Going with my Gut: Learning with Renew Life (Part 1)

Do you know what a microbiome is?

I didn’t!

Which is mad, because it’s responsible for SO MUCH of our wellbeing, both physically and mentally. So I’ll try and break down what it is, for people like me who weren’t very good at science in school and couldn’t even tie their science aprons properly.

We have microbiota. These are a collection of microbes that live in and on the human body. To simplify it for us a bit, here are good ones (like what we call ‘good bacteria’ that aid digestion) and there are bad ones (like the ones that spread disease).

Our microbiome is the complete set of genes within these microbes. These genes have a huge influence on how our body operates.

People! We are 10% human and 90% bacteria!! (the microbes).

Some things my body is grateful for in modern life: central heating. Not facing the prospect of limb amputation with a saw and without anaesthetic. Safe, clean water at any time I want it.

But elements of modern life have negatively affected our microbiomes, too. I’m sure we’re all aware that antibiotics can kill off the ‘good’ bacteria as well as the bad, leaving us with imbalances (e.g. I got terrible candida after years of acne antibiotics). Many of our environments are so sterile, thanks to Mr Muscle, that we have less resistance to bugs (kids that grow up on farms, surrounded by animals muck, tend to be healthier!).

Our lifestyles are having a big effect on mental and physical health. We’re SO stressed! We don’t give ourselves any time to repair and rest as so many of us are on the go 24/7, worried about work and triggered by blue lights from screens. Our coping mechanisms, like reaching for the sugary snacks, alcohol or cigarettes really affect the balance of our gut. And when you bear in mind that 90% of seratonin is made in the gut, you can really see how our minds and bodies are so connected.

A really helpful thing to think is to consider your gut as your second brain. Really care for it so it can look after your overall well-being.

I learned all this whilst on an incredible press trip with Renew Life (thanks as always to my Fluorescent PR ladies). We were learning the natural ways to care for gut: yoga with lots of twists, eating saurkraut and other fermented foods that are rich in good bacteria, kombucha (fizzy drink rich in probiotics, careful, makes you burp) and breathing deep into your body and noticing where you hold tension.

Yoga from a drone!

For me, it was a big wake up call. As you all know, I’d had a difficult start to my 2017 with emotional stress, grief and illness and this coincided with a huge influx of demanding work. I was worn down in every way possible.

I left Ibiza determined to instil good practice, take a shot of aloe followed by kombucha first thing every monring, take my probiotics, meditate for ten minutes every morning and make my own saurkraut.

Sadly a pony isn’t one of my life options.

It didn’t happen.

Are you like me? Full of good intentions that get swept to the side as life hits you with a neverending barrage? If so, sometimes you need to not be so down on yourself for failing and let all those good intentions settle down like feathers on a gentle breeze. This press trip was nearly 6 months ago and, while I’m not a gloriously serene, glowing Goddess of gut health, I’ll tell you where I’m at now.

1) I’ve started my Renew Life trial.

Dr Sara Celik, a naturopathic doctor and spokesperson for Renew Life, said I needed to take time for myself to heal, but to also try their First Cleanse followed by their Liver Detox pack, alongside their ‘Ultimate Flora Women’s Complete Probiotic‘. This is to help regulate all of my hormone imbalances, but I’m still on the trial so I will save that for another post.

However what I found interesting was that I waited for ages to actually start. I was on a trial with another probiotic at the time, but I still waited for months. I was either dilly dallying because I was reluctant to really get better, or I was waiting til I could do it properly and notice the benefits. I think the latter.

2) I’m no Maharishi, but I’m really trying with the meditation.

I was very good at doing my ten minutes in the morning at first, but then it just…Fell by the wayside, as always. But instead of thinking ‘well, that’s done with,’ I pick it up when I feel ready to again. Like I used to be with food, really. I’d go on a crazy diet and exercise regime, have a weekend off then think ‘that’s it, I’m off the wagon, I will have to wait until I can get back in the zone.’

So now, sometimes I’ll do ten mins a day for a week. Other times I might do it once, half heartedly. And sometimes I go to a yoga class and that’s my only time for quiet time that day. BUT the intention is there, and it’s like I’m adapting it to my life rather than vice versa. Not the way it should be done, probably, but it’s my way.

Meditation is great for settling an over-busy mind and, apart from slowing down my stressy heartrate and regulating my breathing (fab for the gut), it really helps my productivity.

3) I have my appetite back! And I’m trying to fill it with great stuff.

I just lost my appetite, got really thin, had constant nausea, skipped meals and went for what I could stomach: salty crisps, bread, sugar. I knew it was bad, but I needed some energy.

I will do a more detailed post on this, but actually one can feel ‘too thin’. Sure it’s great to feel toned and like your ideal size, but mentally I felt like I took up less space, had less energy and looked old and gaunt (boo!).

I have made sure to take time alone to enforce my own eating habits, with healthy stews, iron-rich foods, lots of leafy greens and a bit less sugar (I fail at this a lot). It was Sara who inspired this: I want to feel grounded and like I’m really caring for myself, and taking the time to plan, shop and cook for myself helps that grounding.

4) I’m trying to slow down.

I want to constantly see people, go to dance classes every evening, and fit in a yoga class if I have a break between castings/meetings. But you know what I’m often doing? I’m often going home and vegging. It’s cold. London is stressful. I’m catching up on the rest I didn’t get last year.

Busy-ness isn’t that amazing. Quiet time is good, too. Again, I’m actually more productive this way!

I was surrounded by super-inspiring women like Jessica Ward, Fab Giavonetti and Rozanna Purcell

5) I’m setting myself small goals to achieve.

My boyfriend, Andrew, is super duper tidy. Me…I am not. I am messy. I leave the bed unmade, I put things on shelves and surfaces until they are totally full and then I find a new one to fill. I want to be like Andrew.

I can’t change overnight, but setting smaller goals like making the bed and folding up my sleep T shirt on the pillow, making sure I haven’t left washing to do for later and putting clothes away rather than draping them on chairs has actually made me feel really good about myself. Like a grown up!

So what do all of these have to do with my gut? I’m reducing stress because I’m more organised, less overloaded, more realistic about what I can achieve and checking in with myself more. I have fewer spikes in my energy because of my food, made from scratch, suited to my body type.

I guess what Ibiza taught me to do is to say no, both to other people and to the nagging voice in my head that says I’m not doing or achieving enough. I have been going with my gut more, and it’s treating me much better now that I’m respecting it’s needs so much more.

In part 2 you can read how Renew Life TOTALLY changed my friend’s gut health.

Rebecca xx

To find out more, head to renewlife.com.uk