Do you have the “GUTS”?

How often have you heard this? How often have you said, ” Damn, I wish had the guts to do this”. Be it going up and speaking to someone you admire, like or love, asking your boss for a pay hike or a holiday or simply asking the teacher a question that’s nagging you. I’ve thought of it often- ” I so wish I had the guts… I comprehended guts simply meant courage and nothing beyond it.

How often have you said “My gut feeling is...we shouldn’t be doing this or We should just get on with it”. In this case, gut couldn’t mean courage…and I just told myself it’s a phrase.While I wasn’t entirely wrong, it wasn’t entirely correct.

And maybe you’ve heard somebody saying “It guts me to think that they are not around to enjoy this“. Here it means being terribly upset.

While English is a funny language to all non-native English speaking people, there’s more to the term “GUT” than meets the eye. 2000 years ago when Hippocrates (the Father of Medicine) said ” all diseases begin in the gut” , he knew exactly what he was talking about.

Don’t despair. Intelligent minds understood it 2 decades ago, so we (people  who took a little longer to understand) are really not that far behind😊.

So again, what is “GUTS”– It’s simply your stomach and intestinal tract. Now if you’re like me, you’re probably wondering what the hell does your digestive system have to do with courage or sixth sense or feeling extremely upset. Apparently a lot!

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a very neglected part of our bodies – neglected until we get a touch of diarrhoea or suffer from several days of constipation. Considering that everything we eat from soup to nuts, and everything we swallow from food to alcohol to bacteria and viruses passes along the GI tract, it is surprising that we aren’t sick more often.

From the journal of Medical Food News

 

 

Without getting into the science of it, for one there are a lot of scientific journals and write-ups on “GUT Health” and for the second reason, I am not an expert in the matter-Here it is from a layman’s point of view.

There is a thin wall that lines the intestines and controls what goes through into the blood and what does not. This wall is lined with  trillions of bacteria which far exceeds the number of cells we have and these bacteria are essential for our overall well-being- our cognitive health, metabolism, immune system, energy levels and muscular strength.

When the count of these bacteria are affected (through use of antibiotics, stress, alcohol consumption, genes) you end up with the “leaky gut” syndrome (things that shouldn’t enter your blood stream from your digestive tract, now do) and this affects the immune system and you become more prone to stubborn belly fat, diabetes, certain types of cancers, a weak stomach, lack of concentration, lower memory… thereby affecting your confidence, your courage and hence your GUTS!

So if YOU want to build your GUTS, so that YOU have the guts to do what YOU want then feast on food that’s good for it and avoid stuff that’s bad. Sounds simple, right?

How often have you wondered why some people are smarter than others? You think it’s genes, it’s education, it’s environment and when all else proves wrong because someone whose parents have never been educated or someone who never had the right education or environment, does exceptionally well; you say it’s luck. Well maybe it’s true but only partially. A factor you probably forgot is the food they consumed. It may not be your idea of “rich” food..

What’s good for your gut is also good for your brain 

So, that’s how you get “My gut feeling…”. Your instincts are stronger if you’re smarter and if your guts are good, you will certainly be smarter than what you were with a weaker gut.

We’ve all seen some cultures, some races of people, some castes are simply smarter than others and have often wondered what makes them tick- Read the list of foods below to be enlightened.

Foods good for the gut

• Probiotics– foods rich in CFAs’ , live cultures; which again my little brain had thought was a fad, apparently have the good bacteria that can strengthen your gut.

 Now the “Smart” ones are probably laughing and saying , “what probiotics”. “We’ve never had anything like that”.

Probiotics are products that contain live micro-organisms – mainly bacteria – when they are consumed.

 Most fermented foods are rich in good bacteria and are Probiotic! 

Because the bacteria in these food are able to sustain the gastric acid and reach your gut (intestine).

• Yogurt- Butter-milk, Lassi (not the one with sugar) had by people in India . Now you know why the Brahmins who have it more often than others in India got so intelligent.
• Kefir is a local drink in Russia made of fermented milk. Any wonder now why they are smart.
• Sauerkraut is finely cut cabbage that is fermented, eaten as a staple in Germany and Eastern Europe and in Jewish culture. Need I say more.
• Kimchi is a fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables (cabbage, radish, scallion, cucumber, garlic and ginger) with spices.  It’s their national dish.
• Kombucha– A fermented tea drink made of dried sea-weed originated in Japan. It’s commonly drunk in the United States.
• Miso- Salty paste used in Japanese cooking. Any doubts on Japanese IQ?
• Cheese– is milk gone bad (in a controlled way) and is extremely good. Think Swiss, Scandinavians, Mediterranean countries and you know how true this is.
• Fish Sauce: Eaten in Vietnam. Any wonder how these little people fought the Americans.
• Pickles in Vinegar or Brine: Had in Mediterranean countries with every meal.
• Soured Cream or Cultured Butter: the one that your grandmother makes and is sour compared to the butter found in shops but is so full of good health.

And with all the above there is…

• Wine & Beer : Enjoy it  without guilt because it’s good for your gut, your health and your brain….don’t overdo it though:)

“If you’re consuming a diet rich in fermented foods, you’re essentially bathing your GI tract in healthy, food-related organisms,” says food scientist Robert Hutkins, PhD, a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln whose lab focuses on the link between fermented foods and human health.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Had read about gut health sometime at the beginning of last year and ever since have wanted to share this with my world- with people related to me in some way… Take Care of your Gut and Be Happy 🙂