Last updated on August 21, 2024 by Dr. Subashri Thanigaivel
Gut twisting feeling in the dent of your stomach is all too real!
Do you know your gut is too sensitive to emotions like joy, anger, anxiety, fear, sad etc.?
Your brain does react to your gut feeling!
Many systems of medicine consider gut feeling as the key to healthy living. Indeed in recent studies about the gut-brain connection, many neurologists propound the concept of the brain-gut axis that elucidates the digestive tract as the main player in the status of the central nervous system. Ayurveda, our traditional native medicine also states about the importance of gut through its concept of understanding a person’s Agni or digestive fire.
What is Agni?
Agni, the transformative force, is a broad term in Ayurveda is understood in several levels of the human system. From tissue level to liver processing, from Gastro-intestine to sensory processing, the quality of health depends on the functioning of Agni. The energy of this magical force mediates the conversion of informational substrate to usable product for your body and mind. The quality of both tissue and mindfulness are knitted with Agni and gut.
The gut or second brain can operate on its own and communicate back and forth with your actual mind by both physically and chemically.
Vagus Nerve is your gut feeling’s direct connection to the brain. It is also connected to vital organs like the heart, lungs, etc physically. Hormones and neurotransmitters send a message from gut to brain to act chemically. However, the microbiome can affect the chemical messages sent between, gut and brain. As we know the mental health depends on the gut microbiome as its imbalance can produce heartburn, indigestion, bloating, acid reflux, etc.
Have you ever wondered how does my gut control my feelings?
It is done by chemicals called neurotransmitters; for example, serotonin contributes to happiness and at the same time helps in controlling your internal clock, if there is any disturbance in the biological clock you get acidity, heartburn, indigestion critical, etc.
The axis is also connected to your immune system. Gut microbes play an Agni role in your immune system and the inflammatory mechanism by controlling what is taken in by the body and what is excreted out of the system. Inflammatory toxins made by certain bacteria can cause inflammation if too much of it passes from gut to blood.
So what can we do for a better microbiome?
The gut microbiome affects the body from birth and continues throughout life by controlling the digestion, immune system, nervous system, and other bodily processes.
1. Best natural source for maintaining the microbiome level is Curd, it helps in promoting the growth of good bacteria in the gut. The fermentation process helps in converting the sugar molecules in the food to organic acids.
2. Fermented foods like plain natural curd can benefit the microbiome by enhancing its function and reducing the disease-causing bacteria.
3. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of nutrients for a healthy microbiota. They contain a rich source of fibers which helps in the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
4. Breastfeed at least for six months which helps in increasing the infant’s microbiota and promotes immunity against disease.
Hence a plant-based diet can help in improving health and prevent disease by feeding the good bacteria your digestive tract.
Want to know more about your gut feeling? Then connect with our LiveRight doctors today!
