Tummy talk (Sabong News)
Author
Cheshire Que
Date
MARCH 15 2022
Bloating, gassy bowel, indigestion, constipation, loose and watery stool, belching, hyperacidity, burning sensation in your throat are symptoms of an unhealthy digestive system.
Have you been suffering from any of these symptoms? What do you do to get relief from these irritating and sometimes painful episodes? One thing is for sure. Pill popping may provide immediate relief but it will not address the root cause of your gut issues.
The digestive system begins in the mouth where actual digestion of food begins, all through the long pipe called esophagus, then the stomach where enzymes and acids are produced to further break down of food, the small intestines where more digestion and nutrient absorption occurs, down to the large intestines where food is turned into waste and passed out in the form of stool. It includes the colon, rectum, and anus.
Contrary to what most believe, the gut is not solely made for digestion and nutrient absorption. The gut plays a huge role in immunity and even mental health. That is the reason why, we have to be more aware of our digestive or gut health if we want to prevent illnesses such as cancer and depression.
What does the gut have to do with mental health? Brain chemicals that stabilize mood are not only produced in the brain but also in the gut. There is such a thing as the gut-brain axis or connection. Therefore, the state of your digestive health greatly affects your mental state. The brain chemical GABA or Gamma-aminobutyric acid alleviates fear and anxiety. The neurotransmitters dopamine or the feel-good hormone and serotonin, which regulates mood, sleep, and digestion are also largely produced in the gut.
What does the gut have to do with mental health? Brain chemicals that stabilize mood are not only produced in the brain but also in the gut. There is such a thing as the gut-brain axis or connection.
Furthermore, if you want to boost your immune system or balance immunity for those who have a hyperactive immune response, get down to your gut. Why? Because two-thirds of your immune cells that keep infections and cancer at bay are found in your gut or digestive tract. Pay attention to your gut health, most especially during this pandemic. Having a healthy digestive system will help ward off Covid-19 infection.
There are trillions of microorganisms which comprises the gut microbiome and they thrive in our digestive tract. These good bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms help in a number of processes and chemical pathways in the body. These includes quelling inflammation, digestion, absorption, immunity, hormone regulation, and more.
The gut microbiome can be damaged due to unhealthy diet, physical and mental stress, abuse of antibiotics and other medications, nutrient deficiencies, infections, toxins, malnutrition, low stomach acid, and poor digestion.
When the gut microbiome is damaged, the entire digestive health is compromised resulting to imbalances in the immune system and other illnesses.
We have to feed the gut with prebiotics. These are plant food sources that contain dietary fiber. Think of prebiotics as food or fertilizer for the friendly bacteria in your gut. Some examples are: Banana, psyllium husk, oats, garlic, onion, honey, eggplant, peas, legumes, whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, asparagus, artichoke, green tea, and soy or soy products. All fruits and vegetables contain fiber therefore it is important to make fresh produce a staple in your daily diet. Avoid highly processed food like canned meats, refined sugars from sweet treats, and trans-fat from fried foods and solid fats like margarine and butter. Highly processed food kills the friendly bacteria in the gut.
Moreover, salty, salt-pickled food, nitrate-cured meat, and smoked fatty food are linked to stomach cancer. Food that is high in fat, cholesterol and Omega 6, as well as alcohol are associated with colon cancer.
Got gut-related symptoms? Feed your good bacteria with whole food and plant-based sources. As we celebrate the second Philippine Digestive Health Week, let us all empower each other to care for our digestive health.
