Let me share a warning that hit home. “Regular use of antacids is a big red flag,” said celebrity nutritionist Kavita Devgan at a recent wellness event organized by The Mind Diaries (a magazine on mental health). “Within no time, it will move from belly to brain and cause minor to major mental health issues.”
That line stayed with me. Because how often do we pop an antacid without a second thought — after a heavy meal, a stressful day, or a late-night binge? What seems like a harmless quick fix can quietly throw your entire system off balance. When your gut bacteria go haywire, your mood, hormones, and even mental health start to feel the ripple effect. “Every other person I meet today has bloating, flatulence, constipation. Only the degree varies and to what extent they are suffering,” Devgan added. “It’s become normalized, but it shouldn’t be.”
Why Gut Health Matters More to Women
For women, gut health isn’t just about digestion — it’s about hormones, emotions, and even reproduction. The gut hosts trillions of bacteria that influence everything from metabolism to mood. An imbalance in this ecosystem, called dysbiosis, can disrupt estrogen metabolism, leading to PMS, irregular periods, or hormonal swings.
Research shows women are more prone to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and altered gut microbiomes are linked with PCOS, endometriosis, and recurrent infections. The gut–brain connection is equally crucial — since gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, any imbalance here can trigger anxiety, depression, or brain fog.
Over 90% of the body’s serotonin — the “happiness hormone” — is produced in the gut. So when your gut is unhappy, your mood follows. And that’s why women — who already juggle hormonal shifts, stress, and multitasking overload — must make gut health a non-negotiable part of self-care.
Most women miss the early red flags. Frequent bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, irregular bowel movements, fatigue, or skin sensitivity are subtle signs that your gut is under stress. Even mood swings and PMS symptoms often trace back to poor digestion.
Start Simple: Feed Your Gut Right
Begin with prebiotics and probiotics. Probiotics are the “good bacteria” — found in yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and fermented foods — that help restore balance in your digestive system. Prebiotics are their favourite food — fibres found in bananas, garlic, onions, oats, and flaxseeds that help these good bacteria thrive.
Think of it as gardening for your gut — prebiotics are the soil, probiotics are the plants. Nourish both, and your inner ecosystem will flourish. Add in mindful eating, hydration, regular movement, and enough sleep — and you’ll notice how your digestion, skin, and even mental clarity improve. Because when your gut feels good, everything feels better.
When Celebrities and Science Agree
At a recent Yakult event, actor Taapsee Pannu echoed this truth: “Good health begins in the gut.” She shared how she once struggled with digestive issues that affected her energy, mood, and fitness. “I had to fix my gut with a clean diet and intermittent fasting,” she said, adding that learning when not to eat was as crucial as what to eat.
“If your gut is healthy, you can achieve anything with your health — from six-pack abs to glowing skin to a younger look,” she added.
Backing her up with science, Dr. Neerja Hajela, Chief Science Officer, Yakult Danone India, said, “You are not what you eat — you are what you absorb.” She explained how Yakult’s unique Shirota strain enhances nutrient absorption and digestion by boosting good bacteria in the gut.
How to Heal the Gut — the Right Way
Fixing the gut isn’t about fancy diets or detox teas. It’s about restoring rhythm and respect for your body’s natural cycles. Experts recommend a few golden rules:
Eat consciously: Follow the 30:70 rule — keep 70% of your diet plant-based and limit processed foods.
Hydrate deeply: “How will the gut function if it’s dry?” says Devgan. Water is the simplest yet most powerful detox.
Give your gut a break: Try a 12:12 or 14:10 eating window. Intermittent fasting once a week gives your gut time to repair.
Eat mindfully: “All it takes is the first three bites,” says a psychologist. “Engage your senses — see, smell, hear the crunch — and you’re already slowing down your stress response.”
Beyond food: Gut yoga, breathing exercises, and meditation now form part of the wellness wave. Stress management is as critical as nutrition — when cortisol spikes, digestion shuts down.
The WomanWise Takeaway
If you’ve been feeling bloated, anxious, or low on energy, it may not just be all in your head. It might actually begin in your belly. If you want to solve your mental health, first fix your gut — because there is a deep, two-way connection between the brain and the intestine (what scientists now call the second brain).
Your gut is not just an organ — it’s a messenger. It tells you when something deeper is off. For women juggling multiple roles, listening to that message is vital.
A happy gut can mean calmer moods, balanced hormones, glowing skin, and sharper focus. In the end, good gut health isn’t vanity — it’s vitality.
