Whanganui nutrition consultant Cindy Munn is setting her sights on raising awareness about the importance of gut health and its link to all aspects of wellbeing.
Cindy was previously a teacher in New Zealand, Singapore and Melbourne, and saw first-hand the link between the lunchbox and learning outcomes, and betweenher own diet and levels of health and energy.
Retraining as a clinical nutritionist with the Naturopathic College of New Zealand, Cindy now works with groups and individuals to establish excellent nutrition foundations for good health.
Cindy explains that gut health, and the microbiome, are inextricably linked to brain health, the immune system and our ability to digest and absorb all the nutrients required to maintain health.
The gut, or gastro-intestinal system, is often referred to as the second brain, because it contains as many neurons as the spinal cord and is communicating with the brain all the time. We feel a lot of things through our gut, interpreting our external and internal worlds via the hormones and chemical messages we are receiving from our gut to our brains. A surprising fact is that about 95 per cent of our serotonin is produced in the gut, and so our ability to feel good, and have steady moods, is directly influenced by our gut health.
With all the stressors of this busy and polluted planet, Cindy says, it is easy for our health to be compromised by toxins, poor diet and stress. These are causes of gut dysbiosis and inflammation, which in turn can lead to health issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, leaky gut, anxiety, depression, foggy thinking and fatigue. There can be a cascade effect when important nutrients are missing, or nutrients are unable to be utilised because the gut is inflamed and not functioning well. Cindy likens this to an orchestra; when all the instruments are working in harmony the music is uplifting and pleasurable, but that one out of tune violin can make the whole experience horrible.
The good news is that there are many simple and effective ways to improve gut health, and health in general. The closer your food is to its original state, the more nutrient dense it will be, and the tastier it will be too. Vegetables are your greatest allies, and bought fresh in season, are inexpensive and nourishing. Ferments, such as sauerkraut, can help replenish gut bacteria and aid digestion. Cindy is running a second informative and fun seminar on gut health (the first was sold out), where she will explain important principles about gut health, and will demonstrate how to simply and cheaply make the ferments sauerkraut and rejuvelac.
Your Pathway to Health is through your Gut! Seminar being held at The Brick House, 72 St Hill St, Wednesday, July 19, 5.30pm-7pm. Tickets $10, are available through Eventbrite, or text or call Cindy on 0221077525 or pay at the door.
