09/22/2026
🇮🇹 Travelling, especially through Italy, has me thinking about something I talk about often as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist: the beautiful relationship between the gut and the brain.
Here, food doesn’t seem to be just about nutrients. It’s about slowing down, gathering around a table, choosing fresh local ingredients, enjoying EVOO, organic vegetables, legumes, grains, fruit and seafood☺️
There’s something fascinating happening within our body when enjoying a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle:
What we eat helps shape the environment in our gut and brain. There are trillions of microorganisms that live there, while signals from the gut can influence processes throughout the body and nervous system.
The Mediterranean dietary pattern is particularly interesting because it naturally brings together a diverse and active gut ecosystem that includes:
✅ fibre-rich plants, polyphenol-rich foods, healthy fats and minimally processed ingredients.
🇮🇹 My biggest takeaway from Italy isn’t a single food.
🇮🇹 It’s the relationship with food.
Eat slowly.
Eat seasonally.
Eat a variety of plants.
Share meals.
Take time to Enjoy your food.
Nourishment isn’t only about what is on your plate but to be able to enjoy it too😁
Supporting the gut–brain connection helps with digestion and mood which can begin with something so simple:
✅ Taking care to sit and focus on your food choices
✅ Relax the senses to savour and absorb nutrients
✅ Apreciate your surroundings and meal preparations
How do you enjoy your daily meals🤔
