The Gut Series: Part A – Why You Should Eat Like You Can’t Afford Much

True happiness often flourishes when we embrace the natural rhythm of life—even when we have the means to eat anything we want! Now, I’m not suggesting that being poor is ideal, but I was raised in an environment where life didn’t offer much beyond the simplest, most natural foods. You know, the kind that didn’t require a trip to the supermarket. This lifestyle helped me maintain a healthy gut, and I’ve never experienced most of the common issues.

Taking care of your gut isn’t about fancy supplements or expensive diets. It’s about nourishing your body with simple, unprocessed foods that haven’t been manipulated or altered. Ironically, even fasting—a practice many people, especially those in challenging financial situations, do out of necessity—turns out to be incredibly beneficial for resetting the body and flushing out toxins. The gut, which stretches from mouth to anus, is home to trillions of microorganisms collectively known as the microbiome. The health of your gut has a direct impact on your overall well-being, from your digestive system to your hormonal balance. The body is naturally aligned with nature—some even say we came from the soil. It makes sense, then, that the food you consume should come from the earth, with as little interference as possible.

You are in control of your life. You decide what works for you. But here’s my advice: start taking care of your gut and eat like you can’t afford much. Here’s why:

The more sugar spikes you experience, the faster you age, and this can show on your skin. These spikes occur when you consume foods that are low in fiber, causing a rapid release of glucose from the gut into the bloodstream. Many of us grew up hearing our parents say they could only afford foods like chapati every now and then—and now, we even have a president promising to create a machine that will churn out a million chapatis a day! They couldn’t afford refined wheat products or processed foods, so their consumption of these gut irritants was limited. The meals they prepared were rich in fiber, which supported regular bowel movements, reduced the risk of constipation, and kept the gut microbiome healthy. Fiber is essential for a healthy gut, and it’s often found in simple, natural foods that are easy on the wallet.

When you have the ability to buy food anytime you want, you might not realize that eating too much can actually harm your digestive system. Time-restricted eating or fasting gives your digestive tract the much-needed time to rest and repair. During fasting, the body goes through a process called autophagy, where it “eats” damaged or unhealthy cells, including those in the gut. This helps reset the balance of the microbiome, boosting digestion, immunity, and overall health—leading to a happier you. The gut barrier is the lining of the intestines that prevents harmful substances (like toxins and undigested food particles) from entering the bloodstream. Fasting has been strengthens this gut barrier preventing conditions like leaky gut syndrome, where the intestinal lining becomes compromised, allowing harmful substances to leak into the body.

Wondering how I manage to move the way I do in dance class? Let me share a little secret with you: I’ve been hitting the gym since high school. My school didn’t have fancy gym equipment, so we got creative—using weights made from cement and old jerrycans we stole at a dorm construction site. After high school, I joined local gyms in the neighborhood with limited resources, and I couldn’t even afford supplements. But despite that, I got so big and well-defined that at one point, guys I didn’t even know stood up and clapped when I walked into the local market for shopping.

Sure, modern fitness culture is all about supplements and steroids that promise to get you to your goals faster. But what I learned back then is that a clean, whole-food diet—not fancy powders or pills—is all you really need to keep your body strong. The reality is, many of the foods and supplements we buy off the shelves today are packed with preservatives—often artificial ones—that can wreak havoc on your gut in the long run. The sad truth is, some of the very products marketed to boost your energy, help you build muscle, or support your health might actually be harming your gut.

Your body thrives when you nourish it with simple, natural foods that come from the earth. Eating like you can’t afford to indulge might just be the key to better health and wellness.

Remember, self love is not selfish…