Organized by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), the World Digestive Health Day is celebrated annually on May 29 to raise global awareness about the importance of a healthy digestive system.

This day is also a reminder that a healthy digestive system is essential for overall health and quality of life. This was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 to mark the 45th anniversary of the organization.

As we observe the World Digestive Health Day, we spoke to Dr Ankur Jain, who is a senior consultant and unit head of gastroenterology, hepatology & endoscopy at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka about how digestive health impacts differently for women and what must be kept in mind to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

Milk, Digestion, PCOS, and Hormones

While in conversation, a question that one cannot look away from when it comes to digestive health is whether dairy consumption is good for your gut. Especially when it comes to women, many studies have provided that women who have PCOS may actually be at an disadvantage if they consume dairy products. While many other studies, including a 1981 published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlighted the rates of lactose intolerance in Indians. More and more studies have suggested that South Asians, regardless of their genders are in fact lactose intolerant. In such case, what must be done with dairy consumption?

Dr Jain explains that milk is not inherently harmful, but for some women—especially those with PCOS—it may exacerbate inflammation or hormonal imbalances. Additionally, many South Asian women are lactose intolerant, which can cause bloating, gas, and discomfort. "That said, milk is not the only source of calcium," he says. "Leafy greens like kale and spinach, sesame seeds, tofu, almonds, and fortified plant-based milks (like almond, soy, or oat) are excellent dairy-free alternatives rich in calcium and other vital nutrients."

While he also agrees that lactose intolerance is highly prevalent in South Asia, yet dairy has held a revered place in Indian culture for centuries, especially in the form of fermented products like curd, paneer, and ghee, which are often easier to digest. "Western influence likely reinforced the idea of milk as a daily dietary essential, especially in post-colonial nutrition guidelines. Today, we need a more nuanced view: dairy can be part of a healthy diet if well tolerated, but it's not indispensable," he says.

When asked why women often experience more digestive issues like bloating, constipation or IBS-like symptoms during hormonal changes he says, "hormones like estrogen and progesterone have a direct impact on gut motility and sensitivity. During menstruation or menopause, fluctuations can slow digestion, leading to bloating or constipation. During pregnancy, rising progesterone levels relax the gut, compounding these issues."

So, what can be done? "Staying hydrated, eating fiber-rich foods, engaging in regular movement, and managing stress are all natural ways to support gut health during these times. Herbal teas like peppermint or ginger can also soothe digestive discomfort," he says.

Probiotics - A Buzzword Or More?

Probiotics aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, the doctor notes. "For women with diagnosed conditions like IBS, recurrent UTIs, or after antibiotic use, probiotics can be beneficial," explains Dr Jain.

However, for otherwise healthy women, he advises for a balanced diet rich in prebiotics—like garlic, onions, and oats—can be just as effective in supporting a healthy microbiome. If choosing a probiotic, look for strains backed by clinical research (like Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Bifidobacterium infantis) and products that guarantee live cultures at the time of consumption.

A Healthy Diet Is The Key

Processed foods high in sugar, refined oils, and preservatives are among the biggest health culprits, notes Dr Jain. "Even frequent use of artificial sweeteners and excessive caffeine can disturb gut flora," he says.

"On the flip side, everyday habits like chewing food slowly, eating meals at regular times, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are often overlooked but incredibly powerful in supporting gut health. Fermented foods like homemade curd or kanji, when well tolerated, can also act as natural probiotics."

Walk down any supermarket aisle, and it can feel like decoding a chemistry experiment just to buy dinner. "High-protein" cereal bars, "plant-based" ready meals, labels yell health, but many of them fall in the ultra-processed foods (UPFs) category. Recent studies show that even moderate intakes of these foods can play havoc with male reproductive systems and metabolic functions, raising serious questions about the unknown danger lurking in our contemporary diets.

