Feeling Anxious Or Moody? The Problem Might Be In Your Stomach, Not Your Head (Image Credits: iStock)
We’ve long known the gut as the engine room of digestion, but science now reveals that it’s far more than that. Dubbed the "second brain," our gut is emerging as a critical player in influencing everything from our emotions to immunity and even stubborn weight gain.
“In recent years, research has shown how deeply our gut health is connected to mood regulation, immunity, metabolism, and overall well-being,” says Dr Anju Ghei, Head – Preventive Health at VLCC. “That’s why taking care of your gut is no longer just a digestion issue—it’s a total health mandate.”
The Gut-Brain-Body Axis
What’s going on inside our bodies is nothing short of extraordinary. Our gut harbours trillions of microbes—more than a thousand species—mainly in the small and large intestines. These microscopic residents collectively form the gut microbiome, which not only breaks down food but also influences our mood, immunity, inflammation levels, sleep quality, and metabolic efficiency.
“When your gut is in balance, it produces beneficial compounds like SCFAs—short-chain fatty acids like butyrate and acetate—that support brain health, regulate stress, and keep inflammation in check,” explains Dr Ghei. “A staggering 95 per cent of your body’s serotonin, the 'feel-good' hormone, is produced in the gut. That should tell you something about how mood and gut health are connected.”
However, when the microbiome becomes imbalanced—a condition called dysbiosis—the effects can ripple through the body, leading to issues like anxiety, bloating, weight gain, frequent infections, and even chronic illnesses.
What’s Sabotaging Our Guts?
Modern lifestyles are doing our gut no favours. “Diets packed with sugar, ultra-processed foods, lack of physical activity, stress, poor sleep, and the overuse of antibiotics are major gut disruptors,” says Dr Ghei. “The good news is that while part of our microbiome is inherited at birth, most of it is influenced by our daily habits. So, it’s very much in our control.”
She also warns that Indians are at risk of losing their traditionally strong gut microbiota. “Thanks to home-cooked, fibre-rich diets, Indians have had a robust gut health advantage. But with 70 per cent of urban Indians adopting Western eating habits, low in fibre and high in processed junk, we’re rapidly heading into gut-health trouble.”
Why Your Gut Might Be Making You Moody
Ever had butterflies before a big presentation or felt your stomach drop in fear? That’s not your imagination.
“Our gut houses over 500 million neurons, and it communicates with the brain via the Vagus nerve—the main highway connecting the gut, brain, and heart,” explains Dr Ghei. “Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA originate in the gut. These chemicals influence how we feel, sleep, and respond to stress.”
This explains why chronic stress often manifests as gut issues like IBS, bloating, or acid reflux—and why healing the gut often results in improved emotional balance.
The Gut: Your Immunity PowerhouseNearly 70 per cent of your immune cells live in your gut—making it the first line of defence against infections and chronic disease.
“When the gut lining becomes inflamed or leaky, harmful substances like bacteria and toxins escape into the bloodstream,” warns Dr Ghei. “This sets off a systemic inflammatory response that weakens immunity and increases the risk for allergies and autoimmune disorders.”
In her experience, patients who frequently fall sick often show signs of poor gut health and benefit tremendously from microbiome support.
Weight Gain? Look to Your Gut
If you’re eating right and working out—but the scales won’t budge—your gut might be to blame. “A compromised gut affects how efficiently your body extracts nutrients, stores fat, and regulates metabolism,” says Dr Ghei. “Unless you repair the gut first, fat loss will always be an uphill battle.”
What You Can Do Today for a Healthier Gut
So, how can we care for this second brain of ours? Dr Ghei offers some powerful yet simple lifestyle shifts:
Feed the good guys: “Eat fibre-rich foods—fruits, veggies, whole grains, and prebiotic-rich items like onions, garlic, turmeric, wheat bran, and psyllium husk.”
From shaping our emotional resilience to determining how efficiently we burn calories, the gut does far more than digest our meals.
“It’s time we stop treating gut health as an afterthought,” shares Dr Ghei.
