3 Herbs For Gut Health: Harvard, AIIMS-Trained Doctor's Daily Digestive Ritual
Let's admit it: Our gut is the unsung hero of overall health. It is not just a digestion machine; it is a dynamic system that influences everything from our mood and energy levels to our immune response. When our gut is happy, our whole body feels the difference. While probiotics like yogurt often steal the spotlight, there are equally powerful ingredients hiding in plain sight, right in your kitchen. We are talking about herbs and spices.
These natural ingredients have been used for centuries to soothe the stomach, reduce inflammation, and support digestive balance. And the best part? You don't need a complicated regimen. Just a few simple additions to your daily routine can make a big impact.
Recently, Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford, shared his go-to herbal trio for gut health. These ingredients are easy to find, easy to use, and backed by science. Curious to know what they are? Let's dive in.
Also Read: Gut Issues During Monsoon? Your Favourite Chai-Pakora Combo Might Be The Real Culprit
Here Are 3 Simple Herbs And Spices That Can Heal Your Gut Naturally:
1. Turmeric: The Golden Healer
How It Helps:
Turmeric is a staple in Indian kitchens and a superstar when it comes to gut health. Its active compound, curcumin, is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps soothe the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and may even support healing in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis.
Dr. Sethi recommends adding turmeric to evening yogurt, but with a twist. "Make sure to put in a little bit of black pepper for proper absorption," he says.
Why black pepper? It contains piperine, a compound that enhances curcumin absorption. A small pinch goes a long way.
Also Read: Does Cooking Turmeric Destroy Its Benefits? Here's The Answer!
Photo Credit: iStock
2. Ginger: The Gut Soother
How It Helps:
Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powerhouse. It helps reduce gut inflammation, relieve nausea, and stimulate digestive enzymes. It is especially helpful for those dealing with bloating, indigestion, or gastritis.
Dr. Sethi's go-to method? "Ginger in my evening tea. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can also help with nausea," he states
Quick Tip: Add fresh ginger to your tea or warm water for a calming, gut-friendly drink that also tastes great.
Also Read: Homemade Ginger Cough Drops In 10 Mins - You Just Need 2 Ingredients
Photo Credit: iStock
3. Fennel Seeds: The Digestive Hero
How It Helps:
Fennel seeds have long been used as a post-meal digestive aid. They help relax the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract, easing bloating, gas, and cramping. The key compound here is anethole, which has soothing effects on the gut.
The expert keeps it simple: "Unsweetened fennel seeds after my dinner. It contains anethole, which can relieve bloating and gas."
Also Read: Saunf Ka Sherbet - The Perfect Drink For Hot Summer Days
Pho to Credit: iStock
The Bottom Line:
You do not need fancy supplements or expensive detox kits to support your gut. Sometimes, the most effective remedies are already in your kitchen. By incorporating turmeric, ginger, and fennel seeds into your daily routine, in moderation, you can give your digestive system the love it deserves. So go ahead and spice things up. Your gut will thank you.
Advertisement
About Somdatta Saha Explorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.
For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube.
Tags:
Gut Health Herbs
Natural Remedies For Digestion
AIIMS Harvard Gastroenterologist Advice
Show full article
Comments
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Beige flag: Do global beauty brands understand Indian skin?
On Nykaa and Tira, the serums are 8% Glycolic, 2% Salicylic and 10% Vitamin C. On Insta, an NRI skinfluencer (ugh, they call themselves that!) is convinced that drinking soy-turmeric latte cured his acne. On billboards, global skincare brands claim that their new moisturiser is formulated for Indian skin, but can't explain what 'Indian skin' means. White women are worshipping sunlight, Asian women are buying anti-UVA face hoodies. Indians, battling nationwide Vitamin D deficiency and a preference for fair skin, can't decide between sun and shade. Meanwhile, grandma has no crow's feet or laugh lines; mum and dad have hyperpigmentation from years of dusty commutes; your older cousin's Insta-approved retinol regime is drying out her skin; and your BFF is at the dermatologist, learning the hard way that Indians need sunscreen too India's beauty boom in the last decade has put more ideas, products and beauty routines within our reach. But it's also made us more confused about what our skin does (and doesn't) need. Actors such as Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Kriti Sanon and Priyanka Chopra have launched beauty brands. Homegrown lines incorporate everything from K-beauty to Ayurveda. And dermatologists are busy at lunchtime, performing non-invasive anti-ageing, spot correcting treatments. We're moisturised, but we're hardly unbothered. So, we asked experts the basics. What, given our ethnic diversity, does Indian skin even mean? What is smog doing to city skin that it isn't doing in less-polluted villages? What do Brown people worry about as they age, if not crow's feet? Does the Western formula for fillers and injectables work differently on Indian features? And crucially, which global beauty benchmarks just don't work for India? We're more than our skin colour, see how much more: Is there such a thing as Indian skin? Dermatologists typically use the Fitzpatrick scale, a set of deepening skin tones, to determine how much melanin pigment a person's skin contains. So