In the wake of various studies highlighting the gut-brain connection, health experts and nutritionists have emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing this relationship, underscoring that taking care of the gut is essential for ensuring overall brain function.
In fact, Dr. Puja Kapoor, pediatric neurologist and autism expert from Sarvodaya Hospital in Faridabad, said that the changes in composition of food materials are having an impact on gut health and rise in autism cases. “Gut-brain axis is an established fact. Over the years, there has been a steady rise in autism cases and it is down to what we have been eating. We cannot shy away from this fact.”
Stating that gut is the second brain in our body, Ishi Khosla, Clinical nutritionist, Celiac Society of India said: “It affects our mental, physical, and social health, impacts our mood, and could lead to changes in our diet and appetite. Any gut microbiome imbalances could negatively impact your life.”
She advised a gut-friendly, anti-inflammatory diet and the half plate rule while eating, which means filling at least half the plate with brightly coloured vegetables, fruits and to avoid foods that trigger inflammation.
Dr. Alok Mishra, a well-known psychologist and post-doctoral fellow from AIIMS Delhi echoed similar thoughts saying: “It is important to improve the relationship between the brain and gut and for that we need to know ourselves better.
“Somewhere down the line we have forgotten that our top priority is our health and human beings need to get this thought ingrained again.” The health experts were sharing their views at a seminar organised by the Celiac Society of India and Prana in association with ‘Illness To Wellness’ programme of ASSOCHAM.
At the same time, Dr Ashutosh Shukla Co-founder, Prana Centre of Integrative Medicine Medical Advisor and Senior Director, Max Hospital, Gurugram said, “The gut and brain have evolved together at the same time. This is because the brain has to ensure that whatever we eat is the right thing for us and there’s a kind of an alarm system which exists.”
Dr Chandrakant S Pandav, a Padma awardee and former head of Community Medicine at AIIMS, Delhi shared how he overcame Parkinson’s disease and lost fifteen kilograms after following a gut-friendly diet while Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, said, “With increasing focus on gut health and studies showcasing the critical role of the gut in overall well-being, it is important that sensitization on this subject carries on in a sustained manner.”
A recent study published in Cell journal has shown Brunner’s glands, located in the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine), as crucial in how stress impacts gut bacteria and immune responses. These glands produce mucus that protects the gut lining, revealing how psychological stress can affect gut health and immune defenses.
