Digestive health specialist: “The best diet for our microbiota is the most diverse”
Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
Interview
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Context piece
- Malena García Arredondo said bloating can stem from stress and lifestyle as well as poor diet because the digestive system interacts closely with the brain.
- She recommended a diverse, balanced diet featuring familiar foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, eggs, dairy products and whole grains.
- She said regular exercise, rest and a generally balanced routine leave room for occasional indulgences without guilt.
Malena García Arredondo, a digestive-health specialist with 18 years of experience, says stomach and intestinal bloating cannot be blamed on food alone. Stress can also play a major role.
After the brain, the intestine is where there are the most neurons, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline, which regulate mood, are synthesized in the digestive system.
She directs the MGA Healthy Digest research unit in Madrid, which focuses on disorders of the gut-brain axis. Speaking to Yo Dona, she explained that the digestive tract contains a large number of neurons and produces neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline, which help regulate mood.
“After the brain, the intestine is where there are the most neurons,” García Arredondo said. She argued that modern life keeps people in a constant state of alert, while fast routines and less home cooking have pushed many toward ultra-processed foods, lower fiber intake and more refined carbohydrates. She also said society has moved away from the Mediterranean diet associated with earlier generations.
Modern life is having a very negative impact because we are in alert mode and on autopilot all day.
Her approach combines nutrition with sleep, exercise and stress management. “The best diet for our microbiota is the most diverse,” she said, while highlighting berries, sardines, cocoa and olive oil. She also recommended simple, familiar foods, including fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, dairy products and whole grains.
The best diet for our microbiota is the most diverse.
García Arredondo said a balanced daily routine should not turn occasional treats into a source of suffering. Someone who eats varied food, exercises, sleeps well and remains present in daily life can have a few beers with a friend or eat a hamburger on a particular day, she said, and then return to the usual routine.
If I eat a varied and balanced diet every day, do some exercise, rest well and try to be present, then I can have a few beers with a friend or eat a hamburger on one particular day, break from the routine and enjoy it.
About this summary
Originally published by Clarín in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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