Refers to the phenomenon Kieran describes where gut symptoms disappear on holiday. You've heard of gut issues spontaneously dissapearing in Europe. Maybe you or a friend noticed this first hand. It seems like magic. Those with long standing issues can eat practically whatever.
Why Do Gut Issues Disappear in Europe?
But let me let you in on something. It's just a stack of a few potent factors all working together that once you know you can replicate anywhere in the world.
Let's start off with the gut lining and histamine. This phenomenon is often atributed solely to the fact that there is less pesticides in food. True, but that's only half the puzzle. The way they pair foods and eat them plays a massive role too.
Many people have histamine issues, and even the best quality bread can trigger that. But pair it with extra virgin olive oil like they so often do and the enzyme that breaks down histamine increases by up to 500%. Less rapid motility and loose stools because histamine isn't pulling water into your bowels.
On top of this it isn't just about the pairing, it's about the seasonings. Fennel, Garlic, Rosemary, Thyme and Caraway are commonplace. These stimulate stomach acid and bile flow, meaning your food doesn't just feel like it digested better, it means it actually does. Less fermentation. Less gas or bloating. Food doesn't sit so heavy. Less rapid motility and loose stools because histamine isn't pulling water into your bowels.
Does Lifestyle Matter More Than Food for Leaky Gut?
Now let's go into the lifestyle, why Europe itself is actually great for your gut even besides the food. Most people spend their time by the water or in nature. This has been scientifically shown to reduce cortisol. And as well all know, less stress = better digestion. It also means less leaky gut, and a gut lining that feels less sensitive even for the same amount of gas. So yes technically your gut issues could be exactly the same, and you'd experience them less so than at home.
What Role Does the Sun Play in Gut Health?
Now here's one thing that's overlooked for the gut. The sun. The sun isn't just keeping you all nice, warm and cozy, it's actually upgrading your gut's hardware in real time. Especially if you come from a low sun environment.
More sun = More Vitamin D. Which means better function of the cells within the gut lining. Your gut can manage it's microbiome better. But the place you really feel it is in the mucus lining, which vitamin D strengthens. Thicker mucus means less damage to the gut lining. Which means it feels less sensitive. Meaning that indulgence actually didn't irritate you as much as you thought it would.
How Can You Replicate This Effect at Home?
Now here's how you can replicate this at home:
- Less stress, more time in nature, Yoga nidra and mindfullness
- Intentional sun exposure at times that net high Vitamin D
- Using digestion stimulating spices/herbs like fennel, ginger, rosemary etc in your cooking
- Pairing histamine heavier foods with high quality olive oil
- Quality/freshness over quantity in food
If you focus on these Euro summer principles of gut health you'll likely notice a massive improvement within a week if you haven't been doing these things. And this isn't just some "woo-woo" trend. Gut issues do often go away in Europe for these very reasons. Now you know, the power is yours.
