Your gut and your brain work in tandem. Therefore, any kind of stress directly affects your gut and the digestive system, and thereby rest of the body’s functioning. The gut and brain are connected to each other via a system of nerves called Enteric Nervous System. Thus, the gut and brain are in constantly communicating with each other.

What happens in our mind directly and immediately affects our gut and vice versa. Stress causes inflammation of the gut lining and increase in intestinal permeability leading to leaky gut. It also shifts body from a state of rest and digest to a state of fight and flight, thus shutting down digestive system. Stress alters the ratio of good and bad bacteria and lead to dysbiosis which dampens our immunity.

It is possible to reverse the effects of stress by maintaining a good probiotic ratio in the gut. Practicing deep breathing is another way to calm your mind, and hence the gut. It will help to add natural gut healers like or cow ghee, coconut oil, Omega 3 rich foods, L-glutamine, zinc, and selenium to diet.