In the last 50 years, obesity and type-2 diabetes prevalence have increased globally, whereas sperm quality has plummeted. This synchronous trend has led researchers to examine dietary drivers of these changes. Ultra-processed foods, containing high levels of refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, and additives, have been identified as a key culprit. In contrast to unprocessed foods, such foods are industrially processed, frequently low in fiber, and liable to impart concealed chemical contaminants, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

"Even when eaten in moderation, ultra-processed foods are damaging to reproductive and metabolic health," explains Jessica Preston, lead author of a groundbreaking study at the University of Copenhagen's NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR). "It is not overeating them but their processed nature that makes them risky."

Why Same Calorie Consumption Have Different Consequences?

To understand the true impact of UPFs, researchers conducted a rigorous randomized controlled trial. Forty-three men, aged 20 to 35, participated in a crossover study comparing ultra-processed and minimally processed diets. Each diet was carefully matched for calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fats, and participants were unaware of which diet they were on.

The results were surprising, men added around 1 kilogram of fat mass on the ultra-processed diet, even when calorie consumption was similar. Cardiovascular indicators such as LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure also deteriorated with UPF intake, emphasizing that these foods influence metabolism more than just calorie content.

Pollutants in Your Plate

UPFs not only are nutritionally poorer but also usually contaminated with chemical substances such as phthalates, which have a disrupting effect on hormones. The research established high concentrations of cxMINP, a metabolite of phthalates, among subjects eating ultra-processed foods. The substances associated with reduced testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, both important in the production of sperm.

Professor Romain Barrès, senior author of the study, underscores the broader implications, “We were shocked by how many body functions were disrupted, even in healthy young men. These results signal a need to revisit dietary guidelines to protect long-term reproductive and metabolic health.”

How is UPFs and Male Fertility Connected?

Dropping sperm counts are a worldwide concern, with research indicating around a 60% decline since the 1970s. Obesity and suboptimal dietary intake of fats play a role, but UPFs introduce a chemical element. The recent trial validated hormonal changes related to reproduction, such as reduced follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and trends toward reducing testosterone. Sperm motility also tended to decline, although change was not statistically significant in the short-term study.

These results are echoed in larger epidemiological studies correlating the consumption of UPFs with obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even mental illness. The combination of chemical exposure, diets poor in nutrients, and metabolically disrupted metabolism makes UPFs especially pernicious.

How To Recognize Ultra-Processed Foods?

In spite of all this danger, UPFs own the shelves in supermarkets, camouflaged as health foods. Some telltale signs include:

Emulsifiers: Employed to mix ingredients together and produce creamy textures. Research indicates they can interfere with gut microbiota and the intestinal mucus barrier.

1. Artificial sweeteners: Contained in low-calorie beverages and foods, these substances can quietly affect appetite and gut microbiota.
2. Modified starches: Digested speedily and containing low amounts of fiber, they cause peaks in blood glucose with minimal nutrition.
3. Protein isolates: Typical of shakes and meat alternatives, these isolate protein from its native environment and indicate intensive processing.
4. Stabilizers and gums: Added to enhance texture, these are unknown in home kitchens and lead to gastrointestinal distress.

A useful rule is the "five-ingredient test": if you do not know five or more ingredients, it is probably ultra-processed. Or ask yourself whether you would normally stock these products in your pantry. Ingredients such as invert syrup, carboxymethylcellulose, and artificial flavorings are obvious warning signs.

How to Make Smarter Swaps To Make At The Grocery Store

Cutting UPF intake doesn't need drastic lifestyle adjustment. Minimally processed, simple alternatives can offer the same convenience without toxic additives:

1. Packed legumes and fish: Canned beans, chickpeas, lentils, and plain fish are healthy and shelf-stable.
2. Frozen vegetables and fruits: Often as nutrient-dense as fresh counterparts.
3. Whole grains: Opt for plain brown rice or quinoa pouches in lieu of flavored instant packets.
4. Additive-free sauces: Passata, tahini, pesto, and coconut milk present wholesome, ready-to-use meal bases.

