The American dream seems to have evolved into eating whatever you want, whenever you want, at whatever quantity you want. Unfortunately, many Americans remain unaware of the fact that the most common and readily available foods are placing their health in jeopardy. In fact, many chronic conditions are now believed to originate in the gut. Maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal system is crucial for achieving optimal health.
Bacteria: The Good and the Bad
Three-quarters of your immune system resides in your GI tract. This is where good intestinal bacteria, often called probiotics, are present. A healthy person has trillions of probiotics in their large intestines, primarily in the form of acidophilus and bifidobacterium. Probiotics help the organs carry out immune function, such as influencing the thymus to produce T-cells. Without these probiotics, your body becomes vulnerable to food borne illness, deficiency in vitamins and nutrients may occur, and your immune system becomes weakened.
Many people are deficient in probiotics due to stress, diets high in sugar and processed foods, environmental toxins, alcohol consumption, and frequent use of antibiotics. When we deplete our beneficial bacteria, the unhealthy bacteria takes over.
When the bad bacteria takes over the gut, a condition called “Candida” develops. Candida is a yeast infection in your gut. The immune system attacks the yeast, and the toxins within the yeast are released. This can lead to extreme fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other autoimmune conditions.
But Candida is only one problem that can occur in the gut.
When the Lining of the Gut Becomes Weakened
The majority of the body’s lymph and immune system cells reside within the mucous lining of the intestines. Inflammation affects this mucous lining, leading to poor nutrient and mineral absorption, and disruption of pH balance. A weakened intestinal wall can disrupt the normal transportation of foods from the gut into the body and can trigger autoimmune reactions. This condition is often referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome. It means that the intestinal wall has become permeable and this is thought to be the cause of many acute and chronic diseases.
How does this happen? One of the ways this happens is through the depletion of probiotics in our bodies and the development of Candida. Other sources of intestinal permeability include intestinal parasites, food allergies, prescription drugs, alcohol abuse, stress, inadequate pancreatic enzymes, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, chemical exposure, heavy metal exposure, and chemotherapy.
Most people who have GI problems know that something isn’t right with their health. However, they may be unaware that the problem actually originates in the gut. The following is a list of conditions that can result from poor gut health: irritable bowel syndrome, allergic rhinitis, chronic infections, hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, fibromyalgia, lupus, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism, and much more. If you have a chronic health condition, you may have a digestion problem.
Emotional Health and the Gut
Another interesting fact about the gut is that this is also where your body manufactures brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters. These include Noradrenaline, Serotonin, Acetyl-Choline, Dopamine and Gaba. These regulate sleep, and influence how we think and feel. Serotonin regulates mood, and 90-95% of it lies in the gut. Lack of Serotonin can increase anxiety, depression, and alter sleep patterns.
Over the next few weeks, I will be talking specifically about what you can do to improve your gut health, which in turn will improve your overall health. While you need to be prepared to make some sacrifices, you may find some of the suggestions pleasantly surprising. In the meantime, I have included some helpful links for further reading.
http://www.naturalnews.com/033066_Candida_diagnosis.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/do-you-have-leaky-gut-syn_b_688951.html
Conquering Chronic Fatigue 