POST-WEDDING GUT HARMONY

A GENTLE GUT DETOX FOR THE NEWLYWED.

- By Nicole Linhares Kedia

From pre-wedding rituals and after-parties to late-night conversations and heartfelt blessings, weddings are a whirlwind of emotions and indulgence. As the newlywed spotlight shines on you, you find yourself showered not only with love and gifts but also with food and lots of it.

There is no shortage of celebratory sweets gifted by relatives, ghee-laden traditional feasts prepared with love, and back-to-back invites from close friends and family who want to host you. It all adds up to days, sometimes weeks, of overindulgence, multiple meals a day, and sugary treats at every turn. Add in the alcohol from receptions and parties, irregular sleep schedules, missed meals, stress, and you have got the perfect recipe for a digestive system that is completely off balance.

It is completely normal to indulge during these once-in-a-lifetime moments. But what most brides and grooms do not realise is that your gut, the very foundation of your overall health, is the first to feel the aftereffects of these celebrations. Post-wedding, you may begin to experience bloating, constipation, brain fog, fatigue, skin breakouts, or even a weakened immune system. You might also gain a few pounds or two due to water retention, and an irregular sleep cycle. These are not random symptoms, they are your gut’s way of saying.

The digestive tract is not just a food-processing machine; it houses over 70% of your immune system, produces mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin, and plays a critical role in hormonal balance, metabolism, and energy. When overloaded with sugar, refined oils, alcohol, and sleep disruption, your gut microbiome- community of trillions of beneficial bacteria- starts to lose balance. This dysbiosis (imbalance or overgrowth of bad bacteria over the beneficial one) can trigger gut inflammation, sluggish digestion, and you may experience acid reflux, constipation, bloating, and even food intolerance.