The Missing Piece That’s Holding You Back From Flare-Free Living
Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right on your journey with IBD, but you’re still spinning
your wheels getting nowhere fast?
You're eating all the right foods, taking your supplements religiously, and following your doctor's
orders to a tee. Yet, despite all your efforts, something still feels off. Oh yeah, I've been there too, and
I want you to hear something important from me– everything you’re doing is the right thing, but
sometimes it isn’t enough. There might just be a missing piece to your healing puzzle. A piece that
goes beyond what you put on your plate or pop in your mouth. It involves tapping into your higher
mindset, and it just might be the secret ingredient to unlocking true and lasting healing at the root
cause level.
And I know at this point, if you’re anything like me, you might be thinking that this term higher mindset
sounds like a bunch of woo-woo pseudoscience, mystical, magical thinking and that it has no basis in
your reality, but stick with me for a few minutes my friend. If this old science minded, show-me-the-
research gal can finally see the transformational power of a higher mindset on your physical health,
so can you.
Trust me, this topic is not fluffy and only for “those” kind of people. It’s big, bold and it has the power
to help you find the massive IBD transformation you’ve been searching for.
If you're ready to explore a new dimension of healing that goes beyond conventional approaches,
grab a cup of tea, cozy up, and let's dive into the life-changing power of a higher mindset.
There’s Actually Science Backing This Stuff Up
In a world where we're constantly bombarded with promises of quick fixes and magic pills, the idea of
incorporating a higher mindset or a mind/body approach into your gut healing regimen might seem
like a far-fetched notion. We're often conditioned to believe that healing begins and ends with what
we can see and touch – the medications we take and the gut healing foods we eat.
So let's start this convo by debunking the myth surrounding mind/body medicine. The fact is, it's not
some mystical, intangible concept reserved for yogis and meditation gurus. In fact, mind/body
medicine is rooted in scientific research, although you won't find it plastered on billboards or
advertised during commercial breaks. It's subtle, intuitive, and not easily measured – qualities that
often lead to its dismissal in favor of more tangible solutions. But make no mistake – your mindset is
just as important as the medication you take or the gut-healing foods you eat.
It's the missing link that bridges the gap between your physical and mental well-being, and
understanding its significance is key to unlocking the full potential of your healing journey with IBD.
It All Starts in The Vagus Nerve: Your Superhighway to Gut-Brain Communicator
Imagine the vagus nerve like your body having its own built-in Wi-Fi, connecting your gut and brain
seamlessly, transmitting signals in both directions like a super communication highway. This vital
nerve serves as the direct line of communication between your gut's enteric nervous system (ENS)
and your brain's central nervous system (CNS), playing a major role in regulating everything from
digestion to mood (yes, it’s that diverse– from eating to feeling!). It's like having a constant, silent chat
between your gut and brain, where they share updates and influence each other's thoughts,
functions, and emotions in real-time.
When you think about it, it’s actually really cool how advanced our bodies are.
I like to think of this complicated concept in really simple terms: a happy gut equals a happy brain,
and a happy brain equals a happy gut. This interconnectedness is why understanding the gut-brain
axis is so crucial, not just for our digestive health, but for our overall health and well being.
The vagus nerve, with its parasympathetic fibers, helps manage key gut functions like digestion,
motility, and inflammation. When it's stimulated, it can enhance digestion by ramping up the
production of stomach acid and enzymes, ensuring our bodies absorb nutrients efficiently. Plus, it has
an anti-inflammatory effect, calming down gut inflammation and promoting gut health. So, when we
talk about healing, it's not just about treating the symptoms – it's about nurturing this intricate
relationship between our gut and brain, recognizing that they work hand in hand to keep us healthy
and balanced.
Science-backed healing at its best.
Nurturing the Gut-Brain Connection to Overcome Challenges with IBD
We know our vagus nerve serves as the key player in the intricate communication system between
our gut and our brain, but when this connection becomes impaired, it can lead to a host of challenges
that disrupt our GI system.
One major issue that comes out of a vagus nerve impairment is damaged digestive enzyme
production, which can hinder proper digestion and nutrient absorption, leaving us at risk for
malnutrition. If you’ve seen what you recently ate in the toilet (instead of getting digested and
absorbed), you’ve definitely experienced issues with the absorption of key vitamins and minerals.
Same goes for fat. If it feels greasy when you wipe or you see oily spots in the toilet, you are
struggling to digest the high quality fats in your food.
Nutrient deficiencies like these are all too common with IBD.
And it doesn’t stop there. Irregular gut motility, influenced by the vagus nerve, can lead to
uncomfortable symptoms like constipation or diarrhea. The role the vagus nerve plays in what our
poop looks like in the toilet is something none of us think about, yet they are inextricably linked.
