World Health Day Special: Why Gut Health is the Foundation of All Health

World Health Day Special: Why Gut Health is the Foundation of All Health

Every year, April 7 is celebrated as World Health Day-a reminder for all of us to pause and reflect on what it means to be truly healthy. For me, health is not merely the absence of disease. It is the state in which your mind is sharp, your body is energetic, your skin glows, and your gut-the true command centre of your body-is thriving.

Over the past two decades of working with thousands of clients across India and in over 35 countries, one truth has become abundantly clear to me: your gut is the foundation of your health.

We often focus on surface-level symptoms-hair fall, acne, fatigue, weight gain, hormonal imbalances, joint pain, anxiety-but what lies underneath is usually a gut in distress. You may not always feel it, but when the gut is inflamed, sluggish, or overrun by the wrong bacteria, it becomes a breeding ground for chronic disease.

Why Gut Health is Non-Negotiable

Let’s get one thing clear: the gut is not just a digestive organ. It houses nearly 70-80% of your immune system, produces more serotonin than your brain, and communicates with every major system in your body-from your skin and hormones to your brain and metabolism.

When your gut is in balance:

• Nutrients are absorbed properly
• Toxins are eliminated efficiently
• Immunity functions optimally
• Hormones are regulated
• Your mood and mental clarity improve
• Your skin glows

When it’s out of balance:

• You experience bloating, gas, constipation or IBS
• Your energy dips
• You develop food sensitivities
• You may feel anxious, foggy, or low
• Chronic inflammation sets in

In short, a healthy gut is the gateway to a healthy body and mind.

The State of Gut Health Today

Today, our lives are more disconnected from nature than ever before. We’re eating processed foods, using antibiotics too freely, over-consuming caffeine and sugar, sleeping erratically, and living under chronic stress. All of these factors compromise our gut microbiome-the ecosystem of trillions of microbes that live in our digestive tract.

A 2023 study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) estimated that over 40% of the urban Indian population suffers from digestive issues, often undiagnosed or ignored until they manifest into serious conditions like IBS, IBD, fatty liver, autoimmune conditions, or lifestyle diseases like diabetes and PCOS.

Gut dysbiosis (imbalance of good vs bad gut bacteria) is now considered one of the leading causes of chronic inflammation, which is the root of most modern illnesses.

My Gut-First Philosophy

My approach to nutrition and healing has always centred around strengthening the gut first. I don’t chase symptoms. I look at your face, your eyes, your skin, your nails, and your story. Using oriental facial diagnosis and tools from the macrobiotic tradition, I assess where your gut is holding inflammation or weakness and work to reverse it-gently, naturally, and holistically.

I look at two things:

• Your constitution: what you are born with (inherited from your parents)
• Your condition: what you’ve created through food, lifestyle, and emotions

Then I create a personalised plan to restore balance using:

• Low-inflammatory, plant-based foods
• Probiotic and prebiotic-rich ingredients
• Fermented foods like kanji, miso, and coconut yogurt
• Natural detoxifiers like bitter greens, gourds, seaweed, and cruciferous vegetables
• Cooking styles that support digestive fire (light steaming, soups, stews)

My macrobiotic lens also includes the energetics of food-yin and yang balance, the impact of seasons, and how emotions are stored in the body. Because gut healing is not just about food. It’s about how you feel, how you live, and how you digest life itself.

Common Signs Your Gut Needs Help

If you're experiencing any of the following regularly, your gut may be asking for attention:

• Bloating, gas, or heaviness after meals
• Constipation or irregular bowel movements
• Constant sugar cravings
• Low immunity or frequent infections
• Skin breakouts, dullness, or pigmentation
• Mood swings, anxiety, or brain fog
• PMS, PCOS, or irregular cycles

These are not ‘normal’. They are warning signs from your gut. And the sooner you act, the easier it is to bring balance back.

How to Begin Healing Your Gut

You don’t need a fancy cleanse or expensive supplements to begin. Start with the basics:

1. Eliminate Gut-Offending Foods

• Cut back or eliminate refined sugar, processed foods, white flour, and dairy.
• Avoid packaged snacks, fizzy drinks, and overuse of stimulants like coffee.

2. Add Gut-Healing Ingredients

• Prebiotics: garlic, onions, leeks, banana, asparagus
• Probiotics: fermented kanji, sauerkraut, miso, coconut yogurt
• Bitters: methi leaves, karela, coriander, turmeric, neem

3. Hydrate Intelligently

• Warm water, cumin or fennel seed tea, tulsi water-these support digestion

4. Practice Consistent Meal Timing

• Eat your meals at regular intervals. Avoid grazing or skipping meals.

5. Chew Your Food Properly

• Digestion starts in the mouth. Chewing well reduces bloating and supports enzyme production.

6. Move Your Body Gently

• A brisk walk, some yoga, or light stretching helps stimulate the digestive system.

7. Manage Stress

• Gut health is deeply tied to your nervous system. Breathwork, journaling, and mindfulness help reduce inflammation.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

In a post-pandemic world, where stress, anxiety, and lifestyle disorders are on the rise, gut health has become our first line of defence. It’s no longer optional. It’s essential.

We cannot continue to rely on short-term fixes or suppressive medication. True healing begins in the gut-and from there, ripples out to your skin, your hormones, your mind, and your immunity.

As a macrobiotic nutritionist, I don’t just give you a food plan. I give you a new way of seeing your health. A new way of connecting to your body. And a path to long-term transformation-through food, breath, and balance.

Ready to Begin?

If you feel like your body is sending you signals and you don’t know where to start-listen to your gut. Begin with small changes. And if you need guidance, I’m here to help.

I work one-on-one with clients to build a completely personalised gut-healing plan rooted in macrobiotics, Ayurvedic principles, and decades of experience. Together, we’ll clean up your system, heal your digestion, and bring you back to balance.

Because when your gut heals, everything heals.