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Key Takeaways The link between the state of your gut and that of your mental health should not be ignored. Your brain and your gut are in constant communication. Many issues that are associated with the brain originate in the gut. That’s why many issues throughout the body can be rectified by improving gut health. It is possible for the body to get stuck in a state of trauma. There are many strategies to help move through that. Many can actually be physical responses, such as breathwork and movement, in addition to more traditional therapy.   What if tending to your gut’s needs could improve the way your mind? People with anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction often blame their brains. Today, I talk to someone who has seen that the gut and the brain are more closely linked than many realize. By fixing their gut issues, many have been able to fix their brain issues too.   About Kari Natwick, RD Kari Natwick is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner. She uses an integrative and functional nutrition model in working with patients and specializes in gastrointestinal related disorders and eating disorders. Kari is trained in intuitive eating, is trauma-informed, and incorporates mindfulness-based approaches into her patients care.   The Gut-Brain Connection So much of every aspect of our health stems from the gut. This even includes issues that are normally associated with the brain. Kari has seen the undeniable link between the health of the gut and the health of the brain. By helping her patients tend to the needs of their gut, she has seen massive improvements with conditions ranging from anxiety to cognitive decline.   Physical Solutions for Mental Health Stress is likely one of the most common places that people experience issues related to the gut-brain axis. Kari suggests a number of tools to address this. In fact, certain breathing techniques to engage the parasympathetic nervous system to promote better gut health as well as mental wellbeing. One thing that Kari studies is the body’s response to trauma. During a traumatic experience, the body will go to a fight, flight, or freeze response. Kari has seen that there are numerous ways to help people move on from this. This can involve movement, breathing, and diet to help realign the gut-brain axis.  Have you experienced the gut-brain connection yourself? Tell me about it in the comments on the episode page!   Got a question you’d love to hear me answer on the show? Leave me a voice message here!   In This Episode What led Kari to explore her passion for the gut-brain connection [5:03] Why fixing the gut can help fix cognitive issues as well [8:05] What the gut-brain axis is and how it affects many parts of your wellbeing [10:00] What to look for to see you your gut is having problems [13:28] The role of diet in healing chronic health issues [18:10] Beating stress through breathing [22:28] The connection between gut health and trauma and strategies to help with it [30:40] Interventions to help support people with eating disorders [38:00] The five Rs for approaching gut issues [41:34]   Quotes “The gut is connected to so much. It’s really the seat of our health. It’s the most important component that really dictates who we are as a healthy person.” [6:49] “We’re not only going to heal and repair the gut, but we’re also going to be making gains in terms of addressing some of the issues that coincide with chronic disease. [17:20] “When you experience trauma, your body goes into a state of flight, fight, or freeze. Sometimes your body can get kind of stuck in that state.” [32:10]   Review Fed and Fearless on Apple Podcasts! Send a screenshot of your review to hello@lauraschoenfeldrd.com or send me a DM on Instagram and I’ll send you my Overcoming Undereating eBook. If you post your favorite episode in your Insta stories and tag me @LauraShoenfeldRD, I’ll also send you my 14-Day Calorie Challenge Recipe Guide!   Links The Nutrition Business Accelerator The Five Mistakes You’re Making with IBS - FREE GUIDE Find Kari Natwick online Follow Kari on Instagram The Center for Mind-Body Medicine Leave a review of Fed and Fearless! Sign Up For The Free Training: The 5 Secrets of Fearlessly Healthy Women of Faith Learn more about business coaching with me Got a question you’d love to hear me answer on the show? Leave me a voice message here! Join the Fed and Fearless Society on Facebook Follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest Podcast production a marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative