Your Gut’s Been Crying for Help, But You Called It Hunger.

Last Updated on July 27, 2025 by Pen Pixel

I used to think my sadness came from being “lazy.” Or “ungrateful.”

But nah. It was fermented in my gut. Literally.

There’s a part of me that wants to laugh because, the number of times I cried myself to sleep thinking I was just too emotional… when my body was just inflamed, gassy, and begging me to stop eating trash like I had a death wish.

The Key Takeaway. 

If your gut is off, your brain is NOT okay. You can’t think clearly, stay happy, or regulate emotions when your second brain (your gut) is running on noodles, soft drinks, and survival mode.

You Think You’re Mentally Ill… But It’s Also What You Eat.

Mental health is real. Depression is real. Anxiety is real.

But food?

Food is either fighting for you or against you every day. And most of us are out here throwing punches at ourselves with every mouthful, smiling through it like it’s normal.

You know that post-lunch slump? That foggy feeling where everything feels slow and heavy and you just want to cry or nap or scream? That’s your gut throwing a tantrum. And honestly, I don’t blame it.

Because while you were thinking your brain was broken, your gut was like: “yo, I can’t even process this instant ramen. I’m bleeding internally and your probiotics are dead.”

Your gut is full of bacteria. A whole city of tiny living organisms.

• When they’re healthy, you’re balanced.
• When they’re toxic, you’re paranoid, tired, angry, anxious, or even numb.

Ever notice how you crave sugar when you’re sad? It’s not a coincidence. That’s your gut bacteria begging for more of what’s killing you.

The bad ones feed on sugar like vampires. They hijack your brain, want junk food, and reward you with a quick dopamine spike that crashes harder than your WiFi during a light outage. 

Gut-Brain? It’s Not a Trend. It’s a Trap

Listen, this gut-brain thing isn’t some cute Pinterest hack. It’s the coldest scam ever.

Because the more crap you eat, the worse your gut gets.

The worse your gut gets, the more anxious and sad you become.

The sadder you are, the more you eat.

And where it gets dark is that you tart thinking something’s wrong with you. Not your gut. You.

But, when was the last time you went 7 days without ultra-processed food?

Not even in a diet way. Just in a “let me not poison my nervous system” way?

Exactly.

Your Gut Is Your Second Brain.

You have a whole nervous system in your gut.

It’s called the enteric nervous system. And guess what? It produces over 90% of your serotonin.

Yes. The happy hormone.

Not your brain. Not your heart.

Your literal intestine is the real therapist.

But you keep feeding it noodles and trauma.

It’s wild how we’ll take antidepressants, go to therapy, journal affirmations, and still eat like a raccoon that broke into a convenience store.

That’s like going to the gym and then drinking bleach.

Make it make sense.

You’re Addicted.

Yup. Most of us aren’t just “eating for comfort.” We’re addicted to foods that kill our peace.

And don’t come at me with the “everything in moderation” quote.

Because some of us can’t moderate. Some of us are out here using sugar like a crutch to walk through pain.

Some of you are protecting your food habits more than your peace of mind.

You’ll say “I could never give up bread” faster than you’ll say “I deserve clarity and joy.”

Let that sink in.

But What Am I Supposed To Eat Then?

Okay, breathe. I’m not saying become a kale warrior.

But start small.

Start with your breakfast.

That’s the mood-setter. The gut-primer. The vibe-control for the whole day.

If you start your morning with sugar and starch, you’re setting up your gut for war. Start with protein. Real food.

Eggs. Avocados. Yams. Beans. Oats with nuts. Food that’s simple and whole. Something that says “I love myself more than I love sugar highs.”

And please, DRINK. WATER.

Water. Your gut needs hydration like your phone needs charging.

It’s Not Just What You Eat. It’s When, How, and Why.

• Eat slow.
• Don’t eat distracted.
• Don’t eat like you’re running from something.
• Half of us chew our feelings instead of facing them.
• If you’ve never cried at the thought of giving up ice cream, you don’t understand how emotional eating really is.

Food is not just nutrition.

It’s culture, comfort and memory. But sometimes, it’s also the villain disguised as a best friend.

Stop Calling It Self-Care If It’s Self-Destruction.

• That late-night binge and eating a whole box of cereal as dinner is not self-love.
• That constant bloating, irritability, and emotional spiral is not your “personality.”

It’s your gut, begging you to remember that it holds your sanity.

Don’t panic. Don’t try to become perfect overnight. Start with one thing. Remove one daily poison. Add one daily gut healer. Real food. Movement. Fermented stuff. Probiotics. Fiber. Water.