Growing Concern as Experts Warn of a Silent Gut-Health Crisis Linked to Modern Lifestyle Disorders

A report traces rising global alarm over gastrointestinal health, its connection to depression, obesity and ADHD, and the emerging scientific understanding of the “second brain.”

Agencies, November 28, 2025 : A growing body of research and expert commentary is drawing attention to what specialists describe as an under-recognised but rapidly escalating global health threat: gastrointestinal disease. Though depression, obesity and ADHD are often cited as major modern disorders, new reporting points to an underlying condition that researchers say may be contributing to all three. The issue, emerging from scientific discussions and public health observations, is being increasingly framed as a modern “pandemic” driven by lifestyle changes, environmental pressures, and altered dietary patterns.

The analysis highlights that gut health extends far beyond digestion, influencing brain function, sleep, immunity and nutrient absorption. Scientists emphasise that other organs depend on the gut for life-supporting nutrition, making the integrity of the gastrointestinal system central to overall wellbeing.

Researchers, including neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, reiterate that humans effectively possess “two brains”: the cerebral brain and the enteric nervous system within the digestive tract. This “second brain,” as it is now commonly described, plays a pivotal role in regulating bodily processes and emotional wellbeing. Experts stress that the gut is “much more than a food-processing system,” and disturbances within it can have wide-reaching physiological and psychological effects.

Concerns have intensified over the impact of modern lifestyles, with specialists lamenting the loss of the past environment characterised by whole foods, clean water and unpolluted air. While such conditions are challenging to replicate today, researchers argue that understanding the behaviours and diets harmful to gut health is essential for prevention.

Dietary patterns, in particular, are identified as a major factor. Poor eating habits can block the body from obtaining essential nutrients while simultaneously damaging the gut microbiome—thereby impairing the body’s ability to break down and use nutrients effectively. Experts point to three categories of molecules that support healthy gut function: tryptophan (converted to serotonin), tyrosine (converted to dopamine and epinephrine), and indole-3 lactic acids (precursors to antioxidants). These can be found in foods such as turkey, eggs, chia seeds, almonds, lentils, seeds, edamame, and fermented items like pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir.

In addition, specialists recommend structured methods to identify and eliminate dietary triggers. An elimination diet—removing refined sugar, artificial sweeteners and processed foods—can help identify foods that provoke discomfort or exacerbate pre-existing imbalances in the microbiome. When symptoms persist, experts advise a low-FODMAP dietary approach to manage sensitivities more effectively.

Protecting the microbiome is another key trend. Foods such as garlic, oregano, flaxseed, coconut oil and pumpkin seeds are believed to help suppress harmful microbial overgrowth. However, these same foods can also cause bloating, prompting experts to encourage moderation and balance.

The report also notes the growing interest in fasting, which some individuals use to support microbial diversity and rest the intestinal lining. Bone broth—whether homemade, commercially prepared or plant-based alternatives—is increasingly adopted as a complementary practice.

Stress management emerges as another central theme, with accounts indicating that unmanaged stress can obstruct the body’s ability to recover from chronic gut issues. Individuals facing severe anxiety or depressive patterns have reported that physiological disturbances in the gut can trigger psychological symptoms. Practices such as meditation, breathwork and reconnecting with nature are cited as beneficial for mental calm and overall balance.

Hydration, too, is highlighted as essential. Suggested hydration strategies include water mixed with honey and a pinch of salt, electrolyte solutions containing natural sugars, coconut water combined with salt, and fruit-infused water with berries, melon or lemon. Himalayan and Celtic sea salts are commonly recommended within these routines.

Personal accounts included in the reporting describe the journey to overcome irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as profoundly difficult, with some calling it “the hardest challenge” of their lives. Their experiences reflect rising global acknowledgement of the burden caused by chronic gut disorders.

As awareness spreads, health professionals reiterate a compelling message emerging from both science and lived experience: the path to improved wellbeing is inseparable from the condition of the gastrointestinal system. Or, as one commentator puts it, “The road to health is paved with good intestines.”