The gut plays a very important role in digestion and breaking down the food we eat. This is why it is very to that we have a healthy gut. A healthy gut simply means that there are more good bacteria than harmful bacteria. But a recent survey has found that 7 out of every 10 people in urban India experience digestive or gut health issues. The survey also found that 59 per cent complain about it every week and 12 per cent suffer daily. 

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According to the survey - conducted by Country Delight in partnership with Indian Dietetic Association, Mumbai - a majority of consumers (80 per cent) believed that digestive/gut health issues could lead to long-term lifestyle diseases. 

Most of the respondents (80 per cent) believe that digestive/gut health issues could lead to long-term lifestyle diseases. Interestingly, over 60 per cent consumers have changed their diet as a preventive measure to avoid digestive as well as lifestyle diseases. 

Around 63 per cent of respondents also said that they consume junk or processed or packaged food every week, and gastric issues were recorded among 68 per cent of them. 66 per cent of the respondents believe that fast/junk food or chemically processed foods are the culprits behind digestive or gut issues.

In terms of the gut-brain connection, 59 per cent of people who suffer from digestive/gut health issues every week also experienced certain mental health challenges such as anxiety, poor memory, mood swings, and lack of energy significantly more than the ones who report less frequent bouts of digestive issues. 

Around 67 per cent of people have modified or made changes to their lifestyle by including physical activity or changing their dietary habits. Additionally, almost four in ten respondents believe that switching to chemically free and fresh dairy products can help prevent digestive or gut health issues. Sixty percent of people felt that their diet played an important role in preventing lifestyle diseases or digestive issues, so they changed their diet in the last few years. Overall, 6 out of 10 people look for chemical-free food items for their daily diet.