The ability to identify, access, understand, and respond appropriately to one’s internal physiological signals.

Intestinal permeability is a functional feature of the intestinal barrier that allows for the exchange of solutes and fluids between the intestinal lumen and mucosa (Lee, 2015). Various factors, including dietary components, physiologic stressors, or strenuous exercise, cause alterations in intestinal permeability. This may result in the loss of intestinal wall integrity, allowing electrolytes, water, and pathogenic bacteria to enter systemic circulation, triggering inflammation and various diseases (Hollander & Kaunitz, 2019; Stewart et al., 2017).

Introjection is a psychological process through which an individual adopts the ideas, attitudes, or behaviors of others as their own. This can happen because the person wishes to avoid guilt or maintain self-approval.

Eating in response to internal cues with flexibility and trust i.e., eating driven by hunger and fullness sensations coming from the body.

Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the body burns stored fat for energy due to a carbohydrate shortage, producing molecules called ketones.

The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the GIT and the digestive system, consisting of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal (Washabau & Day, 2013). Unlike the small intestine, it is shorter but has a significantly larger lumen.

A leaky brain is defined as a dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier permeability in which tight junctions become loose or broken, allowing harmful substances to “leak in” into the brain, causing inflammation and detrimental consequences (Obrenovich, 2018).

Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is an adverse digestive condition in which the gut barrier becomes more permeable, allowing the entry of luminal content (microbes, toxins, antigens, undigested food particles) to leak through the gut wall into the bloodstream. This condition is linked to various health problems, including GI problems, brain disorders, autoimmune diseases, allergies or food sensitivities, etc. (Graziani et al., 2019).

The acquisition of novel information, behaviors, or abilities after practice, observation, or other experiences, as evidenced by a change in behavior, knowledge, or brain function. Learning involves consciously or unconsciously attending to relevant aspects of incoming information, mentally organizing the information into a coherent cognitive representation, and integrating it with relevant existing knowledge activated from long-term memory (APA Dictionary of Psychology)

Leptin, also known as the “satiety hormone”, ” is a circulating hormone secreted primarily by adipocytes (i.e., fat cells) to signal nutritional status in direct proportion to fat stores; as fat stores deplete, leptin levels fall, resulting in increased appetite and decreased energy expenditure to replenish fat stores (Pan & Myers, 2018). Leptin regulates energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine function, and metabolism (Münzberg & Morrison, 2015).