What makes the GUT your second brain?

Our Gut bears a significant role not only in digestion but also on our immunity, overall health, mood and even the way we think. Our gut is a domicile for more than 500 to 1000 species of bacteria in conjunction with other tiny organisms like fungi and viruses. All these organisms aid in breaking down the food, converting them into essential nutrients that can be used by our cells. Gut health will appear simple to hear but it is a complex process of maintaining an absolute balance of gut bacteria and its functions. No wonder GUT has been considered as the second brain of our body unlike the big brain inside the skull. Interesting isn’t it?

Why Gut health is important?

Like every organism having binary quality, our gut also has a combination of both, good and bad bacteria. Most importantly, it is unique, diverse and balanced for every other person. When the balance is skewed, inflammatory bacteria or bad bacteria takes over, producing metabolites that pass through the gut lining into the bloodstream spreading the inflammation to other parts of the body. It may also result in chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, autoimmune disorders, anxiety, depression and many other psycho-physiological disorders. Speaking of anxiety and depression, you might wonder in what way is our gut microbiota and brain related?

With this discussion about gut and brain relation, introducing to you, the ‘gut brain axis’.  According to various researches done in the field of gut brain connection, it is a bi-directional communication between your central nervous system and enteric nervous system, linking emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. This connection is established via neurons, neurotransmitters and other chemical messengers that are produced by the microbiota. When there is alteration in the gut microbiota, the whole pathways of signaling will be veered resulting in several diseases. This is how crucial for us to maintain our gut microbiota.

Signs of having an unhealthy Gut

Gut is the core of our human body. “All diseases begin in the gut” says Hippocrates. That is very much a true and honest statement to make. When the dynamics of the gut is disturbed, it will exhibit signs such as bloating, heart burn, constipation, indigestion, weight imbalances, skin problems, bad breath, sleep disturbances and many more.

How to maintain our Gut Health?

Maintaining a healthy gut is not a rocket science. It starts with a simple step of keeping a check on what you eat, when you eat and how you eat. There are few important key points given below:

Add diverse whole foods to your diet:

As mentioned before, gut is colonized by diverse organisms. Taking whole grains and wholesome foods will help to increase the number and types of essential microbes that feed on it.

Include plenty of vegetables, fruits and legumes:

Vegetables, fruits and legumes are rich in fiber that stimulate the growth of different indigenous bacteria that in turn maintain tolerant environmental conditions for its growth.

Take in lots of prebiotics and fermented foods:

Probiotics or fermented foods contain live gut friendly microbes either bacteria or yeast. When we take such kinds of foods, it helps to maintain the proper balance between pathogenic and friendly bacteria. It also helps in production of chemical messengers vital for our immune system.

Eat slowly and mindfully:

Eating slowly and being mindful will improve your digestion and absorption of nutrients. This doesn’t cause much discomfort and stress to your microbiome.      

Take advice from an expert for your customised diet plan:

It is indispensable to take an advice of an expert to tailor a proper diet plan for each individual so that one can rule out all the foods that are intolerant or trigger an unpleasant reaction leading to digestive issues.

Stay hydrated always:

Drinking plenty of water will flush out all the waste from your bowels and maintains proper mucosal lining. It also balances the microbial flora thereby contributing positively to digestion and metabolism in the gut.

In conclusion, unhealthy environment of gut can be reversed by finding out the root cause of the disease, providing proper naturopathic diet, fasting for a deeper cleanse, provision of dietary and nutritional supplements to repair the leaky gut.

Listen to your body, and follow your gut instinct!

Recommended Natural Supplements:

Chicory Roots (Inulin Powder)

These are fibers that the friendly gut bacteria are able to digest (ferment) and use as fuel. This increases the number and balance of friendly gut bacteria (prebiotic should increase the concentration of good bacteria, decrease the concentration of bad bacteria) , which also produce short-chain fatty acids with powerful health benefits. The inulin in chicory root nourishes the gut bacteria, improves digestion and helps relieve constipation.

Found in: Atmantan Naturals’ Pre-Gut

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)

The DGL acts as an anti- H. Pylori agent and also helps to repair the mucosal lining that are damaged by the inflammatory process and aids in re-balancing the pH and creating an unsafe environment for the disease forming bacteria in the gut.

Found in: Atmantan Naturals’ Gastrocare

Atmantan Naturals’ Licorice is specially formulated by extracting the most efficient ingredients of natural Licorice and adding this to the base extracts to further improve the potency of this magical herb.

Marine Collagen

Gut health is also determined by the integrity of epithelial lining. Any disruption in this lining can result into a condition called “leaky gut”. Collagen helps to improve this integrity thereby correct the leaky gut conditions.

Found in: Atmantan Naturals’ Pro-Collagen

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is most famous for improving the overall digestive health. It stimulates lipase (the enzyme that breaks down fat) production! In a separate experiment, the results proved that Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) enhances the formation of bile acids.

Found in: Atmantan Natural’s  Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO)

Atmantan Naturals VCO is rich in Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTS) which helps in the absorption of oil-soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K) and this also reduces the load on the gallbladder.

Atmantan Naturals has an array of natural herbal supplements that not only help to ease the symptoms but also succors to form a balanced, healthy and diverse abode for gut flora to grow.