How hurry, worry and curry are causing gut problems for Indians

medium118710021After experiencing bloating, flatulence and constipation, 24-year-old Reena Sharma, who lives in New Delhi, sought professional help. The nutritionist recommended a gluten-free diet based on an extensive food allergy test.But her symptoms persisted.“Even after going on a gluten-free diet, I was still experiencing digestive issues,” says Sharma.Dr SK Thakur, a senior gastroenterologist at Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science & Research in New Delhi, who treated her eventually, attributes much of the crisis to misconceptions around diet, which have only intensified as conversations around gut health have increased.People, often without solid evidence, try to manipulate their diets in ways that can worsen their condition. “The gut is a victim of the activity of the mind,” says Dr Thakur.Sharma did not need drastic diet changes; she needed physical activity, a well-balanced diet with more fibre and meals at proper intervals.Despite chatter to the contrary on social media, there are no silver bullets when it comes to gut health. The number of Instagram posts of influencers talking about #GutHealth shot up by 68% in 2024 over 2021, according to Qoruz, an influencer marketing software company. Social media feeds are now populated with ads from companies offering prebiotics, probiotics and gut cleanses.They needn’t be effective by themselves. Gut health is complicated and solutions require a comprehensive approach tailored to an individual. medium118709963Modern gut crisisA growing body of research around gut microbiome — microorganisms living in our digestive tract — and the gut-brain axis, a bi-directional communication system between the digestive system and the brain, has pushed the concept into the mainstream.Although the possibility of a gut-brain connection goes back to the 18th century, rigorous scientific research on the gut-brain axis has expanded significantly in recent decades, coinciding with growing awareness of mental health issues.Poor gut health, often a result of poor diet, stress and overuse of antibiotics, has been linked to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and brain fog.Gut health has three main “enemies”, according to experts — hurry, worry and curry.The hectic pace of modern life (hurry), constant stress (worry) and a diet rich in spicy, processed foods (curry) create a perfect storm for gut-related issues.Gastroenterologists and fitness experts are urging people to slow down, reduce stress and embrace a healthier, more mindful diet to restore gut health.Raina Sahni’s story underlines this advice. Suffering from heartburn, regurgitation and even choking while eating, Sahni was advised to elevate the head of her bed and take antacids. These quick fixes seemed to offer temporary relief, but they didn’t address the root cause.Once she was prescribed anti-anxiety medication and given a lower dose of acidity medications, her symptoms improved. Dr Thakur says quick solutions often mask the underlying problem, offering only short-term relief rather than long-term healing.“The real cause was stress related to my job,” says Sahni. medium118709971Recovery pathWhen there is worry, there is a market, and there are companies, especially startups, which have jumped onto the bandwagon to offer personalised solutions for gut health management.Take Gurugram-based Sova, which offers custom-made probiotics for individuals.“Covid shifted the needle,” says Sova co-founder Tanveer Singh. He points to the increased use of antibiotics during the pandemic in India, which has a history of antibiotic abuse. Studies have shown that antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria.Sova’s treatment begins with a gut microbiome test of a stool sample of the customer. The result, it says, will provide a detailed map of the digestive system, revealing everything from probiotic deficiencies to antibiotic resistance.However, gut microbiome tests have not been scientifically validated for their utility in assessing gut health. While these tests can map the gut, there is no consensus on what constitutes a “normal” gut.Singh says Sova will create personalised probiotics that contain bacterial strains missing in the body.For those dealing with more serious conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease, Sova offers a four-month programme with a nutritionist, a “gut coach”, who helps reshape the patient’s lifestyle, diet and exercise.However, a report from the American Gastroenterological Association in 2020 points out that probiotics — the so-called good bacteria — don’t do much for gut health, including digestive conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or IBS.Another startup riding the wave of growing gut health awareness is The Good Bug, backed by Fireside Ventures.The product line of the Mumbai-based company includes synbiotic formulas, probiotics, prebiotic fibres, a 14-day detox programme and fermented foods and beverages such as kombucha, water kefir and pickles.“Each product is for different health indications with specific bacterial strains targeted to solve a particular problem point,” says Keshav Biyani, co-founder and CEO, The Good Bug. “We do synbiotics, a combination of prebiotics and probiotics. When you combine the two, bacteria thrives on prebiotics, creating a synergistic effect in our microbiome. This works in a very effective manner.”Dr Debasis Datta, director of gastroenterology at Fortis Hospital, Kolkata, warns that not all probiotics are equal. “Live microorganisms must be administered in the right amounts to be effective,” he says. Packaging and storage are also key to ensure the effectiveness of probiotics.Dr Datta, like most doctors, underlines that regular exercise, weight management and an appropriate diet are crucial for maintaining a healthy gut.Biyani acknowledges that diet and lifestyle remain crucial components in managing gut health, with prebiotics and probiotics serving to augment these benefits. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/E86eXpVBTcI?si=HX1V0YA5Z_DHeUF4Other approachesArjun Mogre, 36, son of celebrity fitness expert Leena Mogre, was experiencing bloating when he saw the advertisement of a probiotic supplement that promised to alleviate such a condition. He tried it, but to no avail.Leena says she addressed her son’s gut issues by giving him sol kadhi, ajwain, saunf and jeera water. These, she says, worked wonders.Alternative remedies, often rooted in personal experiences, are gaining in popularity. Some may provide temporary relief, but doctors caution that more research is needed to validate their benefits.Gut cleanses, for example, are becoming common, but should only be done under the strict supervision of a healthcare professional.Some with chronic gut issues, such as IBS, where mainstream medicine offers limited benefits, look at alternative therapies as a non-invasive solution.Many alternative therapies focus on gut health through diet, stress management and lifestyle changes. While mainstream medicine also incorporates these elements, alternative approaches often position themselves as more “natural” or “holistic” solutions.Dr Shiny Benedict, chief medical officer at Tre Wellness Centre in Vikarabad near Hyderabad, says fermented foods like kimchi, yoghurt and kefir water are excellent for supporting gut health.Traditional probiotics like kanji, a fermented drink made of black carrots and beetroots that is popular in north India, are also gaining in popularity for promoting healthy gut microbiome. These foods are rich in beneficial bacteria, which support overall health and contribute to better digestion.This concept is well-accepted in modern medicine, which recommends curd and probiotic drinks, says Dr Thakur.Sidharth Dominic, CEO of CGH Earth Wellness, emphasises that modern life, with its fast pace and poor lifestyle choices, has a detrimental effect on our health. According to him, ayurvedic and alternative therapies are becoming popular as they offer “natural”, non-invasive solutions to gut health issues. Ayurveda, in particular, attributes the rise in gut-related problems to stress, imbalances in diet and lack of physical activity.Dr Subhash Markhande, an ayurvedic expert, offers solutions in the form of dietary modifications, herbal remedies, yoga and panchakarma (ayurvedic detoxification). He believes that these methods, tailored to an individual’s needs, can be effective in restoring balance and improving gut health.Dr Thakur says many practitioners of modern medicine often seek the help of ayurveda to relieve symptoms of patients with persistent issues of IBS.Often, what is required are comprehensive lifestyle changes.Srijan Mahajan, who runs a health enthusiast community, Attis, and has co-founded mental health startup Pause, says, “I can’t speak for anybody else, but in my experience with gut health — while it might be placebo — I have noticed that on days when I eat well, sleep well and work out, I generally feel significantly better.”