Why Gut Health Matters. Especially for Women

There’s growing evidence that the health of your gut microbiome, the community of tiny microbes living in your intestines, affects your mood, hormones, and mental well-being. The gut communicates with the brain through what’s often called the gut–brain axis, and this two-way connection influences stress responses, emotional regulation, and even motivation. Here is a link to studies about the gut-brain axis

In menopause and perimenopause, hormone fluctuations (especially changes in oestrogen) can affect this delicate microbial balance. A disrupted microbiome may contribute to symptoms like:

• Mood swings and low energy

• Anxiety or heightened emotional sensitivity

• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating

• Digestive discomfort

• Sleep problems

  

This post on Dr. Catherines website, Eating to support your microbiome during perimenopause and menopause, can guide you to give it a start. But I strongly recommend you go and see your GP or Dietitian to get a personalised and sustainable adaptation to your diet. Here is the link.

I’ll link to an article I love on this topic here: How good gut health can improve your menopause symptoms. It breaks down the science and practical steps you can take.

This Isn’t About “Just Eat Better”

This isn’t about perfection or moralising food. It’s about nourishment that supports your nervous system, your hormones, and your emotional resilience.

Even small changes, like adding more vegetables and fibre, prioritising protein at meals, choosing healthy fats, and including probiotic or fermented foods, can help stabilise your energy and support your mood. These steps feed not just your body but the microbiome that influences your mental wellbeing.

You Deserve Support. Not Pressure

If you’re struggling to cope right now, that doesn’t mean you’re weak or failing. It means you’re human, and you deserve support from every angle:

• Emotional care (like therapy or counselling)

• Physical care (nutrition, movement, sleep)

• Social care (connection with others you trust)

Mental health isn’t fixed by one thing alone. It’s influenced by thoughts, feelings, biology, environment, and yes, nourishment. Each piece matters.

A Gentle Invitation

Take a compassionate look at your relationship with food and your body — not as a “fix,” but as an added layer of support in your healing journey. When we give our systems the nutrients they need, we often feel more grounded, more energetic, and better able to face the emotional challenges life throws at us.

You deserve to feel steady, supported, and capable, not just surviving, but actually living.