Ultra-processed foods are not simply "empty calories." They are designed foods that disrupt metabolic well-being, hormonal balance, and reproductive health, even when consumed in moderate quantities. For males, the effects can be weight gain, changed cholesterol, and diminished fertility.

Although UPFs are not going away from world diets anytime in the near future, knowledge and wise food choices can help counteract them. Making whole and minimally processed foods a priority is not merely a plan for improved health, it is a protection for ongoing reproductive and metabolic health.

Intermittent fasting is a very popular way of eating that focuses on when you eat, not necessarily what you eat. The most common method involves eating all of your food for the day within a short time frame, often an eight-hour window, and then not eating anything for the other 16 hours. People like it because it seems like an easy way to get healthier without having to count calories or cut out carbs.

However, is this healthy diet the reason for your declining health? Although it is said to be a good habit for your gut health and digestive health, could it slowly be chipping away at your heart health? A new study published in the Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews looked into the same and found that it does more than slowly decline your health, it could also raise your mortality rate.

Is Intermittent Fasting Risky?

In the study, more than 19,000 adults has raised some serious concerns. It found that people who ate all their food in less than eight hours a day had a 135% higher risk of dying from heart and blood vessel disease than people who ate over a period of 12 to 14 hours.

This higher risk was found in all kinds of people, but it was strongest for smokers and people who already had health problems like diabetes or heart disease. While the study doesn't prove that intermittent fasting is the direct cause, it's a strong warning sign that it might not be a completely safe and easy way to get healthy.

Pros And Cons of Intermittent Fasting

Some smaller, short-term studies have shown that intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and improve your heart health. However, this new study brings a big concern to the table. An expert said that while this diet might help you lose weight and lower blood pressure, it can also lead to problems like not getting enough nutrients, feeling cranky, having headaches, and even losing muscle.

The main message from this research is that it's important to personalize your diet based on your own health. For now, experts say it's probably more important to focus on what you're eating rather than just when you're eating it. People with heart disease or diabetes should be especially careful about following a strict, short eating window for a long time.

How To Intermittent Fast Like A Pro: Beginner’s Guide

Intermittent fasting can be hard to follow, and it's not recommended for certain people, including those with advanced diabetes, pregnant women, and anyone who has had an eating disorder. Before you start, you should talk to your doctor to make sure it's a safe option for you.

According to the University of Michigan School of Public Health Some of the fasting styles can be very tough for beginners. A good way to start is with a daily fasting plan. You can begin by fasting for just 12 hours a day, which is easy because most of that time you'll be sleeping. As you get used to it, you can slowly make your fasting window longer.

Remember, the key to success is choosing a style that you can realistically stick with. And no matter which style you choose, the quality of your food is still very important. Eating healthy food is just as crucial as following the fasting schedule.

When most people hear the term oral rehydration solution (ORS), they immediately think of diarrhea treatment and they're not wrong—since the 1970s, the World Health Organization and UNICEF have championed ORS as the gold standard for the prevention and treatment of dehydration that results from diarrheal disease. Indeed, it has saved hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives, especially among children living in low-resource settings where clean water and top-notch medical care are unavailable.

Here’s the overlooked fact, ORS is not only a lifesaver in diarrhea alone. Its special combination of glucose and electrolytes—namely sodium and potassium makes it effective in many types of dehydration situations, from raging fever to intense exercise. As Dr. Rakesh Pandit, Senior Consultant & HOD of Internal Medicine at Aakash Healthcare, says, "Oral Rehydration Solution is a straightforward yet successful treatment that's best recognized with diarrhea-related dehydration but that is not all it can be applied to."

Dehydration is a condition where fluid loss exceeds intake. Whereas mild dehydration may be managed by water, moderate dehydration needs something beyond replacement by fluid. That is where ORS excels.

The science behind it is how sodium and glucose interact in the small intestine. With special proteins known as sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs), when there's glucose, it speeds up the absorption of sodium, bringing water along with it into the bloodstream. That means the formula not only replenishes lost fluids but also enhances the body's capacity to absorb them.