And let’s not forget about our gut microbiome. The vagus nerve helps maintain its balance, but
dysfunction within this super communication highway can result in dysbiosis, contributing to a range
of health issues and inflammation. This can lead us down a path of impaired immune response that
can further exacerbate our IBD symptoms and make us more susceptible to co-infections like
SIBO/SIFO (small intestinal bacterial/fungal overgrowth) and Candida.
The good news in all this vagus nerve/digestion dysfunction is that there's hope.
Just as a disconnect in the gut-brain connection can cause disruption and dis-sease, the opposite is
also true. Research shows that when we use mind/body medicine, we have the ability to strengthen
our gut-brain connection via the vagus nerve.
And there’s a multitude of ways to strengthen this connection.
Meditation is one way, but so often I hear from clients– “there’s no way I have the patience for
meditation.” That’s perfectly fine because meditation is only one way we can build a higher mindset.
Meditation is not for everyone. Mind/body techniques take many forms. And these techniques have
the power to reduce chronic inflammation, repair immune function, and enhance microbiome
diversity– all in the name of helping us overcome the challenges posed by IBD so we can reclaim our
health and our life.
From Poo-Poo to Woo-Woo Believer
Now maybe this all sounds promising to you– using the mental to impact the physical. But you’re
worried you don’t have the patience for all this mind/body stuff. And it’s just too time consuming for
not enough visible reward.
I get it.
Take heart in the fact that you’re not alone in feeling this way.
Before trying out a mind/body approach to gut healing, I didn’t want to find the time or patience for it
either. After all, I had a gut healing eating plan that was working, didn’t I? Well, it turns out that just
when I thought I was in permanent remission–that IBD was well behind me– I realized I was deluding
myself.
Let’s go back to 2008. Do you remember 2008?
Updating your Facebook status constantly.
Buying digital photo frames.
Keeping your Netflix DVD queue rolling.
Back in 2008, I was elated!
I had been through 20 years of pain and suffering. I had loads of experience navigating the labyrinth
of toxic medications and their nasty side effects. By then, I had endured the emotional and physical
scars of two bowel resections, but I finally found hope, health and peace. By shifting my eating away
from the standard American diet and moving toward targeted holistic supplements, my life took a turn
for the remarkable. I basked in a newfound vitality, crafting a business around helping others find their
IBD bliss. I even founded a successful grain-free granola company that dared to use nuts as the star
ingredient—a once forbidden food for so many of us with IBD. My scans mirrored my rejuvenation,
showing my IBD as undetectable.
Undetectable IBD! Something we all would die for.
Confident and seemingly invincible, I believed I had relegated IBD to a chapter in my past, not
knowing that more difficulties lay ahead for me just around the corner.
In 2018, my peaceful, healthy world came crashing down with a resurgence of gut challenges.
Significant scarring and a compromised intestinal wall due to past surgeries started the decline of my
charmed life. This period of time was also marred by profound emotional traumas—surviving a near-
fatal car accident, helping my son through a near fatal accident of his own, then the loss of my
beloved mother after a long battle with cancer… I began battling PTSD, anxiety, and depression and
it began to take a physical toll.
I was learning firsthand that the mind/body connection was strong, but I was paying no attention to it.
During this time, I thought all would be fine. In denial, I pressed on, still focused on eating well for my
IBD belly. But in doing so, by intently focusing on my physical well-being. Thinking that would be
enough, I was neglecting the profound toll these challenges were having on my emotional and
psychological health.
I was deluding myself that the ship would right itself.
In a rock-bottom state when the reality of my predicament finally hit me, it was a stark realization that
no amount of dietary vigilance, gut healing supplements, or having the best G.I. doctors by my side
could make a difference. But, when I finally began to turn the tide and embrace introspection, looking
into my past traumas, facing my reality– developing those mind/body techniques that help you get in
touch with what’s actually happening on the inside of your body– I realized there was a whole host of
mental and emotional frameworks I had been neglecting.
Because to put it bluntly: when you don’t take care of your mental shit, that shit will follow you around
everywhere you go.
And it will wreak havoc on every part of your physical body.
When I fully embraced a higher mindset shift, mind/body techniques like yoga, connecting with
nature, therapy, and breathwork slowly became staples to my new way of healing– and not just at a
physical level, but an emotional level as well.
Today, as I continue on this higher mindset journey for my physical and mental health, I’m at peace in
my commitment to never sideline the transformative power of incorporating mindset into my healing
practice. And I’m not so cocky about my health anymore. I take it one day at a time and work very
hard to stay as healthy as possible– mind, body, and soul.
True healing is always a journey, not a destination, and that journey is about managing your IBD and
living a rich life filled with insights, resilience and strength.
