The gut microbiome is one of the underappreciated factors in South Asian metabolic health. Not the only factor. But one worth understanding. When South Asians migrate West or adopt Western diets, research shows our gut ecology shifts, often within months to a few years, sometimes across generations. Ancestral Prevotella-dominant communities give way to Bacteroides-dominant ones. This matters because the gut and mitochondria communicate through chemical signals. When the ecology shifts, so do those signals. Three interconnected pathways worth knowing: 1. Reduced butyrate production → Butyrate (from fiber fermentation) supports fat oxidation → Less fiber-fermenting bacteria → less butyrate → One contributor to lipid accumulation in muscle tissue 2. Increased gut permeability → LPS (bacterial toxins) can enter circulation at low levels → This correlates with lower adiponectin and higher inflammation → South Asians already tend toward lower adiponectin at baseline 3. Altered amino acid metabolism → Dysbiotic guts tend to overproduce BCAAs → Elevated BCAAs are associated with insulin resistance → Causality is still being studied, the association is clearer than the mechanism These pathways overlap and interact. They're not exhaustive, and much of the evidence comes from association studies and animal models rather than proven causal chains in humans. Genetics, physical activity, fetal programming, visceral fat distribution, and overall diet quality all matter, often more. But gut health is modifiable. And the interventions are familiar: - Fiber from whole foods (dal with skin, unpolished millets, cooled rice) - Regular aerobic movement (Zone 2 supports mitochondrial function independently) - Traditional fermented foods (homemade dahi, idli batter, kanji) These work best as part of broader lifestyle changes, not silver bullets. The research is evolving. But the direction seems clear enough to act on. Full exploration in the latest Zinda post https://open.substack.com/pub/grasshoppermed/p/the-severed-circuit?r=1fp8g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true