Healing Trauma: The Overlooked Power of Metabolic Fitness
Do this and your life will change
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Today At A Glance:
Healing from trauma is hard but what is the vital link between metabolic fitness and trauma recovery? Today’s newsletter will teach you how sleep, exercise, and nutrition can fortify your brain and help you navigate the stormy seas of stress and trauma
Neuro Athletes,
Imagine this for a moment: You are a house. The very architecture of your being, the wiring, the plumbing, the solid brick walls, have been shaped by your experiences, your environment, your genetics. Some of us, through a lottery of life, have been built sturdy and strong, weathering life's storms with resilience. Yet, some houses are constructed under less favorable circumstances.
Adverse events, stress, or trauma can undermine the construction, leaving cracks in the foundation, leading to a lifelong process of patching and repairing.his analogy, inspired by a tweet from Dr. Nicole LePera (@TheHolisticPsych), encapsulates the influence of trauma on our minds and bodies.
Trauma, in psychological terms, is an emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event. These shocking experiences can leave us feeling unsafe, overwhelmed, and helpless, and the echoes of trauma can reverberate in our minds and bodies long after the event has passed.
Metabolic Fitness: The Unsung Hero in Trauma Recovery
So, what's this about metabolic fitness? And how does it fit into our healing journey?
Metabolic fitness is like the maintenance crew for our metaphorical house. It ensures that the internal systems work efficiently and optimally. In biological terms, metabolic fitness refers to how well our bodies can produce and use energy at the cellular level. The more metabolically fit we are, the better our cells can function, repair, and handle stress.
Now, let's circle back to the brain, the grand command center of our body. Our brain is a voracious energy consumer, accounting for about 20% of the body's total energy usage. To function at its best, especially when processing and healing from trauma, it needs a steady supply of high-quality energy. A metabolically fit brain is better equipped to manage the biochemical aftermath of stress and trauma.
In recent years, the field of neurometabolism has gained traction, revealing the intricate ties between brain metabolism and various psychological conditions, including trauma. A study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that improving brain metabolism, particularly in areas impacted by stress, can enhance our ability to recover from trauma.
Being metabolically fit is akin to having a well-maintained, resilient house. It helps your brain and body withstand the impacts of life's storms, supports the healing process, and promotes overall health and wellbeing. Metabolic fitness may be a relatively new term in the public discourse, but its influence on our health is profound and far-reaching. It's time we give it the spotlight it deserves in discussions about trauma recovery.
The Pathway to Metabolic Fitness: Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise, and More
So, how do we ensure our brain, and in turn, our cells, are metabolically fit? Let's break it down:
Sleep: Quality sleep is non-negotiable when it comes to metabolic fitness. Adequate sleep helps regulate the body's metabolic processes and supports brain health, which can aid in trauma recovery.
Nutrition: A balanced, nutrient-rich diet supports cellular health and metabolic efficiency. Proper nutrition fuels the brain and the rest of the body with the energy they need to function optimally and recover from stress and trauma.
Exercise: Regular physical activity improves metabolic fitness and promotes brain health. Exercise can also be an effective stress reliever, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with trauma.
Limit Alcohol: Alcohol can interfere with sleep patterns, nutrient absorption, and metabolic processes, so it's best to limit consumption when focusing on metabolic fitness and trauma recovery.
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Loved this. It’s very clever and yet very simple. I definitely think for me (anecdotally) this is totally true and without doing exercise, sleep etc properly it impacts my mental balance. Great post. 🥳