When Hospital Food Makes You Sick – and 90% of Your Happiness Hormone is Produced in Your Gut

The Moment of Decision

Vanessa was a doctor in child psychiatry. A secure salary. A secure employment. Everything one could wish for – on paper.

But then came the moment when she could no longer stand by.

"We're in the hospital, on the acute ward, we have very, very serious cases. And when I look at the hospital food, it's hard for me to support that."

The children are already struggling with difficult life phases, psychological problems, social challenges – and then they don't get the nutritional support that should be possible.

"I wanted to set them up properly based on nutrients and provide support there. But we simply had limited options in the clinic."

A few weeks ago, Vanessa left the clinic. Not out of resignation, but out of conviction.

"I don't want to make compromises when I treat patients or people. I want to see the whole system – and yes, of course, treat psychological problems, but also include the body. Include nutrition. Nutrition can be such a building block. It's simply incredible."

The Problem: One-Dimensional Health

"It has been difficult for me my entire medical career to see health as one-dimensional," Vanessa explains. "That you only look at the body, see symptoms – and then you throw in some painkillers and think the problem is solved. It's actually just numbed."

In child psychiatry, it became even clearer to her:

"Many psychosomatic symptoms arise where there may be no somatic cause – meaning physically verifiable. A lot is connected to the psyche. And we often only treat the psyche, but the body is also a part of it."

The paradigm shift: Not body OR psyche – but body AND psyche. And in the middle of it: the microbiome.

The Microbiome: Your Second Immune System

"The microbiome weighs almost 1 to 2 kilos and is like a small ecosystem in our body," Vanessa explains. "You can almost compare it to a forest."

The Forest Comparison

In the forest, there are many different trees, fungi, viruses, and other things. The more diverse the forest, the healthier the ecosystem.

The same applies to the microbiome:

The more diverse your microbiome, the healthier you are. What happens with a non-diverse microbiome?

Studies are clear. A non-diverse microbiome is associated with:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Intestinal diseases
  
• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Skin diseases
• Chronic inflammation
• And the list goes on

"I now see the microbiome as one of the most essential topics that must be considered in the treatment of patients. I see no way around it."

Where does Western medicine stand?

"We're often not that far along yet. I hope that comes."
Vanessa's attitude: Don't wait until the studies are there – act now.

The American Gut Study: 30 Plant Species Per Week

One of the largest microbiome studies in the world – the American Gut Study – has found something fascinating:

People who eat more than 30 different plant species per week have a much, much more diverse microbiome and are therefore more protected from diseases.

Compared to people who only consume 10 plant species per week.

Where healmeal comes in

"healmeal is basically a Mediterranean diet that provides a lot of fiber and many different vegetables."

If you rotate the first five healmeal varieties, you consume over 30 different plants per week – in perfect harmony with the American Gut Study.

This means:

• A more diverse microbiome
  
• Protection against chronic diseases
• Better mental health
• More energy

The Gut-Brain Connection: 90% of Your Serotonin is Produced in the Gut

This is where it gets really exciting.

"When we eat healthily and, for example, eat a Mediterranean diet, we enrich diversity in our microbiome – but also the health-promoting bacteria."

What happens then?

These bacteria ensure that a byproduct is created when fiber is broken down: short-chain fatty acids, for example butyrate.

And butyrate is indirectly responsible for 90% of serotonin production. Serotonin = the happiness hormone. "Serotonin is notoriously strongly linked to depression." This means: Your gut produces 90% of your happiness.

Not your brain. Your gut.

Why don't doctors learn this?

"In my studies, they only had it as an additional curriculum – and that wasn't mandatory. Hardly a part of it. And that was already a progressive university."

The irony: The university was "mega" – but nutrition wasn't the topic.

"More and more studies are coming out, but randomized studies are needed before it is integrated into treatment therapies. I believe that many still choose it because they see the great benefits."

Vanessa's decision: Don't wait. Act now. Preventatively for herself and others.

"I can watch until the studies are there – or I can do it now and do something preventative for myself or for my fellow human beings."

The Reality in the Hospital: Shift Work & Chocolate Pudding

Vanessa experienced it herself:

"In the clinic, we're doing shifts. Service here, service there. You just don't always have time to prepare food – and then you grab cake three times and think: I don't really want this, but what can I do? I have to survive right now."

Her honest statement: "I would have loved to have healmeal last year already." Not just for patients – for everyone

"I would have loved it for everyone."

• For patients, who are supposed to "recover" in the hospital with chocolate pudding – one glucose spike after another.
• For doctors and nurses, who work until 9 or 10 PM and don't have time to eat healthily.
• For everyone who has to choose between surviving and living – and needs a healthy option that is quick and uncomplicated.

Practical Tips from Vanessa

1. 30 different plant species per week

"That's quite a lot, but remembering to do it helps."

2. Drink plenty of (good) water

"This is sometimes underestimated, what happens when you don't drink enough." Important: Hydration = mineralization.

At healmeal, we cook with remineralized osmosis water – no heavy metals, no pesticides, no microplastics.

3. After antibiotics: Rebuild the microbiome

"An antibiotic course is sometimes necessary, and thank God we have antibiotics. But it kills the bad bacteria – and also the good ones."

After antibiotics:

• Pay particular attention to nutrition
  
• Consider probiotics
  
• Rebuild the microbiome with good nutrition

4. Chew 30-50 times Eat slowly, chew well – your digestive system will thank you.

The most important advice for tough times

"If you are suffering from something, it's not always easy to find the right path. It's totally important to seek help – but not to look at it from just one aspect."

Vanessa's example: Depression.

"It's good to have therapy. But also make sure you do something good for yourself in other ways. Even if you might not feel like eating something healthy or taking time for yourself in that moment."

Her most important point:

"If you eat something healthy in that moment, you're giving yourself nutrients to automatically feel a little better – even if the underlying problem isn't always solved."

"In moments when you're not feeling well and don't feel like it, just think again whether you might still choose a healthier option – for yourself, because you're worth it."

Why healmeal is more than food

Vanessa sums it up perfectly:

The components:

• High-quality olive oil
• Fiber
• Various plant species
• Remineralized osmosis water

The reality:

• Quickly deliverable
• For people working long hours
• For hospital staff who have to survive
• For everyone who has no time – but still doesn't want to compromise