I love teaching children and teens about health and wellness.  Nutrition and how it relates to our mental wellness is one of my favorite topics!  I love reading and learning about this important area of research.

We often think about the value of a healthy diet and how it affects us physically.  Not only should we focus on the impact food has on our body but now we know it affects our overall well-being.  The food we eat has an impact on our mental wellness.  This can even include how we experience anxiety and depression.

There is also more information about the connection between our gut health and our mental health.  The gut is often referred to as the second brain.  Did you know that 90% of all serotonin (the hormone nicknamed the “happy hormone”) is produced in our digestive system? That’s amazing!  Physical symptoms of stress and anxiety can often be experienced in our gut. (Anyone ever experienced “butterflies” in their stomach?!)