Why Gut Health Matters

“All disease begins in the gut” said Hippocrates 2000 years ago and he was right. We are only now coming to understand the complexity of digestive processes and their role in keeping the body healthy.

Recent research has revealed that good gut health is critical to overall health.

When digestion is chronically upset it impacts other areas of health and can lead to a range of illnesses including obesity, autoimmune conditions, allergies, rashes, sinusitis, diabetes, hashimoto’s, coeliac disease, poor mental health and depression.

We’ve only recently begun to understand the extent of the gut flora’s role in human health and disease. Your gut is home to a ‘zoo’ of bacteria. Some are ‘bad’ causing digestive stress and some are ‘good’ controlling the bad bacteria, providing protection to the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and kicking off a cascade of events that lead to strong immune defences.

The mucous membrane lining of the GIT is the gatekeeper of our body protecting us from harmful pathogens and large protein molecules that cause an immune response. It controls what moves across into our body for assimilation and what doesn’t. It is also where over 70% of our immune system resides. When the micro biome is thrown out and the mucous membrane lining of the gut becomes damaged (called ‘leaky gut’ or gut permeability) it changes the way the food you eat is processed and can lead to a variety of unwanted symptoms such as inflammation, bloating, pain, diarrhoea, and/or constipation, reflux and food intolerances. The knock-on effect to this state is decreased energy, and an upset metabolism, hormone balance, depressed immunity and brain health.

Unfortunately, several features of the modern lifestyle directly contribute to unhealthy gut flora (gut dysbiosis) and leaky gut:-

1. Antibiotics and other medication, OCP and NSAIDs

2. Diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods

3. Diets low in fermentable fibers

4. Dietary toxins like wheat and industrial seed oils that cause leaky gut

5. Chronic stress

6. Chronic infections

7. Gut parasites, worms, amoeba, protozoans and infections

The good news is that there’s a lot that can be done to correct the imbalances and heal the gut when problems arise. The first step to a healthy journey is to partner with a health professional (like me). A typical protocol would start by removing the bad guys from the gut (weed), repairing the mucous membrane, restoring good microflora (seed) and providing the right nutrients for a healthy environment for good bacteria to flourish (feed).  This is done effectively with herbal medicines and nutritional supplements.

If you rarely (or never) experience digestive discomfort there are ways to keep your tummy in tip-top shape. Good digestive health is the cornerstone of optimal health and is the most important thing you can do to live well.

To learn more and get tips and strategies for good gut health, come and hear Linda Krick speak at the Lotus Centre next Wednesday evening.

A Guide to Good Gut Health

7:30 – 8:45pm

Light refreshments

Book your complimentary ticket here now