The Celiac Society of India and the Indian Coalition for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, in partnership with Illness to Wellness, hosted a seminar titled “Gut, Microbiome & Millets: The Inflammation Fix” today. The event focused on the critical role of gut health in addressing nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases, advocating for practical dietary changes to improve public health.

Distinguished guests, including Dr. Vinod Paul, Member of NITI Aayog; Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister; and Dr. Chandrakant S. Pandav, Padma Shri awardee and former head of Community Medicine at AIIMS, emphasized the importance of balanced eating and regular consumption of millets for better gut health.

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairperson of the National CSR Council at ASSOCHAM, praised the efforts of the Celiac Society and Illness to Wellness. "Gut health is fundamental to our overall well-being, and events like these reinforce the need for a balanced diet," he remarked. "I am confident that we will intensify programs addressing gut health."

The seminar highlighted the role of gut health in combating nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and mental health issues. The gut, often called the second brain, houses two-thirds of the immune system, underscoring its importance in overall health.

Eminent speakers, including Dr. Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr. Dang’s Lab; Dr. Meena Mishra, Chairperson of the Brain Behavior Research Foundation of India; Dr. Kapil Yadav, Professor at AIIMS; Ms. Ishi Khosla, Clinical Nutritionist; and Dr. Asha Chandra, Founder of Asha Chandra Welfare Consultancy, shared insights on microbiome balance and the benefits of ancient, anti-inflammatory grains like millets.

Dr. Chandrakant Pandav opened the session by highlighting the interconnected components of wellness. He emphasized the need for immediate and accelerated action to achieve global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Vinod Paul stressed the importance of behavioral change and shifting to nutritious foods like millets. He also called for greater awareness of celiac disease and urged teachers, parents, and caregivers to focus on children's diets and obesity.

Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi advocated for a "millet revolution," highlighting their historical significance and benefits for gut health. She noted that India produces 20% of the world's millet and 80% of Asia’s production, emphasizing the need to reclaim millet as a staple food.

Dr. Arjun Dang addressed the triple burden of malnutrition and proposed strategies such as enhancing maternal nutrition and diversifying diets with millets. Dr. Kapil Yadav emphasized the role of the gut in addressing anemia, linking rising anemia cases to lifestyle changes and reduced dietary diversity.

Dr. Meena Mishra highlighted the importance of early childhood nutrition for cognitive development, while Ishi Khosla underscored the transformative potential of reconnecting with gut health through millets. Dr. Ashutosh Shukla discussed the impact of gut health on lifestyle diseases, and Dr. Mankul Goyal concluded by linking gut health to overall well-being.

The seminar concluded with a call to action for adopting millets and prioritizing gut health to achieve better health outcomes and prevent chronic diseases.