the SHE Word - The Second Brain

A staggering 49% of women (and 37% of men) meet the diagnostic criteria for at least one functional gastrointestinal disorder - gut health issues. Beyond the obvious discomfort of pain and cramps, there is often the secondary issues related to a bloated abdomen, the disrupted body functions and it turns out that there are far more reaching implications of a dodgy gut.

But how many of us really pay much attention to the health of our microbiome, or to state it more passionately, how many of us actively take care of our Second Brain? Gut health influences your entire body because the micro-organisms in your digestive tract help control digestion, immunity, moods and brain function.

Sitting down with Trudy are three specialists who enlighten the topic from three different perspectives, Dr Elena Zarb brings her knowledge as a pharmacist with a passion for gut health, having launched gut health initiatives across Brown’s Pharmacies. Sara Borg is Qualified Nutritional Therapist who aims to support individuals in understanding the root causes of their health concerns and creating sustainable changes that support long-term health and quality of life. Marie Micallef specialises in Lifestyle Coaching for High-Performing Women, Optimising Hormones, Energy & Metabolic Health and is a qualified pharmacist.

The discussion breaks down the function of the gut in easy to understand terms, highlighting the importance of balanced gut health beyond just the obvious direct abdominal issues. The conversation highlights the connection between the gut and our brain, and how ‘butterflies in our stomach’ and ‘gut feeling’ are not just myths - hence the term ‘The Second Brain’.

The three experts also highlight how medications, antibiotics, stress, lifestyle can all adversely affect our gut health, why we shouldn’t ignore their relevance, and the (some small) steps we can take to improve our gut health and therefore our overall well being.

This is a do-not-miss show on a topic that affects all of us, but directly impacts on at least half of all women.

Huge thanks to Brown's, Perrier, Always, Hyatt Regency Malta, Tampax, Satariano, Holland and Barrett, Camilleri Paris Mode, Verdala Wellness Hotel and Spa, Mapfre, BOV and Lindex for supporting these conversations.