World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) is an initiative by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and is celebrated worldwide annually on May 29. WDHD aims to encourage good digestive health while increasing public awareness of stomach and intestinal disorders. Each year, WDHD focuses on a particular theme and seeks to increase general public awareness of prevention and therapy. “Your Digestive Health: A Healthy Gut from the Start” is the theme and focus of the 2023 WDHD campaign. The theme aims to promote the importance of a healthy diet in the encouragement of optimal gastrointestinal function and gut microbiome health. It’s time to remember the Hippocrates quote ‘All disease begins in the gut – Heal the gut to prevent and manage disease”, on this occasion.
Digestive health
Healthy digestion, also called digestive health, results in the absorption of nutrients from food without distressing symptoms1. Healthy digestion follows having a healthy fiber-rich diet, doing appropriate self-care and discipline including physical activity and exercise, minimizing activities like smoking or consuming alcoholic drinks which impair digestion, and managing any medical condition which disrupts digestion to the best of one’s ability.
The ever-increasing prevalence of digestive disorders
It is estimated that in the USA, about 11% of the population suffers from chronic digestive diseases, with a prevalence rate as high as 35% for those 65 years or over. Seven out of every 10 people in urban India experience digestive or gut health issues – this is what was revealed by the survey conducted by Country Delight in partnership with Indian Dietetic Association, Mumbai. The survey also reported that ~63 percent of respondents consume junk or processed or packaged food every week, and gastric issues were recorded among 68 percent of them.
Without good digestive health, one would experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms and eventually a variety of digestive disorders. Common symptoms of digestive discomfort include Abdominal pain, infrequent bowel movement, and bloating. feeling more stressed, and lethargic. subdued well-being and low mood. The digestive system comprises the gastrointestinal tract (GI), liver, pancreas, and gallbladder and their concerted action helps the body in proper food digestion. Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which our body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. The foods we eat and our lifestyle can affect the digestive system’s functions.
There are five simple steps to help maintain one’s good digestive health:
- Eat a healthy diet particularly foods rich in fiber.
- Eat moderately and portion size matters.
- Ensure adequate fluid intake.
- Keep yourself active; and physical activity matters.
- Reduce/manage your stress levels. With routine digestive health care, you can ensure better digestive health and prevent as well as reduce digestive health diseases.
All disease begins in the gut – Hippocrates
All disease begins in the gut – Heal the gut to prevent disease – this the what the quote by the famous ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. Alterations in the gut microbiota diversity could be an early warning sign for several disease states including digestive diseases and recent studies emphasize that specific microbial fingerprints and their metabolites are expected to reliably predict disease risk in the host. The good news is that we can beneficially modulate the gut microbes with appropriate diet consumption of fiber-rich foods, microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MAC), and prebiotics.
Yet another complication of diabetes -Diabetic Gastropathy
Gastrointestinal manifestations of diabetes (abnormally delayed gastric emptying or diabetic gastroparesis) are common and represent a substantial cause of morbidity and health care costs. Gastrointestinal manifestations of diabetes also impose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. It is important to recognize that there exists an interdependent relationship between gastric emptying with postprandial glycemia. While elevated blood glucose is known to slow gastric emptying, conversely, the rate of emptying is a major determinant of the glycemic response to a meal. This is what is successfully handled pharmacologically by the GLP-1 receptor agonists to improve postprandial glycemic control in type 2 diabetes by slowing gastric emptying. As diabetic gastropathy is emerging as still another complication of diabetes, there is an imperative need for a holistic and symbiotic integration between diabetologists and gastroenterologists to prevent and manage the dual burden of diabetes and digestive health disorders.
Stress can aggravate digestive disorders
It seems chronic stress can worsen the symptoms of a variety of digestive disorders including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue. If the stress response is triggered too often, the body has a harder time recovering. This impedes the flow of digestion and can cause stomach upset and drive a variety of digestive disorders. Stress can cause acid reflux, bloating, constipation, cramps, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, increase/decrease in appetite, indigestion, inflammation, nausea, and stomach pain/discomfort.
Recently, scientists have discovered certain chemical cues produced in the brain lead to a cascade of events that triggers immune cells in the gut. After a surge of stress, the brain sends signals to the adrenal glands, which release chemicals called glucocorticoids that primarily act on immune cells to curtain inflammation. Recent studies imply that glucocorticoids act on neurons in the gut and on cells called glia that connect gut neurons and end up causing pain and inflammation.
The gut is the highest area of nerves outside of the brain and is sometimes called the “second brain”. It appears that molecules in the signaling pathway that runs from the brain to the gut would become futuristic targets for new pharmacological treatments. There are ways to manage stress and decrease symptoms affecting the digestive system and this includes regular exercise, breathing, relaxation therapy, proper diet and supplementation, cognitive behavior therapy, and finally medication if necessary.
As global awareness of digestive health is growing, so is the demand for digestive products. There is huge attention globally – hope and hype on digestive health market size and share – which includes the ingredient type (Probiotics, Prebiotics, Digestive Enzymes/Food Enzymes), product type (Functional Foods & Beverages, Vitamins & Dietary Supplements), and Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Hospital Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, etc.). All these need regulatory norms and vigilance control by the national and international governments.
To conclude, Digestive Health matters and we need to maintain a healthy gut – from birth to the elderly life. Maintaining a good bacterial diversity (microbiota) in the gut is significantly important for the prevention and management of several diseases as well as digestive disorders. So, remember, you may be financially rich, but you should be rich enough in your gut microbiota – Healthy gut = Digestive health.
References
World Digestive Health Day Blog | Digestive Disease Care
Schneider, K. M. et al. Cell: The enteric nervous system relays psychological stress to intestinal inflammation
Metagenomics Health Claim: Are You Rich Enough in Your Gut Micro Biota?
Article by M Balasubramanyam: Eat MAC Diet! – That ensure Microbial Health and thereby Your Own Health
About the author: Dr M Balasubramanyam, PhD, FAMS, MNASc, FAPASc, FASCh, is the ICMR Emeritus Scientist working with Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, India.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of Healthcare Radius.
