Keep Your Gut Healthy To Prevent Diabetes and Obesity

A new research has found that a weak ecosystem of bacteria in the human gut due to poor dietary choices is likely to trigger diseases like Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The study suggests that people should follow a balanced diet with a variety of all major food groups – cereals, pulses, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. A diverse diet strengthens your gut. The findings, published in the journal Molecular Metabolism, revealed that changes in farming practices over the last 50 years have resulted in decreased agricultural diversity, which in turn has resulted in decreased dietary diversity. This reduction has affected the richness of the human gut microbiota and the community of microorganisms living in the gut.

“Healthy individuals posses a diverse gut microbiota but a reduced microbiotic richness gives rise to Type 2 diabetes, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease,” said the team from Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in US.

Gut microbiota function as an endocrine organ, metabolizing specific nutrients from the diet and producing specific substances that act as metabolic signals in the host. In simple words, it regulates the functions of the digestive system which controls most of the processes of your body and is critical for overall health.

Like all healthy ecosystems, the richness of microbiota species characterizes the gut microbiome in healthy individuals. This microbiome is flooded with energy in the form of undigested and partially digested foods, and in some cases drugs and dietary supplements. Each microbiotic species in the biome transforms that energy into new molecules, which may signal messages to physiological systems of the host.

The study shows that the more diverse your diet is, the more diverse will the microbiome be and
it will also be more immune to foreign particles. Dr. Rupali Datta, Clinical Dietician at Fortis-Escorts Hospital suggests some healthy habits to strengthen your gut, “To start with eat more fiber, it acts as a probiotic for the gut. Eat in a relaxed atmosphere, chew slowly, relish your food and have regular meal timings. These simple habits can really make a difference. You just need to make them a part of your daily routine. Make breakfast your heaviest meal of the day and eat dinner before 8 for smooth digestive functions.”