Food For Thought

As the bustling day draws to a close, as the chaos that churned from 9-5 crawls to a still, the “finger licking good” KFC chicken, the cheesy and yet tangy taste of a greasy pizza or perhaps the indulgence of the rich, creamy, and lustrous dark chocolate ice cream not only satiates our taste buds but also reveals how we tend to seek comfort in food. But the question is, does it really help us?

The Gut-Brain Connection

Have you ever had a “gut-feeling”. well, if you have then that is the communication between your gut and your brain. The gut and the brain are married by several nerves in our body, and they communicate about many things from physical to emotional matters. Except here the union of the gut and the brain lasts longer the union of two individuals.

While there are millions of neurons that marry the gut and the brain, the Vagus nerve is the biggest nerve that connects the two. It is one of the main components of the parasympathetic nervous system that oversees many functions like regulation of heart rate, mood, controls digestion and the immune system as well. There is evidence that shows that the stimulation of the Vagus nerve helps in the treatment of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and bowel diseases.

How Does Food Influence Our Mood?

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I’m sure you must have heard of the phrases of “Gut -wrenching “or “butterflies in your stomach” while there may be a literary aspect to it there is also a biological aspect as well and the common factor here is emotions.

Your gut and your brain are also connected by chemicals known as neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are produced in the brain but also interestingly in the gut as well.                

For example, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is also known as “the feel-good chemical”. when your serotonin levels are normal you feel calmer, more focused, and happier. This chemical is produced in the brain but 95% of it is produced in your gut. And if your serotonin levels are very low it can lead to depression.

Nutrition and Mental Health

We saw how the gut and the brain are connected and how it affects our mood as well. It is important to keep our gut healthy in order to keep us mentally healthy as well. Production of neurotransmitters like serotonin is reliant on the amount of good bacteria in the gut. This good bacteria not only protects the inner lining of our intestine but also prevents the inflammation in the body and brain and  also prevents mood disorders like anxiety and depression that is caused by sugary and processed food.

Indian Food that Your Gut Says Namaste To!

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Our Good Old-Fashioned Dal

Dal chawal or any dal for that matter not only comforts the heart but also the gut. it helps the growth of good bacteria, gives our body protein, fibre and the energy to run around like a five-year-old child.

IDC ( Idli, Dosa, Curd)

    Fermented food like idli, dosa, curd, pickles etc, improve digestion. Curd or yogurt is a probiotic that maintains your gut microbiome           and improves your immune system and also keeps the good bacteria intact.

Grandmoms and our gut say “yes” to turmeric.

  Turmeric contain curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties and may also improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.

We may not be chickens but our gut “clucks” for grains.

Brown rice, quinoa, millets that enrich our Indian cuisine also enrich our gut with fibre and help regulate our bowel movements.

In Bengali we say “Machera tela” (fish oil)

Fish oil is a great source of omega 3. it helps reduce blood pressure, nourishes the brain and eye function, reduces inflammation. It contains EPA which reduces depressive symptoms and increases serotonin.

"The list is long,

And I could go on.

But my gut is rumbling,

And my emotions are tumbling.

Its time to eat healthy and not put junk in my belly.

If you do the same, you too shall also be merry!"- Anurimaa Bharath

If you "human beans" ever find yourselves in a pickle and you need help, you can always reach out to the mental health professionals at 

Heart It Out !