“Kris, Ryan isn’t breathing properly,” my husband, Jim, woke me with this statement about 20 years ago. These words brought me out of a deep sleep and directly into panic which triggered an immediate gut reaction. The saying, “that scared the crap out of me” took on a whole new meaning. My young son had a case of croup and it was subsequently resolved after some cool night air and a breathing treatment. However, this experience stuck with me as a demonstration of the powerful connection between mind, emotion and the gut.

In this month’s article, Toning the Vagus Nerve, Hanna Aylward, certified holistic health coach and gut health expert tells us, “The vagus nerve stems from the brain to the abdomen like a communication superhighway between your gut and brain.” It turns out that the vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) affects areas of the brain responsible for processing emotional pain. Researchers are connecting VNS with PTSD, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis and much more. As a result, we have learned that our gut health can have a direct impact on a variety of health issues. It is empowering to know that we can make lifestyle changes to help improve our vagal tone and manage the impact on our health.

To boost your gut health, we’ve included tips and local gut health resources on pages 24-26. To increase the fruits and vegetables in your diet, consider growing food in your backyard or on your balcony. Find recipes to integrate cooling herbs into your summer meals. For your pet’s gut health, consider alternatives to antibiotics for your pets when appropriate. In addition, in this issue you will find five tips to create a more abundant life, tips for unstructured fun for your kids and ideas on how to integrate the power of lucid dreams into your life. This summer, here’s to incorporating all the delicious summer produce into your diet to support a healthy gut!

Happy 4th of July!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher