In our quest for good health, we often overlook a hidden gem within us—our gut instinct. Beyond mere intuition, it serves as a guiding light towards better health. And in a world that increasingly prioritises health, the role of the gut microbiome is proving to be a critical factor.
In an informative session at Happiest Health’s The Edge of Nutrition Summit on 12 July, nutritionist and pre-biotics expert, Dr Pujah Kundaar threw light on the intricate role of a healthy gut on our overall well-being. “All diseases are connected to the gut in one way or another,” she says, emphasising that a healthy gut can be a starting point for a healthy body.
The second brain
The gut, often referred to as the ‘second brain’ constantly communicates bidirectionally with the brain through the gut-brain axis. Not only do the trillions of friendly bacteria residing in our gut relay signals to the brain, but they also produce the brain’s happy chemicals.
“Because 90 per cent of serotonin, your feel-good neurotransmitter, is produced by these tiny little good bugs in your gut. And they [bacteria] are responsible for your happiness and feel-good feeling. So, the gut microbiome makes you happy, better [still], [they] make you feel content,” she highlights in her talk.
It turns out that the influence of these tiny benevolent bugs spans immunity, hormones, digestion, and aspects of mental health like anxiety, depression, and mood disorders as well.
Balance is key
Bringing a balance of good bugs in the gut and fostering healthy crosstalk between the gut and the brain is paramount. “When they are not in a state of balance, then [there is] dysbiosis,” she explains.
“Studies have proven that chronic inflammation is known to disrupt the gut-brain axis. When your gut-brain axis is disturbed, you may end up feeling foggy in your head, your cognition can get affected, your mood can get affected, and your behaviour can also get affected,” says Dr Kundaar on the mental health risk dysbiosis poses.
Second, an imbalance of good bugs in the gut can affect levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and “You start feeling low, you can get depressed, and you can have sleep issues,” she says.
Third, when there is a disbalance, there is an “imbalance [in] absorption [of] nutrients like vitamin D, magnesium, [and] omega three fatty acids.”
Road to a happy gut
How does one bring back the balance? “For this, we need a holistic approach. [A] holistic approach means you need to ensure you follow a healthy diet, exercise, include stress management techniques, and ensure that you sleep well. And you [can also] use targeted approaches like prebiotics, probiotics, and other gut healing protocols,” says the lead nutritionist of the prebiotic company The Good Bug.
As such, the journey towards optimal health and well-being begins within us, with the wisdom of microscopic bugs guiding the way.
