Rae partner and pioneering nutritional psychiatrist Dr. Uma Naidoo offers inspo, insights and simple ways to boost the body-mind relationship.
Take time for mindfulness
When your body and mind are in sync, it makes it easier to take on the day. You don’t need a lot of time—a few moments of deep breathing before sleep or a 10-minute walk can help you feel grounded and more connected to your body. Centering yourself can lead to more lifestyle benefits, too—Dr. Uma says that “I find that when my mind is at peace, my body follows and I eat in a more healthy and mindful way.”
Small steps can have a big impact
Enhancing your body-mind connection isn’t about a complete reinvention of yourself, it’s about tweaking here and there to get you to a place that feels good to you. Cutting back on screen time, eating more leafy greens and drinking another one (or two!) glasses of water a day are little changes that are easy to make, and make a difference over time.
Believe your body intelligence
Dr. Uma recommends listening to your body can improve your mood and your ability to function—she advocates for a concept she calls “Body Intelligence.” How it works is simple—pay attention to what your body is telling you and respond to its messages. Your body knows valuable information about your emotions, so make space to hear what it’s saying. The more you practice body-mind communication, the more attuned you’ll be to how you can best take care of yourself physically and mentally.
Nourish and nurture
Nutrient-rich foods and plant-based supplements can help bring harmony and balance to the mind-body connection. Dr Uma recommends a diet rich in “colorful plant foods, plenty of leafy greens and healthy sources of fats and proteins.” Since your body, mind and nutritional needs change over time, adding a multivitamin or pre + probiotic is a great way to give your body ongoing support and strengthen your overall body-mind connection.
