Why, Rye?

Yummy Rye and why you should eat it

Annie and LJ are a fictional couple introduced to the readers of the Healthy Healing Eats blog in January 2020. Their storyline promotes healthy eating and earth-friendly practices.

Annie walked into the kitchen Sunday morning, where LJ was making breakfast. He kissed her good morning and asked if she’d like toast. “Yes, sourdough please. Thanks.”

LJ reached for the bread in the fridge, “This is interesting; here’s a rye sourdough. Why, rye?”

“Do you mean why is there rye in the sourdough bread?”

“Yes.”

“Remember we’ve been reading more about the importance of the gut-brain axis? Your gut (intestinal tract) and brain communicate through the vagus nerve, the largest nerve in the body. Their mutual goal is to make sure the other is well. (A good explanation of the importance and how the gut-brain axis works can be found at https://www.dietvsdisease.org/gut-brain-axis/.)

Certain high-fiber foods such as rye sourdough bread increase the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which supports good brain health. The gut has around 80% of the body’s immune cells and more neurons than the entire spinal cord. The endocrine cells in the intestinal wall make the gut the largest endocrine organ — it works together with the trillions of gut microbiota that…