We all know how hard the war with our mental health is, that’s why we’re here, on this website. But what you may not know is that the key to potentially winning the fight is already inside you, and not where you might think…

 

They say the key to man’s heart lies in his stomach… what if actually, it was the key to man’s brain? There is an abundance of evidence supporting that a change in diet can be a real help for people suffering with depression and anxiety. Of course, mental health isn’t the product of just bad diet, but, surely, there is no harm in trying? I’ve had my battles with mental health and changing my diet changed my life. I hope by reading this article I can make your journey that much easier.

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DIET, I hear you say?! How on earth can eating some leafy greens and not my delicious post gig burger change my life?! Now bear with me, I was once in your shoes…there are some phenomenal things that happen just by eating healthily, all scientifically backed and 100% tried and tested by, not only my friends and family, but millions of others. Just give it a google and you’ll be inundated with diet-driven success stories!

 

Without a doubt your stomach effects your brain and it’s home to two surprising residents you’ll definitely have heard of. They’re the most widely known helpers when it comes to feeling good and positive mood:

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Serotonin - 90% of Serotonin is created in the stomach.

Dopamine - about 50% of this guy is stored in your stomach too.

 

Not only do these chaps regulate mood they also help with muscle function, digestion, sleep and eating habits. In fact, if you have low levels of either of these guys, it can lead to a whole laundry list of issues:

-anxiety

-depression

-panic attacks

-insomnia

-obesity

-fibromyalgia

-eating disorders

-chronic pain

-migraines

…wait, let’s not forget negative/obsessive thoughts and behaviours, oh, AND low self-esteem being part of the equation too. I’ll bet anyone reading this can say they experience at least a couple of the things on that list, right?  

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So, if all it took to increase these happy-hormone levels even slightly and relieve all those symptoms was to choose veg over pizza… why wouldn’t we at least give it a go?

 

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How is it possible that all this happens in your stomach? …funny you should ask:

 

The stomach and all it’s wonder is usually referred to as your gut Microbiome: we’re talking good bacteria, fungi, yeast, protozoans and even friendly viruses!. The medical community are finally looking at the stomach, and all it’s amazing organisms, as being an organ in it’s own right, that is as essential to care for as your liver, kidneys or heart.

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So how does this thing way down in your belly affect the feelings that are, seemingly, in your head? Well, there is something called the ‘gut-brain-axis’. It’s exactly what is sounds like, the gut and the brain can talk to each other! Your gut has it’s own personal hotline to the brain (even popping over to say ‘hey’ to your Central Nervous System on the way). It’s lovingly named, with the catchy title: The ‘Enteric Nervous System’ (Rolls right off the tongue!)

 

The ENS has been referred to as your “second brain”, containing 200-600 million neurons which influence the activity of the digestive organs. They also queue up the production of digestive enzymes, mucus, stomach acid, and bile. Most importantly the ENS will send notes to your brain to slow down the usage of serotonin and dopamine if things are looking ropey in your stomach. Why would the ENS do that…well if you don’t have any more building blocks for ‘feel good’ hormones then it’s best not to use them up too quickly! Mr ENS says ‘Hey bud (your brain), put the brakes on feelin’ funky!! We aint gots no more juice!”. Your body just can’t go without vitamins and minerals and keep working properly, it’s scientifically impossible! It’s a simple example but I hope it demonstrates the clear link between how a lack of proper nutrition may affect your mind.

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Stomach health:

 

As you can see the microbiome (gut) is a pretty important piece of kit to keep in good working order! But especially considering that powerful link to the brain…if that factory is on strike, you’re gonna have some trouble getting the things you need for a healthy brain box. Looking after your stomach health is of great importance, after all, your stomach is processing all your food and then doling out the building blocks to keep you going. How on earth can we expect to feel great when we’ve got trouble digesting the food that keeps us alive?

 

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How do we get the gut back up and running at 100%?

 

It’s common sense really, and nothing you won’t have heard before, but when we’re in dark places, it’s easy to turn to food for comfort rather than health.

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- Sugar and refined carbohydrates: Yep. I know you don’t want to hear it, but these guys need to go. Sure, they make you feel good at the time, but those feelings are fleeting and temporary. The damage they cause is long-term. These are true villains which cause inflammation and that leads to utter chaos for your body and brain. Lots of these foods upset the delicate balance of the communities in your stomach and, as we’ve seen, the stomach is a super star, running the processes for a lot of things that’ll keep you feeling, and looking, good.

