Love Yourself Well

Your gut, brain, and vagina are deeply connected, and taking care of them together can transform your life. Are you ready to trust your instincts and fight for your health?

1. Trust Your Instincts When It Comes to Your Health

Lo Bosworth emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts regarding your body's health. Women’s health issues and symptoms are often dismissed by medical professionals, even though such concerns are real and valid. Women are sometimes told their symptoms are “just hormonal” or “all in their heads,” leading to frustration and a lack of progress in getting proper care.

Advocating for yourself starts with believing in your own experiences and paying attention to your body’s signals. Detailed journaling of symptoms, bringing research to appointments, and asking tough questions can help open the door to better communication with doctors. If one doctor doesn’t listen, you’re encouraged to seek out another until you get the care you deserve.

By challenging medical skepticism and being persistent, many women have discovered underlying issues that were dismissed initially. This could range from bacterial imbalances to more severe conditions. The key is to not give up despite the initial resistance.

Examples

• A woman challenges her doctor’s dismissal about continuous fatigue and eventually discovers she has a thyroid issue.
• Keeping a symptom journal helps someone pinpoint the exact foods triggering stomach pain.
• Asking for a referral leads to a specialist diagnosing an overlooked urinary tract condition.

2. Understand the GBV Axis and Its Importance

The gut, brain, and vagina work as an interconnected system that affects overall wellness. Bosworth highlights these organs as forming the GBV axis. When harmonious, they maintain mental clarity, reduce inflammation, and promote a balanced mood. When one becomes disrupted or "leaky," it can cause cascading health problems throughout the body.

The gut serves as the foundation of the GBV axis. Its microbiome— the balance of good and bad bacteria—impacts everything from digestion to immunity. Disruptions in the gut’s balance can lead to toxins entering the bloodstream and affecting the brain and vagina.

For example, when gut health is poor, it can trigger brain fog, anxiety, or even depression as the blood-brain barrier becomes less effective. Meanwhile, the sensitive vaginal microbiota is impacted by changes in gut bacteria, leading to infections like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.

Examples

• Diets high in processed food and sugar can disrupt gut microbiota.
• Anxiety can worsen when certain gut bacteria are imbalanced.
• Recurrent vaginal infections can be traced back to gut health problems.

3. Recognize the Signs of a Leaky Gut, Brain, or Vagina

When any part of the GBV axis becomes compromised, clear signs can manifest. A leaky gut might show as bloating, poor digestion, or fatigue. A leaky brain could cause symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, or persistent negative emotions. For a leaky vagina, chronic infections or irritation are common.

Disruptions often stem from modern lifestyle factors like caffeine, antibiotics, and overly processed foods. Understanding these signs and addressing them early can prevent further health issues. It’s also important to recognize how interconnected these problems are—treating one can often improve the others.

Being attuned to these symptoms allows you to take proactive steps, such as dietary adjustments, reducing toxin exposure, or seeking additional medical input to address the root causes of these imbalances.

Examples

• Persistent bloating leads to a diagnosis of gut microbiome imbalance.
• Brain fog linked to leaky gut improves with better sleep and probiotic use.
• Treating a recurring UTI resolves other digestive discomforts simultaneously.

4. Heal Through Food and Supplements

Healing the GBV axis starts with what you put in your body. Foods rich in prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics are foundational. Prebiotics fuel good gut bacteria, probiotics introduce them, and postbiotics are the byproducts that support immunity and gut health.

Incorporating gut-friendly foods like asparagus, bananas, kimchi, and miso can make a difference. It’s also worth avoiding toxins found in processed foods, pesticides, and environmental chemicals. Beyond food, high-quality supplements with lactobacilli for vaginal health and antioxidants for brain health can further support healing.

Making intentional food choices and supplementing thoughtfully ensures each part of the axis gets what it needs to function optimally. These changes aren’t fleeting—they build long-term wellness.

Examples

• Adding fermented foods like sauerkraut improves digestive health over time.
• Switching to organic produce lowers toxin intake.
• A lactobacillus supplement treats bacterial vaginosis while improving gut health.

5. Address Imbalances in the Brain System

When the gut is compromised, the brain is next in line to suffer. Fixing a leaky gut can significantly impact brain health. Brain fog, fatigue, and memory issues often ease when inflammation is under control.

Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods, improving sleep, and exercising regularly helps the brain recalibrate. Stimulating neural pathways with challenging mental tasks, like learning new skills, also sharpens cognitive function.

The brain thrives in low-inflammation environments, making mindful choices around health habits essential. A balanced GBV axis doesn’t just heal your body—it makes you feel mentally sharp and clear-headed.

Examples

• A person reduces caffeine to improve sleep and feels more alert.
• Adding turmeric and blueberries, rich in antioxidants, improves memory.
• Regular walks ease negative emotions tied to a leaky brain.

6. Care for Vaginal Health Holistically

Maintaining a balanced vaginal microbiome guards against infections and discomfort. Simple changes, like breathable fabrics for underwear and avoiding harsh soaps, help. Harmful chemicals in personal hygiene products should be replaced with safe, natural alternatives.

Gut-focused therapies, like probiotics, also have a ripple effect on vaginal health due to the two organs' close genetic "crosstalk." Supporting one inevitably helps the other.

Taking care of vaginal health doesn’t have to be complicated. It comes down to gentle, natural practices and awareness of how gut choices impact everything downstream.

Examples

• Choosing cotton underwear reduces vaginal irritation.
• Switching to menstrual cups prevents frequent infections.
• Probiotic supplements curb vaginal infections and overall inflammation.

7. Establish and Stick to Wellness Routines

A long-term approach to wellness involves checking in with your body regularly. Bosworth suggests a 5-week reset plan as a starting point. It’s not a strict diet but a mindful way to assess and nurture your body.

Steps include eliminating toxins like caffeine and processed foods, consuming nutrient-dense meals, and staying committed to daily habits like hydrating, sleeping well, and exercising. These aren’t quick fixes but a framework for ongoing healing.

Commitment to these routines ensures the GBV axis remains in balance, setting the stage for lasting health.

Examples

• Daily cold showers reduce inflammation.
• Green smoothies add plant-based fiber to promote gut bacteria.
• A weekly yoga session reduces stress and aids mental clarity.

8. Identify Triggers and Eliminate What Doesn’t Serve You

Using the reset plan, you’ll naturally identify what inflames or irritates your GBV axis. Foods, habits, and personal care products that don’t work for your body can then be phased out. Simply reintroducing potential irritants after the reset reveals what’s helpful and what’s harmful.

Eliminating harmful influences may feel tough but simplifies life in the long run. When you keep what serves your health and let go of the rest, true balance is easier to achieve and maintain.

Examples

• Cutting out gluten resolves lingering gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Discovering a chemical-free laundry detergent reduces skin irritations.
• Trying alternatives to processed sugar boosts energy.

9. Commit to Loving Yourself Always

Bosworth encourages readers to sustain their health journey by loving themselves through all seasons. Health can evolve over time, and so can your approach. What stays consistent is the determination to honor and listen to your body.

The journey to better health is lifelong. By embracing this mindset, you can create an unshakable foundation for healthy living.

Examples

• Reassessing habits every few months ensures ongoing improvement.
• Treating setbacks as opportunities to learn reinvigorates commitment.
• Building a supportive community reinforces self-love and care.

Takeaways

1. Keep a detailed symptom journal and advocate for yourself with doctors until you find answers.
2. Reset your system with a 5-week wellness plan that focuses on nourishing and eliminating triggers.
3. Incorporate prebiotics, probiotics, and anti-inflammatory foods regularly to maintain harmony across your GBV axis.