“Sometimes it’s the biggest smiles hiding the deepest secrets, the prettiest eyes that have cried the most tears, and the kindest hearts that have felt the most pain.” 

It’s MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK here in NZ and this is a topic that is so very near and dear to my heart. However, it is not talked about all that often… so I am here to change that! 

Having lost people around me to mental illness, experienced mental health issues myself and working in the wellness industry, it is actually far more common than people think. 

It literally breaks my heart to see and hear some of the pain and stories that people tell me or are going through, and so often I think we can become so consumed with our own lives it can be easy to forget to check in with those we love the most. 

Part of my mission and purpose on this earth is to help others heal, and this is often deeper than just the physical level, it can come in the form of self-love, self-worth, healing childhood wounds, or battles with anxiety, or depression.

New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and many would argue that we live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. 

Whilst I am not here to speculate, I know the impact of the lockdowns, social distancing, and just 2020 in general has taken its toll on people. 

In fact, it has been reported 1 in 5 people have thought about committing suicide in the past few months in New Zealand. So it is impacting far more of us than you may think. 

I personally battled with mild anxiety, I was also in a state of such poor health in terms of my gut, and lack of self-worth that did lead me down a rather dark path of thoughts in my mind. 

I was fortunate enough to be made aware of what was actually going on in my body to do the healing work, and had the love and support of those around me that things began to shift. 

My journey however, is incredibly light compared to what I have witnessed, and experienced with those around me. I see clients on anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety medication come to me on a daily basis. 

This is what breaks my heart! 

When I first started studying nutrition, I had no idea the impact food had on our mental state, nor the link between gut health and mental health! 

Through my own journey of healing my gut, and taking my clients through the same processes, it has been so beautiful to witness the shifts mentally! 

I’ve had clients come off anti-anxiety medication and antidepressants, turn their lives around, and change the way they look at themselves and the world by healing what was going on inside (and not just in the mind)! 

Did you know that up to 95% (depending which study you read), of your serotonin a.k.a. your happiness or feel good hormone is produced in your gut!!

Serotonin is actually a natural antidepressant! However, it is naturally depleted by things such as recreational drugs and alcohol, as well as having an imbalance of your gut microbiome (good and bad bacteria). 

So, if your gut isn’t happy and healthy and able to produce serotonin, it’s going to have a negative impact on your mental state, not just your physical health! 

In fact, your gut actually acts like a second brain (they are even made up of the same tissue!)

The brain and gut are connected and also communicate through something called the VAGUS NERVE which relays messages about our physical and mental well-being between the two! 

Crazy right! 

Your diet and lifestyle choices play far more of a role in your mental health than you may have ever considered. The great news is, it’s never too late to start making gentle shifts and changes feel better from the inside out!