Gut: Our Body's Most Underrated Organ

If you are reading this, you must be curious to know about your gut.
All diseases arise from your gut. So it is crucial to take good care of it. This is the first step in learning. You have a long way to go. I have a long way to go too.
Our body gives signs to tell that something is wrong with our body. It starts with minor issues like bloating, sluggish motion, etc. Then the discomfort increases, causing cough, constipation, etc. This is the time we generally pop the pills that will handle the symptoms only. Then the disease starts spreading within the body and accumulates in a weaker organ. For example, cold, body heat, etc. Then it causes further damage in the form of internal bleeding or tumor.
All symptoms seem "normal" and irrelevant. But all of these are interlinked. Quite a journey, right?
What is the gut?

 

The gut is called the "second brain" because it has around 500 million neurons, trillion micro-organisms, and thousand of species of bacteria that help in converting food into fuel.
So maintaining a healthy gut is crucial because an imbalance in gut bacteria can lead to many diseases.
Signs that you have an imbalance in the gut: constipation, diarrhea, gas, acid reflex, bloating, cramps, inflammation, loss of memory, mood swings, anxiety, depression, irregular periods, low testosterone, menopausal symptoms, frequent colds, excess weight, obesity, diabetes, colitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, acne, etc.
Notice that gut imbalance has an impact on both physical and mental health.

Gut and brain connection:

We have had a gut-mind connection since the day we were born. Babies cry when they are hungry or need to poop and burp. But as adults, we don't cry to get our needs done. Just that the awareness of gut-mind has become mundane in the fast-growing world.
Our gut doesn't send signals to the brain for small undigested fruit. Since it possesses numerous neurons of its own. But when things get serious, that's when the gut sends signals to the brain and vice versa. Notice how you have pain in the stomach when you are anxious or you feel irritated when you are not able to clear off your bowels.
Stress is a major factor in the imbalance of the gut microbe.
When you are stressed, the brain naturally wants to solve it and gets into fight mode. But it needs energy which it obtains from the gut. So that time, blood flow is increased to the brain and focuses less on the gut. But when stress becomes a long-term thing, gut sends a signal to the brain that it can't provide energy to the brain in form of lack of appetite, diarrhea, constant fatigue, etc.
Since not that much blood flows into the gut, the mucous membrane in the gut gets thin and weak.
That's why it is advised to not eat when you are not calm because it can change the gut microbes and your own good bacteria can work against you. So, it is advised to eat alone without any distraction or TV because it can disrupt the gut signals to the brain.
How to take care of the gut?

 
It's very simple, drink water(How much water should be consumed is based on the individual's food intake, excretion level, etc), eat warm healthy natural food(similarly what food you should consume depends on the body's requirement), exercise, taking care of your mental health.
It might seem a lot but, these are just simple day-to-day habits that we have to follow like brushing teeth to maintain a healthy gut.

XOXO