How fixing your gut health in winter fixes everything else.

 


Again, In my quarantine and very bored phase I decided to deep dive on a side of social media that is not explored as much and I had maybe heard once or twice. That secret was gut health, and I learned about how our gut it not just for digesting food but it is a control center for the whole body. When the gut works well, everything else tends to work well too. Which is also why when things are not going well in the gut, it causes many problems in other areas. 

Immune System
Firsthand, of course scientifically connected to the gut is the immune system because a big part of the immune system lives in our gut. If you nurture a diverse community of gut bacteria through a diet that is both balanced but also rich in fiber, that is what can give the immune system the support it needs. Which will help you overall to stay strong and resilient when put up aganist diseases. 

Your Mood
Whether you believe it or not, your gut actually has a direct line of communication with your brain. The state of your gut can influence neurotransmitter production and the release of hormones that affect your mood and stress levels. When your gut is doing okay, serotonin is produced. Inversely, if your gut is imbalanced, their are many links to mood disorders. I noticed direct changes, by when I started taking care of my gut, I noticed I no longer woke up in a bad mood and was more happy most of the time. 

Weight Management 
Your gut bacteria also play a role in regulating your metabolism and energy balance. Gut bacteria imbalance has been linked to weight gain and obesity, affecting the way your body stores fat and processes nutrients. By maintaining a diverse and balanced gut microbiome through food choices that promote  gut health, such as eating foods rich in fiber and probiotics, you can support the effort manage weight  and promote metabolic health. As someone who has had many weight problems, I felt like my diet and workouts were having an actual effect on my body. 

How to achieve this (This is more complex than I make it seem) 
-  Eat a diet rich in fiber. 
-  Eat a variety of foods
- Limit ultra-processed foods
-  Drink water 
- Eat foods rich in polyphenols
- Eat slowly
- Eat fermented foods. (For my South asian girls, Idli is a common example)

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