Latest news with #SurakshithTK
Hindustan Times
04-08-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Do you skip breakfast often? Gastroenterologist shares 4 ways it can affect your digestion
Many people tend to skip breakfast, whether to lose weight, save time, or simply because they don't feel hungry in the morning. However, consistently missing this important meal can have serious effects on your overall health. Also read | What is the 'ideal' breakfast? Study reveals how you should consume your first meal of the day Consistently missing breakfast can have serious health effects.(Freepik) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Surakshith TK, senior consultant-gastroenterology and hepatology, Fortis Escorts, Okhla, said, 'Not eating breakfast is unhealthy for digestion as it slows down metabolism, stimulates the stomach to produce more acid, damages the health of the gut, and leads to excessive consumption of food during the day. For improved digestive health and general well-being, a person should begin the day with breakfast.' 1. Slows down metabolism If you do not have breakfast, your body has no fuel after having rested for an entire night. Your metabolism, thus, slows down. Eating a balanced breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, maintains your blood sugar level steady, and facilitates smooth digestion throughout the day. If you miss breakfast, your body enters starvation mode, and it conserves energy rather than burning it, thus slowing down digestion. Skipping breakfast can increase acid production.(Freepik) 2. Increases acid production Skipping breakfast can increase the amount of acid in the stomach. This excess acid can cause pain and even diseases like acid reflux or gastritis. Since the body is not receiving food in the morning, your stomach continues to produce acid anticipating a meal, which can irritate the stomach lining and esophagus. This pain can disrupt your meal in the second half of the day. Also read | World Nutrition Day: Why a balanced breakfast is key to a healthy day 3. Upsets gut health Your digestive system functions best when it's in a routine, too. Missing meals, especially breakfast, also breaks the regular rhythm of digestion. The gut needs to have an ongoing supply of food so that everything continues to move along and constipation doesn't catch up with you. Missing breakfast makes you balloon, have indigestion, and experience irregular bowel movements as your digestive system weakens. 4. Makes you overeat later Going without breakfast would leave you hungry during the afternoon, and that might lead to overeating during lunch or dinner. This immediate intake of food usually irritates the digestive system and causes bloating, indigestion, or discomfort. Daily intake of small portions over the course of a day, starting from breakfast, is required to maintain the digestive system under control. Also read | 10 high protein Indian breakfast ideas you must try: Nutritionist shares protein content of paneer paratha, omelette Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
News18
06-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Why IBS Is Rising Among Gen Z: Gastroenterologist Explains The Gut-Brain Connection
Last Updated: The Gen Z is reporting a rise in symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A gastroenterologist explains the gut-brain connection behind this digestive crisis. IBS not only impacts physical health, but also emotional well-being. Once considered a condition predominantly affecting older adults, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is now making an unexpected surge among Gen Z, raising red flags. Physicians are observing a marked uptick in cases, with young adults increasingly reporting chronic digestive problems such as bloating, cramping, irregular bowel movements, that mirror classic IBS symptoms. What's causing this generational shift? Growing research points to a complex and often overlooked culprit: the gut-brain axis. The Gut-Brain Connection Dr. Surakshith TK, Senior Consultant-Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Fortis Escorts in Okhla, New Delhi, says, 'The brain and the gut talk to each other all the time in a sophisticated system of nerves, hormones, and biochemical messengers called the gut-brain axis. When mental stability breaks down, particularly because of constant stress or anxiety, the digestive system will respond. In Gen Z, a generation under siege with higher levels of stress and anxiety, this union is more important than ever." advetisement Why Gen Z Is at Risk Multiple factors are converging into this crisis of the gut. Educational stress, social media, financial insecurity, and the post-pandemic world have fuelled the anxiety levels of Gen Z. Dr Surakshith notes, 'Poor eating, sleep disturbance at night, and lack of physical activity all promote gut dysfunction. All of these can blend together into IBS symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, and change in bowel habits." IBS, Anxiety, and the Vicious Cycle IBS and anxiety are deeply intertwined, each feeding into the other. Anxiety can worsen IBS symptoms, while persistent gastrointestinal discomfort can heighten stress and mental fatigue, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that's hard to break. This impacts not just physical health, but also emotional well-being, productivity, and overall quality of life. Breaking the Cycle: A Holistic Approach Dr Surakshith says, 'Addressing IBS in Gen Z requires more than symptomatic treatment, it demands a holistic strategy. Practices like mindfulness, stress management, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) have been shown to significantly improve both mental and digestive health." He adds, 'Diet plays a crucial role too. Identifying and eliminating trigger foods, while incorporating gut-friendly ingredients, can go a long way in easing flare-ups and discomfort." The surge in IBS cases among Gen Z is more than a medical concern; it's a reflection of deeper psychological and societal pressures. First Published: July 06, 2025, 19:41 IST News lifestyle » health-and-fitness Why IBS Is Rising Among Gen Z: Gastroenterologist Explains The Gut-Brain Connection Latest News Why IBS Is Rising Among Gen Z: Gastroenterologist Explains The Gut-Brain Connection health and fitness New Delhi Will New Delhi Railway Station Be Renamed Atal Bihari Vajpayee? Lok Sabha MP Writes To Ministry Agency feeds Foreign liquor worth Rs 1 crore seized near UP-Bihar border Agency feeds UP: One dies, 70 fall ill after consuming biryani during Muharram procession Agency feeds England slump to 153/6 losing Stokes at stroke of lunch latest news
