Gut health this, gut health that. There is a lot of noise in the healthcare sector about gut health and how to improve gut health. Probiotics are among the most common remedies suggested for the same. Now, Darya Mandryka, who founded gut health tracker Pondo, took to Reddit to share key takeaways she learnt while building the device. She based these learnings on the experience she gained from doctors, scientists, and people dealing with gut health issues.
Understand your gut health
The most comprehensive way to assess gut health involves three layers. Visually examining stool appearance, biochemically analysing markers like blood, short-chain fatty acids, and calprotectin, and profiling the microbiome through DNA analysis.
Hydration is key
This is not just another gut health buzzword. The Pondo founder shared that hydration is a large factor in digestion and the key process of excretion, an important factor that determines your gut health.
Identify probiotics
It is common knowledge, by now, that yoghurts contain probiotics and are beneficial for your gut. However, “Not all yoghurts or fermented foods contain live probiotics — and when they do, we rarely know which strains or whether they survive digestion,” she said.
Gut bacteria and genes
“Microbes can also activate or silence your genes — impacting inflammation, metabolism, and mental clarity,” shares Darya.
Your gut microbiome largely affects your cravings and can impact the way you eat. In case you crave sugar, you know it’s your gut bacteria. Artificial sweeteners can have a detrimental impact on your gut – “killing off beneficial bacteria and impairing glucose control,” the founder added as a warning.
Trust your ‘gut’
Commonly called the ‘gut-feeling’, the founder revealed that, “your gut has over 100 million neurons and its own nervous system.” Thus, stress can large impact on your gut health as you have noticed a change in eating habits, appetite, and your relationship with food.