 

- Vegetables, some fruits, and whole foods: My goodness, these white knights will do you the world of good. They contain, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients and fibre, all essential to keep you functioning at your best. When your Mum told you to eat your veggies to help you grow up big and strong, she wasn’t kidding. Just be careful with your fruit intake, those natural sugars are satisfying but can still cause issues if you overdo it. (Pro tip: cook your veg with the skin on where you can for super-tastiness and a nutrient boost!)

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- Probiotics: A specific bacteria(s) to help encourage a healthy gut. Edge away from popular probiotic drinks that can be full of sugar and aim for things like asparagus, natural yoghurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha. No one knows the exact ingredients for a healthy gut; however, having a diet rich in probiotic foods seems like the way to go. These superheroes come in and promote harmony within your stomach, all the communities of (good) bacteria shall rejoice!

 

More specifically, Probiotics boost mood in two important ways:

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1.) GABA!!! Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a handsome and hunky amino acid, known to calm areas of the brain that are overactive in anxiety, panic and depression. Probiotics can enhance the brain receptors for this dreamy amino and also generate GABA itself!

 

2.) Promotion of Serotonin production and it’s effective usage. It has been shown that certain probiotics can be as effective as anti-depressants for some people! This finding is so impressive that the National Centre of Biotechnology Information and Harvard Health have looked into it too.

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I know it seems a little crazy that eating a great diet could benefit you so much… but trust me, the science is there and I challenge you to test it. I can GUARANTEE if you truly commit to smart eating, many, many areas of your life will change for the better, not just your mental health.

 

 

A bit about myself:

 

I’m Ash Stork and I’m lucky enough to play bass for a living.

Four years ago I was very different person: riddled with eczema, constant sinus pain, disturbed sleep, irritable, tired, short tempered… you get the idea, I was the best person to be around. However, I had learnt to cope reasonably well, as this was the story for my entire life. I constantly received questions and comments to the effect of;

“Dude are you ok?”

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Wow you look like how I feel”

What shortly followed was mild anxiety and depression… not surprising you’re thinking. All my ailments coupled with this social minefield of ‘caring insults’ was enough to make me dread going outside, let alone performing on stage.

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Nonetheless, as Oscar mentions, we love music and at the core of it all, that is what runs the motivation station. Sometimes we just need grab the right perspective.

 

Although all these troubles initially inhibited me, I am now thankful for them. I’ve learned more about physical and mental wellbeing than I ever thought to and my life is a radically different place because of these issues. On the face of it, they’re a complete negative…on second thought, they forced me to look at my diet. Without those ailments I’d never have achieved a life that leaves me feeling blessed just to wake up.

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Anxiety, depression, mood swings:

 

The eczema, sleep deprivation, tired eyes and allergies were one thing, I learned to live as best I could with those… the depression, anxiety and dark thoughts I was unable to tackle. No steroid cream, extra nap, layer of foundation or funny retort was going help what was happening in my head. After an aggressive eczema outbreak where I struggled to move, was a bloody mess and in tears: personally I felt the lowest I’d ever felt…something had to change.

 

‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ Albert Einstein

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I learned about my enemy (what makes eczema itchy, how does it form, what types are there, skin ph and irritation), only to find you actually need to treat it from the inside out. My skin was just a genetic weakness that happened to be a marker of an inflammatory and unhealthy diet. I had initially treated my condition topically with creams… then, after days of reading and research, I switched to a healthy diet.

 

THANK YOU POWERS THAT BE, HALLELUJAH!!!

 

As soon as I began a healthy, balanced diet and took care of my stomach, depression and anxiety just melted away. I mean they popped up their heads occasionally, but I could say to myself:

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“Hey, that’s the same dark thought I always have at 11.11pm on a Tuesday after a hard day… let’s not board that train, it just makes us feel bad.”

 

***Cycle stopped***

 

I have mental clarity, alertness, focus and, oh-my-days I’m so much, much, much happier. Just waking up, I can appreciate all the amazing things that I’ve been blessed with. On a down day I now have the emotionally stability to ask ‘why’ and apply more logical thought patterns to control the cycles. With all these new superpowers I was no longer running with my head down…I can look up and it feels glorious.

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Ash Stork