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I’ve spent a lot of time here talking about all the nutritional and physical ways to keep your glucose levels healthy and your insulin low.
Things like eating a whole foods, omnivorous diet with nutrient-dense meats, eggs, fish and veggies that keep blood sugar balanced and provide nutrients for building hormones and more.
Or how daily movement like walking, resistance training, running, swimming and even dancing help use up excess glucose and keep insulin levels in check.
But one aspect of metabolic health I haven’t covered a lot is how mental and emotional health affect, and are affected by, our metabolism and blood sugar.
It’s an aspect of our overall health and longevity that is often overlooked. Somehow, we see our mental health as separate from our physical health, and the two could not be MORE connected.
In short, our mental and emotional health affects our metabolic health, and our metabolic health affects our mental and emotional health.
Think about it: When you are stressed and anxious, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode. You prioritize survival, dumping glucose and hormones like adrenaline into your bloodstream so you can run away from the bear, and insulin spikes to keep fat where it is, in case it’s a long time until you eat again.
Now, imagine being stressed out and anxious all the time. Not only does your mental health suffer, but your glucose and insulin are constantly elevated and hormones get burned out.
Unfortunately, many of us are chronically stressed out.
But there are plenty of simple (and free!) ways to combat stress and switch off that “fight or flight” response.
One of the most powerful tools we have to deal with the impacts of stress is a community or tribe of people to share time with.
Humans are innately social creatures. Somehow, as connected as we all are, we are lonelier than ever. And it is deeply hurting our mental and emotional wellbeing.
Connecting with a community of like-minded folks, like say a book club, or maybe a fitness and running group, does magical things for our mental and emotional health, and that impacts our physical health, as well.
Those social bonds give us a sense of belonging, as our communities support us and help us feel less alone. Our neanderthal brains recognize this as safety, which switches off our “fight or flight” response.
When we feel safe, our bodies can down regulate stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, allow us to digest and absorb crucial nutrients and allow fat to be released for energy again.
This creates health. Mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Here's just a few of the ways you can find or create community:
Join a walking or fitness group
Start a book club or bible study
Volunteer at your child’s school
Join an OrangeTheory, F45 or CrossFit gym
Take a painting or ceramics class
Volunteer at a nonprofit
Find a local club that suits your interests
What do you do to maintain a community for yourself? Let me know!
Y’all, I hope this email got you thinking about how your mental health impacts your physical health, and vice versa. And I hope that if you don’t have a community already, you’ve got some ideas on how to find one.
My 6-month 1:1 coaching program is all about finding personalized ways to improve your mental and physical health, so you can live a long and vibrant life.
If that kind of help is something you need in your life right now, what are you waiting for?
Ready? Let’s go!
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