This mechanism explains why ORS is consistently more effective than water or even many commercial sports drinks when it comes to correcting dehydration quickly and safely.

7 Lesser-Known Uses of ORS

1. Fever-Related Dehydration

High fevers increase fluid loss through sweating and rapid breathing. Dr. Pandit explains that in these cases, ORS helps maintain hydration and electrolyte balance, preventing the fatigue and weakness that often accompany prolonged illness.

2. Vomiting and Gastroenteritis

Vomiting removes fluids and electrolytes. Small amounts of ORS sipped every few minutes can be easier for patients to take than gulping water, which may induce more nausea.

3. Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

When it is very hot, sweating loses water, sodium, and potassium. ORS is most useful in such cases since it replenishes salts, too, along with fluids, relaxing cramping muscles, dizziness, and weakness. For workers, athletes, or even someone who is exposed to high heat for long periods, it can prove to be a handy preventive.

4. After Strenuous Exercise

Other athletes use energy or electrolyte beverages, but ORS is a doctor-approved option. Its exact composition rapidly replenishes fluids and electrolytes after strenuous exercise, especially in the heat. Recovery is faster, and performance in the next sessions is enhanced.

5. Relief from Hangover

Alcohol is a diuretic that causes dehydration resulting in morning-after pounding headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. A glass of ORS can replace lost sodium and potassium, alleviating the symptoms better than plain water or coffee.

6. Viral Diseases such as Dengue

In diseases like dengue fever, where platelet falls and dehydration increases severity of illness, ORS offers invaluable supportive therapy. Though no substitute for treatment, it stabilizes fluid balance, lowering complications. "Hydration of diseases like dengue is facilitated with ORS as a preventive support measure," explains Dr. Pandit.

7. Elderly and Patients with Chronic Illness

Elderly individuals, together with those with diabetes and kidney disease, are especially susceptible to fluid imbalance. Under the advice of a doctor, ORS is a safe, non-invasive method for avoiding dehydration and ensuring stability, and as such, a godsend for long-term care.

Why ORS Still Isn't Used Enough?

Although its effectiveness has been tested and proved, ORS remains underutilized and underprescribed. According to a study published in Science, alarming usage gaps exist despite the fact that physicians generally accept its merits. The study, carried out in the Indian states of Bihar and Karnataka by researchers from RAND, the University of Southern California, Duke University, and the Indian Institute of Management, uncovered wide disparities in availability and prescription patterns.

Hundreds of thousands of children are dying of diarrhea, when none of them should die. There's a treatment that's been on the books for decades that we know is really effective," says study co-author Zachary Wagner, a health economist at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He points to a disconnect between what doctors know and what they prescribe—a issue that requires immediate attention.

The research highlights an underlying problem: life-saving treatment frequently does not make it to those who need it most because of systemic shortcomings in awareness, healthcare delivery, and supply chains.

Each year, almost 500,000 children lose their lives to diarrhea, an avoidable catastrophe. ORS, commonly sold in low-cost pouches, has been named one of the greatest medical advances of the 20th century. Indeed, The Lancet at one time referred to it as "potentially the most important medical advance of the century."

But ORS is not only for developing countries. It has worldwide application. Whether in heatwaves in America, viral infections in Asia, or European endurance athletes, ORS's adaptability makes it the global remedy to a global issue: dehydration.

ORS is inexpensive, readily available, and amazingly effective—not only for diarrhea but for various ailments that leave the body vulnerable to dehydration. As Dr. Pandit points out, "ORS is a family staple, not only an acute-illness benefit but also a day-to-day aid in cases of physical exertion or slight dehydration.

What this actually implies is that ORS has a rightful place in home medicine cabinets across the globe. It is not only a life-saving remedy for sick children in low-resource environments but also a convenient, science-based hydration approach for daily health difficulties.