the importance of a healthy gut cannot be stressed enough a healthy gut means good mental and physical health this is because more than 70 per cent of serotonin the happy hormone is produced in the gut and not in the brain as many of us think thus ayurveda focuses a lot on gut health as its key to health longevity and happiness an ayurvedic expert took to instagram to share why a healthy gut is important because it not just helps digest food but also helps process emotions and supports various bodily functions ayurveda believes poor gut health to be the root cause behind all the diseases simple unhealthy habits like overeating untimely meals including fasting for longer can affect the gut here are some common symptoms of a healthy gut you keep feeling bloated and heavy all the time you dont feel energetic despite rest and healthy eating you feel tired despite maintaining good oral hygiene you have a bad breath you are constipated or pass stool more than two times a day you cannot lose or gain weight easily you have skin issues like rashes and acne and no medicines seem to work permanently you have an irregular menstrual cyclethings that can affect your gut healthstress anxiety untimely meals overeating fasting for long suppressing natural urges poor sleep binge eating eating processed and junk food lack of physical activity less water intake sedentary lifestyle now chewing the food properly excessive smoking alcohol and nonveg intake are some of the common things that can affect your gut healthhow to improve gut healthto improve your gut health all you need to do is change your lifestyle eating habits sleeping patterns exercise schedule and stress management this is all that it takes to keep your gut healthy and happy