Bringing a Higher Mindset Into Your Life
After witnessing the profound impact of higher mindset techniques on my own journey and then
through the lives of my clients over the last six years, I couldn't help but wonder if others could benefit
too. Sure, it was working in my own little IBD circle, but would it work for the masses? It was time to
put my science brain on and start slogging through the current research to look for trends in IBD
mind/body medicine.
And guess what? I found exactly what I was hoping for.
Even the clinical research studies agree with me. Mindset practices aren't just mystical; they have
real, tangible benefits supported by scientific evidence.
● Studies show that mindfulness-based interventions can enhance quality of one's life and
reduce anxiety and depression, offering a ray of hope for those of us navigating the challenges
of IBD.
● Moreover, practices like mindfulness, yoga, and breathwork have been linked to the
downregulation of inflammatory markers at the genetic level, promising relief from inflammation
and its associated symptoms.
● I also found research suggesting that incorporating breathwork as a mind/body technique can
alleviate chronic pain in people facing various chronic health conditions. The research
matching what I had experienced and what my clients were saying sealed the deal for me.
Mindset matters.
What you think and feel matters. Difficult times can bring your disease to its knees, and the opposite
is true as well– no special training or skills necessary.
I’ve become such a higher mindset junkie (there’s definitely a high that comes from it) that in the last
few years, I've made mindset techniques a cornerstone of my coaching practice, weaving them into
my Gut Love Signature System:
The F.L.U.S.H. Formula Framework.
From decreased anxiety and depression to faster healing times and a newfound sense of peace, the
impact of mindset on gut health and overall well-being is undeniable. Armed with this knowledge and
personal experience, I'm committed to empowering others to embrace mindset practices as a vital
component of their healing journey.
5 Ways to Do “Higher Mindset” Like a Badass, B+ IBD Mom
Once you become a mind/body medicine convert, you’d think the big leap was over. But now it’s time
to decide which techniques fit best with your symptoms and your lifestyle. Not all options serve all
mamas and it might seem overwhelming to decide on the best ones for you.
Meditation, therapy, yoga, walks in nature, gratitude, journaling, mantras, self-hypnosis, laughter,
spirituality, prayer, visualization, and deep breathing... But fear not, because you, my dear, are a
badass, B+ IBD mama, and you've got what it takes to make this work for you. Here are five ways to
rock mind/body medicine like the superhero mom you are:
1. Seamlessly Integrate Practices into Routine Activities: Let's face it, as moms, we're
multitasking masters. Combine mindfulness or deep breathing with daily tasks—like doing
dishes, showering, or during bedtime routines with your little ones. With deep breathing, no
one even knows you're doing it!
2. Start Small with Mini-Sessions: Short, 5-minute sessions of meditation, yoga, or journaling
are enough to make a difference. Sneak them in early in the morning before the kids wake up, during nap times, or right before bed. And hey, there are apps on your phone like Insight Timer
that make it super easy to get started.
3. Kids Benefit from a Higher Mindset Too: When you're a mom, everything involves the
kiddos, right? Include them in your mind/body groove. Join a mommy and me yoga class like I
did with my youngest, share gratitude practices during family dinners, and teach them
breathwork to help navigate their own emotions. After all, we all need these practices in our
lives.
4. Leverage Technology for Convenience: Mom life can be chaotic, so why not use technology
to your advantage? Guided meditation, yoga, and mindfulness apps are like having a personal
guru in your pocket. Set a reminder on your phone to make sure you don't forget to take
advantage of these convenient tools.
5. Connect with Like-Minded Communities: There's strength in numbers, mama! Whether it's
online communities or local support networks, connecting with others on a similar path can be
incredibly motivating. Knowing you're not alone in this journey is all the motivation you need to
keep going strong.
Breathe Easy: Let’s Take Your New Higher Mindset to the Next Level
Congratulations, my friend You’ve got what it takes to make a higher mindset a priority on your gut
healing journey! Now, it's time to put what you've learned into action and take that first step towards
adding this missing piece to your IBD action plan.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, don't worry—I've got your back. Let's kick
things off with one of the most accessible and effective mind/body techniques out there: breathwork.
It's simple, it's powerful, and it's something you can do right now, wherever you are.
Don’t underestimate this simple technique, because it’s mighty.
To help you dive into your new higher mindset goal, I've put together a free resource just for you:
Breathwork 101. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about breathwork,
from the basics to advanced techniques. Plus, it includes five different breathwork methods to choose
from (not just the 4-7-8 breath), so even if you’ve been using this mind/body option for years, you
might discover a new method that works for you.
No more waiting! Take your first step towards healing your mind, body, and gut today by
downloading your free copy of Breathwork 101. It's time to reclaim your health and life, one breath
at a time.
Let's do this, mama!