimilate nutrients or properly excrete waste. If you suffer from gut issues such as IBS, constipation, acid reflux, digestive distress, or hormonal imbalance, then adding probiotics and cultured foods/drinks may help to restore your gut health.

We also know about the Gut-Brain axis or the Gut-Brain Connection.  Mood, sleep and memory can be impaired by bacterial imbalance and can be supported by probiotics. Personally, I take Axis TreBiotic (pre-, pro- and post-biotics) and Pure Collagen to nourish my microbiome and gut lining. To learn more: Axis TreBiotic

Furthermore, immunity is impacted by bacteria. 80% of our immune system stems from specialized cells in the intestinal lining (GALT cells). Without enough good bacteria, the lining of the intestines can be weakened, and those cells can suffer.

Trusted Sources of Probiotics Include:

  • Cultured vegetables (sauerkraut is my favorite), which also support weight loss, reduce sugar cravings, and help avoid constipation. I suggest starting with two tablespoons of cultured vegetables each meal and slowly increasing by one tablespoon until you reach 1⁄4 cup at each meal.
  • Inner-Eco Probiotic Drink (my favorite store-bought option as it contains an average of 100 billion active probiotic cultures per serving)
  • Coconut water kefir—homemade or store-bought (Kevita)
  • Coconut, goat or almond milk, or any unsweetened and dairy-free yogurt
  • Coconut milk kefir or any non-dairy kefir
  • Grass fed bone broth
  • Kombucha (although you may want to avoid kombucha if candida is present, as sugar is used in its fermentation process)

I suggest starting with a small amount of a cultured food, or one serving of a probiotic or TreBiotic daily. Slowly building your exposure to good bacteria can help bring your body back to balance. Too much too fast and you may experience a die-off of bad bacteria. That can cause headaches, diarrhea and some bloating. So, go slow and adjust based on how your body feels.

Also, consult your doctor or trusted medical professional if you have specific medical concerns. While probiotics are generally regarded as safe, there are sometimes when it is not a good idea to introduce them. If you are working with a physician, just double-check if this is a good choice for you before you start anything new!

Reducing Stress for Optimal Health and Wellbeing: 

In addition to supporting the body with the above products, bringing a stressed body into a calmer state will help support it in many ways.  For me, I prefer grounding in nature, gardening, soaking up Vitamin D in the sunshine, reading or journaling, yoga and meditation.  Breath work is another incredible options for reducing stress in the body.  Breathing in through your nose for a count of six, hold for a count of four and exhale for a count of ten.  Repeat as often as desired.  You can do this seated or laying down.  Sometimes people find comfort placing one hand on their belly and another to their heart.  This breath work will provide oxygen to the brain and will help to reduce stress in the body.

Whatever your goals, reducing stress, nourishing your liver and supporting your gut will greatly benefit your health and overall wellbeing. 

A loving reminder that we all have a unique bio-individual blueprint.  It’s important (and also empowering) to discover what supports you individually.  If you’re still trying to discover what works for your unique beautiful being, I welcome you to connect and schedule a Free Discovery Session: https://kimwilson.me/contact/

Together we rise, 
Kim