Nutritionist uncovers the top 3 gut health scams — here’s what you need to know

 

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To verify her claims, indianexpress.com reached out to Meenu Balaji, Chief Nutritionist at Pragmatic Nutrition, Chennai.

1. Taking Probiotics to Heal the Gut

“Probiotics are often promoted for gut health. But they don’t work for everyone. In fact, taking the wrong strain of probiotics can worsen your symptoms,” said Balaji. According to her, here are 2 key factors to consider:

1. Does the probiotic have added sugar or artificial sweetener? Either of them will disturb your gut microbiota balance

2. Is the probiotic acid resistant? If it is not acid resistant then it will not pass through the stomach and reach the intestines. The large intestine is mainly where most of the microorganisms live. Instead eat traditional fermented foods or probiotics like Greek yoghurt or kefir.

2. 15 Days Detox or Cleanse/Gut healing protocol

While these programs may sound interesting and offer effective solutions, Balaji pointed out that they don’t address the root cause. “Although you might see improvement in terms of energy or feel lighter during this time, it can also make you feel dizzy, less energetic, or even lose your muscle mass. You need to retain the muscles for good health,” she said. The organs in the human body such as the liver and kidneys are well equipped to detox and keep us healthy, she added.

3. Plant-based diets may not always improve gut health

Eating more plants and plant-based foods is great for gut health. But if you have digestive issues like acidity, indigestion, or bloating, then eating too much fibre can make things worse. Balaji pointed out that some plant-based foods are hard to digest. Moreover, if not balanced properly a vegan diet can lead to many nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, going completely vegan to improve gut health, may not always help everyone.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.