Start Healing from the Inside Out
Author: Dr. David Reed
Section: Health & Wellness
There’s a reason they call it a “gut feeling.”
Your digestive system is deeply connected to your mood, your memory, your immune function, and your mental clarity. If your stomach’s been off, your spirit probably has too.
When I sit with my patients — especially those dealing with anxiety, fatigue, or mood swings — I don’t just ask about their emotions. I ask about their digestion. Because the truth is, healing your gut can help heal your whole self.
Here’s where to start:
1. Ditch the Sugar Spiral
Sugar feeds bad gut bacteria, which can spike anxiety, cloud your thinking, and throw your energy levels into chaos. Cutting back — even for a few days — can reset your nervous system in real ways. Try swapping your usual sweetener with honey, fruit, or nothing at all. Then observe your sleep, your skin, and your stress levels.
2. Add Prebiotic Foods
You’ve heard of probiotics — but prebiotics are the real game changers. These are the fibers that actually feed your good gut bacteria and help them multiply. Think bananas, oats, onions, garlic, and flaxseeds. Try adding one prebiotic-rich food to every meal and see how your body responds.
3. Rethink Stress Like a Vital Sign
We check our blood pressure, our temperature, our weight. But what about stress?
Chronic stress shuts down digestion. If your body is in fight-or-flight, your gut goes quiet — and that silence causes chaos. Make stress management a daily practice: breathwork, slow walks, meditation, or journaling. No shame, no rules — just consistency.
4. Stop Eating on the Go
This one’s simple, but powerful. Digestion starts in the mouth — and when we eat distracted, we skip the first phase entirely. Sit down. Take a breath. Taste your food. Chew it fully. Let your body receive the nourishment you’re offering it.
5. Trust What Your Gut Is Telling You
If something feels off, listen. Bloating, brain fog, fatigue — those are all messages, not mistakes. Your gut is one of the most intelligent systems in your body. Tune in. Honor it. Feed it with intention.
Bonus Tip:
Try a short gut reset — 5 days of whole foods only:
- Brown rice, leafy greens, steamed vegetables, fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut, lots of water, and no processed sugar or alcohol.
It’s not a punishment. It’s a tune-up. And your second brain will thank you.
Your gut is where your body processes life.
So if you’re ready to feel clearer, calmer, and more centered —
start by healing from the inside out.
— Dr. David Reed, Health & Wellness Contributor
