The Hidden Power of Your Gut : How Your Digestive System Controls Your Mood, Immunity, and Overall Health

For centuries, the gut was considered’ nothing more than a food-process-ing organ-a system that chewed, digested, absorbed nutrients, and expelled waste.

- BY DR AFTAB JAN

But groundbreaking scientific research in the last two decades has com-pletely transformed our understanding of the human digestive system. Today, the gut is recognized as one of the most complex and intelligent systems in the body, second only to the brain. It contains over 100 million neurons, more than in the spinal cord, and houses trillions of microor-ganisms-collectively known as the gut microbiome. These include not just bac-teria, but also fungi, virus-es, archaea, and even pro-tozoa. This ecosystem is not a passive group of passen-gers; they actively shape our digestion, immunity, hormone levels, and even our emotions and thought processes. Scientists now use the term "second brain” for the gut because of its ability to communicate with the central nervous system, regulate neuro-transmitters, and influence our overall health in pro-found ways. The gut is not just a digestive tract-it is a powerful biochemical labo-ratory that determines how we live and feel.