September 24, 2024

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything interesting here. I’ve had my reasons: mainly laziness and procrastination.

When I finally decided to write, months ago, the topics eluded me. My head was filled with a million ideas, but none of them made it to paper and were eventually forgotten. I usually keep a notebook to jot down topics I find interesting, but it was almost empty, except for one word—FOOD, possibly also because of my terrible bout of acid reflux.

So here I am, finally writing about the one topic that has always been close to my heart, and even closer to my expanding waistline. It’s something that also leaves its mark on the weighing scale and some sleepless nights!

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I must confess that while I enjoy trying different cuisines, I’m not a big eater. If you ever took me to a buffet, I’d likely tell you to give me your money instead! What I’m about to write isn’t about the cuisines I’ve tried or how much food I’ve wasted, but rather what I’ve learned about food and our bodies from my recent reading marathon of sorts.

Did you know that our bodies have something called a microbiome? I didn’t. It was never in any of my textbooks, and it’s a shame I only learned about it so late in life. The microbiome is a collection of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that inhabit our body, especially in the gut—from where food enters to where it exits. This includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, rectum and anus. It’s probably the most critical highway in our body, and whatever happens here can significantly affect our physical and mental well-being. Think about how you feel when you’re constipated or have diarrhea!

Some of the things I’ve learned about the microbiome surprised me. For instance, when I was younger, I remember being given deworming medicine every year. Was the doctor dropping an atom bomb on the natural inhabitants of my gut? Now, whenever I see antibiotics, I imagine a mushroom cloud over Hiroshima—and for a good reason.

I used to scoff at the phrase "You are what you eat." It sounded absurd. Many of my friends had suddenly become diet-obsessed—whether keto, vegan, Mediterranean, intermittent fasting, or some fad diet. My usual line to them was, "Eat whatever you want, just make sure you burn it off." How wrong was I? Apparently, very wrong. The saying "You are what you eat" holds a lot of truth, especially when it comes to our gut microbiome.

The microbiome is all about variety. The more diverse food one eats, the healthier the GUT is. As a coastal dweller, most of my diet consisted of fish, rice and one green vegetable. Was it enough of variety for the GUT? I didn’t know. Eating the same food everyday must have made my GUT

-          Less diverse

-          Deficient of nutrients.

-          Weaker in terms of immunity

Yet, I never faced any issues. My mind and body felt fine.

It wasn’t until a close friend was diagnosed with duodenal problems that I began to realize how important the food we eat is. Now, I’m a firm believer in “You are indeed what you eat.” While exercise is essential, diet is even more crucial, and it should never be taken lightly. I learned that food that gets absorbed too quickly in the upper digestive tract is considered unhealthy. Instead, food should make its way to the intestines, which is the business end of digestion.

What changed in me after I read that damn book?

• I eat my dinner early (8 pm). The gut is often referred to as the second brain. Simply by eating early, my acid reflux disappeared. 

• I also try to have my meals on time- One of my friends has a weird routine. She has breakfast at lunch time and lunch at 4 pm and dinner close to midnight. Though she is healthy, she has a history of serious stomach ailments and anxiety issues. She often tells me that time doesn’t matter. One should eat when one is hungry. When one of our distant relatives was diagnosed with a colon tumor, she pointed out, “See, she had a perfect routine, look what happened.” While I understand her point, I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding. Tumors and eating habits, to my knowledge, aren’t necessarily related. The elderly relative who is now recovering had never seen a doctor before her diagnosis, while my friend frequently visits the doctor for various stomach issues. I believe that regular check-ups and mindful eating habits play a significant role in overall health. 

• The book encouraged me to “Eat the Rainbow,” meaning a variety of colorful vegetables—the brighter, the better. The logic is fascinating: the more challenging the environment for a plant to grow, the brighter it becomes, making it richer in nutrients. It’s like the saying, "A diamond is formed under pressure." While I’m no botanist, I’ve come to believe in this idea. 

• I consciously drink my food- chew it much more than I normally do reducing the strain on my digestive system by making it easier for my intestines to process. 

• The author recommends consuming 30 different varieties of plant-based foods weekly. These can include seeds, herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Thirty sounds like a lot, but if you think about it, it’s very doable. A simple Indian curry, whether fish, meat, or vegetable, typically contains 15 to 20 different spices and herbs. 

• I’ve increased my fiber intake. Typically, our plates have more rice, a small portion of vegetables, and a bit more meat or fish. I’ve reversed that ratio, and it works wonders. 

• Cut out junk completely. The easiest way to learn whether packed food is good is to read the number of ingredients on the back of the pack. If there are more than 10 ingredients and most of them are not whole foods that means you don’t pick them. Of course, most of the supermarket packs are not suitable for consumption if you follow this advice and without a doubt, your supermarket browsing time increases. Two drawbacks! 

• Eat fermented food at least once a day. Apart from curd, the only fermented food I know is Sur. Whenever I am back home, I make it a point to drink a bottle that will take me through to the next 3 months. Kidding! There are other good drinks in the market such as Kefir (Middle Eastern), Kombucha (far eastern), Kimchi (Korean), Sauerkraut (again far eastern). No wonder Far eastern people are thin!! I prefer yogurt and also feel a good idly (rice and urad dal) gives a dose of good bacteria to the gut. Not sure about the science here!

Interestingly, these are the same practices my grandmother followed. It’s shocking that within just two generations, we’ve strayed so far from these healthy habits, and I had to learn them from a book! So much for progress!

I am no botanist or a nutritionist, but these are a few insights I picked up due to my own experience and other’s. Gut problems are on the rise and I thought, I should do what I can. This piece of writing may or may not inspire you to alter your diet, however I believe if it makes you aware of what you put in your mouth, your journey towards good gut health has just begun.

Eat well!!