Gut Health and its impact on Mental health

We have all heard the statement "You are what you eat". This isn't just a blanket statement, but the impact of food on gut health and thereby its impact on mental health, emotions, and overall well-being is tremendous.

If you've ever had a gut-wrenching feeling or have felt butterflies in your stomach, you know there is a connection between emotions and the gut. This is why you may feel nauseous in stressful situations or have diarrhea before an important exam or interview. This connection between the gut and brain is called the Gut-Brain axis. It is a connection between the CNS of the brain and the Enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gut. The gut is also known as the second brain. This connection is evident in diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) where psychological stress or anxiety can worsen the gut symptoms. On the other hand, studies have found that anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorders are linked with Gastrointestinal disruptions.

Though this may seem like a vicious cycle, it can also be used to our advantage. If bad gut health causes bad mental health and vice-versa, good gut health can also contribute to good mental health. Thus, a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and probiotics, and limiting processed food, sodas, carbonated drinks, excessive sugar, oil, caffeine, etc. will contribute to good mental health.

Taking fiber-rich food is important as the gut microbiota feeds on fiber. In the absence of fiber-rich food, the microbiota begins to feed on the mucosal lining of the gut, leading to ulcers and infiltration of bacteria into the bloodstream from the gut. The body's defense mechanism/immune response is activated by this infiltration of bacteria and such long-term activation may lead to auto-immune disorders. Avoiding food with artificial and chemical ingredients like pesticides, preservatives, and excess sugar can also reduce inflammation in the gut, which is a precursor for many diseases like PCOS, autoimmune diseases, etc. It is also important to take probiotics or prebiotics after a course of antibiotics to replenish the gut microbiota which is destroyed due to antibiotics.

In Islamic Prophetic medicine the use of Barley is advised especially during grief. This is because Barley is a rich source of fiber and prebiotics which improves gut health and thereby helps with grief. In addition to this, practicing mindfulness while eating and taking your time with chewing food instead of gulping it down hurriedly (as it is done in today's busy life) helps with better digestion of food and improves gut microbiota.

With this information we can understand that we are in charge of our health and with good choices we can always improve our overall health and well-being.