far, so good. But on a scale of I to VI, people from India fall anywhere from Type III to VI. That's half the scale already, and we're only measuring colour. We're just too diverse to be grouped under a set of skin colours, says Dr Satish Bhatia, board-certified MD, dermatologist and skin surgeon at the Indian Cancer Society Mumbai. Two people, who start life with the same skin colour, can still develop differences in their skin's ceramide levels and the structure, which can affect how the organ reacts to the environment and their own lifestyles. A study published by market research group Kantar and the skincare brand Dermafique in 2023 identified the following characteristics of Indian skin: Higher melanin content, greater pigmentation, larger and deeper pores, and surprisingly, dryer skin. A bonus: Deeper skin tones also tend to be susceptible to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. So, breakouts leave scars, even vigorous rubbing can leave a dark cast. They're the kinds of concerns Indians are familiar with, but which international brands (which advertise glow, suppleness and wrinkle-filling) often fail to address. What concerns do people in India typically have with their skin? All skin darkens in the sun. But for darker skin, prolonged exposure doesn't just cause a tan – UV radiation can cause dark blotches and can cause oily and dry patches to develop simultaneously. 'High-altitude regions such as parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may experience increased UV exposure, leading to pigmentation and sensitivity,' says Vivek Sahni, founder of Kama Ayurveda. Those facing the extreme weather variations of North India suffer from dry skin and flakiness. Along the coasts, the high humidity tends to trap bacteria in oily skins, resulting in more breakouts and scalp issues. Meanwhile, those in arid Rajasthan and Punjab, which rely on hard water with high mineral content, grapple with dry, irritable skin. For those in big cities, air pollution can make skin appear dull and clog pores, making skin look older. 'Even within cities, lifestyle, diet, and stress levels play a role,' says Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, chief dermatologist and founder of Alive Wellness Clinics, and skincare line Alive & Well. Our melanin-rich complexions make us more prone to hyperpigmentation from acne scars, sun damage or inflammation. So, what might be a quick pimple for someone else could leave behind a stubborn mark for us. The catch-all term Indian skin, it turns out, doesn't just defy geography, it also stumps biology. What does ageing really mean for Brown people? 'Signs of ageing, such as crow's feet or fine lines appear much later on deeper skin tones compared to lighter ones, but when they arrive, they are often accompanied by textural changes and loss of elasticity,' says Sahni. 'We also tend to develop uneven skin tones owing to high UV exposure, and deal with sensitivity and inflammation triggered by pollution or harsh products.' Whatever you do, don't run to the kitchen for a natural remedy. Not everything there is meant for your face despite what the soft-focus Insta Reel and an influencer's soothing voice-over says. Indians tend to use lemon juice and baking soda as topical applications, both harsh agents that can cause sensitivity or even burns. 'I don't recommend home, kitchen or Instagram remedies as they may lead to disastrous results without dermatological supervision,' says Dr Bhatia. Remember those deep dense pores from the Kantar study? They get clogged easily. So, even when they're not causing breakouts, they're preventing expensive serums from sinking deep into the skin and doing their job. 'Exfoliation is key for Indian skin, so that skincare can perform well,' says Dr Geeta Grewal, cosmetic surgeon and founder of Gurugram-based 9 Muses wellness clinic. No. No scrubbing – that's just going to bring on hyperpigmentation. Use a mild chemical exfoliant instead. Are injectables and professional treatments adapted for Indian faces? We've seen what botched Botox and excess fillers can do to White celebrities: Too-full lips, comically rounded cheekbones, the eye area stretched back so tight, it looks almost anime. Of course, Indians are wary. Dr Grewal says we're not just afraid of the results, but also of being outed as adopting these measures. Most clinics that offer fillers and treatments follow a template that was configured for rich, ageing, White women. Dr Chhabra warns against going for a style that is trending. The differences in Indians' bone structure, fat distribution and skin behaviour as we age can affect the way the treatments work. Recent dermatology journals have highlighted how post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is more common in skin of colour and how we need tailored protocols, especially for lasers and peels. Those haven't been introduced yet. But some solutions work especially well for us Brown folks. Content creator and lifestyle influencer Gitika Gupta (@ says she regularly gets platelet-rich-plasma injections, which inject the plasma from her own blood back into her skin, to give it a more youthful appearance. She also tried (and liked) a mono threads session, in which tiny threads are inserted into the skin to stimulate collagen production and give the face a lifted look. 'These treatments help if you want great skin as you age,' she says. But only a good dermatologist will be able to determine if they work on a particular individual. Either way, regardless of where you fall on the Fitzpatrick scale, how oily your skin, how humid or arid your neighbourhood, how stressed you are, how your skin develops scars, and how much you're eyeing a collagen injection, 'sunscreen is an absolute must,' says Grewal. And no one should start any skincare routine or treatment without the advice of a licensed dermatologist. From HT Brunch, June 14, 2025 Follow us on
