Fit as a Fiddle
The Spring Cure as the Ultimate Vitamin Turbo
Do you feel the same way? Are you looking forward to springtime, outdoor activities and the great outdoors, but are you feeling tired, lethargic and sluggish? We have some helpful tips to help you get out of your current slump quickly and easily. Already feeling great? Then a spring cleanse is still a good idea! This will give you an extra boost to be well prepared against external influences such as environmental toxins or stress (even in the form of anxiety).
Good Gut – All Good?
Hippocrates already knew: “All diseases begin in the intestines. So it is not surprising that the most famous physician of antiquity was also of the opinion that the gut is the father of all ailments. Modern science has proven that the gut and its microbiome are responsible for about 80% of our immune responses and that about 70% of our immune cells are located in our largest organ.
When our gut is out of sync, we usually notice it in many ways. From bloating, constipation, and diarrhea to serious health effects such as chronic disease. A well-maintained intestinal flora is therefore not only worth its weight in gold, but also the basis for our health and well-being.
The Good Mood, Bad Mood Intestine
Yes, you read that right!Many emotions originate in the intestine.Before you think, “What a nonsense!”, ask yourself why the vernacular speaks of “butterflies in the stomach” or “love goes through the stomach”? So listen to your “gut” and read and be amazed:
- The approximately 100 trillion living microorganisms in your gut create a subliminal mood carpet by constantly communicating via nerve connections, hormones and other messengers.
- Probiotic bacteria produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and GABA, among others, which have a massive influence on our mood. For example, GABA – an inhibitory neurotran smitter – calms our nerves and certain brain regions when they overreact due to negative stress, anxiety, depression or panic.
- Approximately 95% of the known mood enhancer serotonin comes from the gut, and the vagus nerve is the central link between the gut and the brain, with 80% of the nerve constantly engaged in this activity.
“Spring is when the soul thinks colorful again.”
It’s greening and blooming, our mood is clearly more positive and life feels lighter overall. But what is the reason that spring makes us exhilarated and happy? Certainly from several factors, because in addition to the warmer temperatures and the more abundant fauna, fresh fruit and summer vegetables also provide a lot of joy in our intestines. Because if our intestines are happy, we are automatically somehow also…
Eat Yourself Happy!
Life is like that: No Yin, no Yang! And that means: Unfortunately, there are also many intestinal bacteria that can influence moods such as anxiety or depression. In this case, our originally balanced intestinal flora may be upset, and yeasts and pathogenic bacteria may have increased. The result can be a condition called dysbiosis, which manifests itself as
- Leaky gut syndrome (leaky gut).
- Increased immune and inflammatory responses
- Increased anxiety and depression
The good news: The microbiome-in simple terms, our gut flora-is flexible and adapts to our nutritional situation. So you can easily and actively help your gut feel good again! How exactly do you do this? You probably already know: by eating more “good gut bacteria”. You could also simply say: Eat yourself happy!
Prebiotic and probiotic foods can help you do just that. While prebiotics – i.e. indigestible dietary fibers such as vegetables or our vitality product ColoSTABIL® – ensure that the bifidobacteria in particular feel at home in the gut, probiotics are living microorganisms. Prominent examples are lactic acid bacteria or yeasts, which are found mainly in lactic acid foods such as kefir, buttermilk or in lactic fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso or kombucha.
Off to the (Intestinal) Spring Clean
After all that health background, let’s get back to our original topic: the spring cleanse. Similar to the traditional cleaning of our four walls, the body is happy when we clean it internally. And this cleaning, also called “detoxification”, takes place mainly in our intestines. The effect after a successful detox: You feel more vital, fresher, and energized. A glowing complexion, a few pounds off, a good mood and a strengthening of the body’s defenses are all part of the picture. This is why many people like to practice the traditional “May potion”. This type of immune treatment dates back to the legendary 12th-century abbess Hildegard von Bingen, who in the Middle Ages already knew about the importance of the intestines and the beneficial effects of medicinal and bitter herbs. And so, from May to October, a special wormwood potion is drunk every third day in the morning to strengthen the vital forces.
However, as wormwood is not suitable for everyone, and as we believe that a spring cure should include other important aspects, we have put together some tips for you:
Listen to your gut and take care of it by…
- increasing your intake of fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables (note: these are usually purchased pasteurized and contain sugar).
- consume more bitter substances, as these already stimulate digestion in the mouth. The more you dislike the bitter substances at first, the more important they are! You can find them in chicory, radicchio, grapefruit, but also in our bitter herb aperitif HerbiGOLD. (Note: this also contains alcohol).
- avoid carbohydrates, junk food and sugar.
- eat more fiber or prebiotic foods. You can find detailed information in our article “Dietary fiber – why is it so important? Suitable foods are many types of vegetables or our ColoSTABIL®.
- drink plenty of good water or unsweetened herbal teas – stinging nettle or dandelion tea are helpful healing companions.
- go to bed on time and give your body enough sleep.
- take conscious breaks and relax, e.g. by walking in nature, meditating or practicing yoga.
- follow your urge to move. Don’t feel one or don’t feel like it? Don’t worry, the urge to exercise usually comes naturally with the program…if it takes a while, just “close your eyes and get moving” and get about 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. Brisk walking, hula-hooping, or biking are great ways to do this.
- laugh a lot…but it comes naturally – you’ll see.
We wish you success and a wonderful vital spring!