In episode 17 of The Ali Damron Show, I discussed gut health in it’s entirety.
There are two variables that play a part of the overall health of your gut – the intestinal flora (bacteria) and the intestinal barrier.
The Gut Flora
There are 100 trillion microorganisms in the gut which is 10 times as many cells at the entire body comprises. There are over 400 species of gut bacteria.
Gut health promotes normal GI function, protects us from infections, houses 75% of our immune system, creates hormones and neurotransmitters and regulates the metabolism.
Unhealthy gut flora has been linked to: anxiety, depression, autoimmune diseases such as MS, Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, autism, type I diabetes, eczema, psoriasis and IBS symptoms.
What Causes Unhealthy Gut Flora?
- NSAIDS, birth control, PPI’s, antibiotics
- Diets high in refined carbohydrates, processed foods and sugar
- Diets low in fiber
- Toxins like pesticides, herbicides, BPA, etc.
- Chronic stress
- Chronic infection
After antibiotics, gut flora isn’t restored without intervention and supplementation.
The Gut Barrier
The intestinal membrane is a barrier that decides which particles get into our body and what stays out. Anything that goes in the mouth and isn’t digested will pass out the other end. The gut is supposed to prevent any foreign substances from entering the body.
When this barrier becomes permeable, large protein particles go into the bloodstream. Since they are foreign, the immune system attacks them and this plays a huge role in the development of autoimmune diseases.
The intestinal barrier determines whether we tolerate or react to toxic substances from the environment. These toxins stimulate a response in the GI tract, pancreas, skeletal system, kidneys, liver and brain.
What To Do:
Remove toxins from your food and environment as much as possible.
Eat fibrous foods
Eat fermented foods such as kimchee, sauerkraut and kombucha
Bone broth
Treat intestinal pathogens
Manage stress
Probiotics – greater than 15 billion CFUs and multiple strains
Vitamin C and Quercetin
L-Glutamine – 2-5 g 2-3x/day on an empty stomach
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As always, make sure to consult with a medical professional before taking supplements.
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