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Air India crash: Who is the Canadian killed in the AI-171 crash; death toll 269
Dr. Nirali Sureshkumar Patel, a 32-year-old dentist from Mississauga, Ontario, was returning home after a short trip to India when her flight, Air India Flight 171, crash ed into a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner , carrying 242 people, went down just a few seconds into the flight, igniting into a fireball and killing at least 269 people: 241 on board and 28 on the ground. Gone too soon Described by family friends as "absolutely shocking," Nirali was en route to rejoin her husband and their one-year-old child in Etobicoke. She earned her dental degree in India in 2016, immigrated to Canada, and received her Ontario license in 2019. She built a thriving practice in Mississauga and was known for caring for patients with gentle expertise and boundless compassion. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Rich Man Keeps Annoying Royal Guard, But He Didnt Expect This To Happen Learn It Wise Undo The Canadian Press quotes her husband: 'That was my wife. I am not in a state to speak right now.' This simple statement speaks volumes. Her parents, brother, and sister-in-law in Brampton are being aided by community members scrambling to make travel arrangements to India. The Hindu Federation urged temples to hold memorial prayers, affirming their belief that 'while their bodies have perished, their spirits endure'. Live Events Support and condolences pour in Local leaders and loved ones are rallying around her family. Ontario Premier Doug Ford extended heartfelt condolences from the province, while Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was 'devastated' and assured close collaboration between Canadian and Indian transport officials. A community leader, Don Patel, who knows Nirali's family in Brampton, said, 'Sometimes words might not help them, but moral support or just showing up… gives them so much strength.' The crash The flight crashed into the BJ Medical College campus in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, tragically killing medical students and injuring dozens of others. Only one passenger survived out of all 242 passengers: British-Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, an almost miraculous testament amid destruction. CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts show the plane struggled to gain altitude before plummeting into a hostel, leaving behind charred remains and wreckage embedded in the building. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading a wide-ranging probe with US FAA, NTSB, Boeing, and GE Aerospace support. Investigators are examining possible engine rollbacks and fuel issues. This was the first fatal crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner—an aircraft with a reputation for safety, which raises urgent questions about aviation protocols and oversight.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
How the black pepper found its way around the globe
Thousands of years ago in the forests of southern India, humans discovered a fiery berry growing on a vine. The plant was easy to overlook amid the splendour of its tropical surroundings. It bore no large, brightly-coloured blooms, nor did it let off any striking aroma. Yet, when its berries were picked before ripening and left to dry, they turned into wrinkled little grains packed with marvellous flavour and health benefits: black pepper. Soon, pepper was making its way into food and concoctions to cure all kinds of ailments, from tummy troubles to colds, coughs and fevers. Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, is full of references to it. In time, traders took this wondrous spice to foreign lands. From mummification in ancient Egypt to Roman cookbooks, black pepper found its way into cultures all around the world and, by the Middle Ages, it had become one of the world's most sought-after commodities. So prized was pepper that it came to command 10 times the price of any other spice and could be traded for gold and silver in many parts of Europe. Even though Europe treasured pepper, it grew only in faraway tropical lands and very few Europeans had actually seen a pepper plant growing in the wild. But this didn't stop people from conjuring some truly bizarre ideas about the origins of the valuable spice. One of the most persistent myths came from Bartholomew the Englishman, a teacher and writer (no less!) who lived the 13th century and wrote encyclopaedias. He claimed that pepper grew in forests guarded by serpents and to harvest it, men had to chase away these serpents using fire, which ended up burning the berry and turning it black! On the move Such beliefs could only be well and truly extinguished during the 15th and 16th centuries, when ambitious Europeans set sail on the vast ocean and braved countless hazards to directly get to the source of the spice and other such riches from the east. An age of unprecedented global trade had dawned upon the world and pungent pepper led the way. The Portuguese, who were the first to reach the coast of India and directly import pepper into Europe, reaped staggering profits from this trade. Meanwhile, bringing down the cost of pepper for English consumers was one of the major reasons behind the establishment of the East India Company that eventually conquered India and made it part of the enormous British Empire. Gradually, the spice that had been considered rare and precious for most of human history, particularly in the West, became commonplace. By the 18th century, the spice trade itself had been eclipsed by other luxuries that had caught the European imagination.
