“All disease begins in the gut.” Rightly said by Hippocrates, the father of Medicine. Our gut is a vital organ in our body and still, we know so little about how it affects our body and mind. A healthy gut is a happy and healthier you. It’s our digestive wellness which plays a key role in the overall health & wellbeing.
MIND YOUR GUT: Do you have a healthy gut?
The Gastrointestinal tract is a long muscular tube about 30 feet long, all the way from mouth to anus. It breaks food & drinks we consume into smaller molecules that are readily absorbed by the blood and are taken throughout the body to be utilized mainly as energy, growth, and repair by the cells of different organs.
About 60% – 70% of people all around suffer from a number of digestive diseases such as GERD, inflammatory bowel disease, bloating, gastritis, chronic constipation, which greatly affects the quality of life.
UNDERSTANDING THE GUT FLORA
Our G.I tract is lined by a complex community of bacteria & other microbes that live in the human gastrointestinal tract, known as the Gut flora or the microbiome. The two main functions of the gut flora are to strengthen the immune system and prevent diseases through healthy digestion. The other important roles that these microbiomes are producing the feel-good chemical “serotonin”, providing energy to cells throughout the body by the food we eat and getting rid of the toxins and waste products.
We have good as well as bad bacteria in our guts, good being more in number but sometimes the bad bacteria takes over those good ones making healthy gut into an unhealthy one. You need the right balance of bacteria in your GI tract to stay healthy.
An imbalance in the gut leads to many disorders which could be minor as acidity to as dangerous & life-threatening as colon cancer. This disruption in the smooth running digestive tract is known to cause diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and heart disease, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, mood disorders, depression & cancer.
The gut microbiome is inherited by birth. It changes as we grow, and as we make our own choices mainly by what we eat in our lifetime.
The chronic imbalance in our gut can send mixed signals to our brain about feeling hungry or almost full resulting in sugar cravings, eating at wrong hours, and putting on those extra kilos leading to obesity. It even causes skin rashes and eczema, in long-standing cases even asthma.
BUILD A HEALTHY GUT
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EAT HEALTHY:
The first step towards building a strong G. I system is eating right. We can improve our gut flora by changing our diet as early as 24 hours.
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PROBIOTICS:
Feed your good bacteria and starve the bad ones by avoiding processed food, rich carbohydrates and include more fruits, vegetables, and fiber in your diet. Add probiotics to your diet. Probiotics are friendly bacteria, they can be added naturally to the diet in the form of Yogurt. These probiotics not only help in digestion but also makes our immune system stronger.
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PREBIOTICS:
These promote the growth of helpful bacteria in the gut. Try pistachios, bananas, garlic, onion, soybean, whole wheat, and oats.
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EAT SLOWLY & ENJOY SMALLER MEALS:
Chew your food properly, as it helps indigestion. Always eat in moderation, never fill up your stomach in one meal.
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MAKE A ROUTINE FOR YOUR GUT:
Try to eat at the same times each day. Have an early dinner, limit your food intake during dinner time, and even after that. Our G.I tract is most active during the mornings and daytime.
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BE STRESS- FREE
Manage your stress in a healthy way like meditation, relaxing exercises, yoga. The mind and gut are closely related. The slightest of stress in mind can cause a lot of digestive problems.
At My22BMI, we have a special plan to address the healing of gut to get you a healthy gut, a happier and healthier you!
My22BMI is a digital healthcare startup addressing the problem of managing lifestyle diseases through diet counseling & coaching. We empower lives to eat healthily and smartly. We believe food should be your first medicine. To get started on your health journey, please fill-up the details HERE and we will do the rest.