“All disease begins in the gut.” – Hippocrates.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, spoke these words over 2,000 years ago. And as the topic of gut health continues to gain notoriety, Hippocrates’ words show that they are not only standing the test of time, but they are now seeing the backing of much scientific evidence. But what is gut health and why is it so important?
Obviously not all disease begins in the gut (genetic conditions, for instance), but for the 35% of American adults who struggle with obesity, and for the millions of adults struggling with symptoms such as brain fog, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, skin rashes, allergies, food sensitivities, to mood imbalances, frequent illness and other metabolic conditions, these could be signs that the body’s “second brain” – the gastrointestinal (GI) system – needs attention.
The body’s GI system is not just about digestive issues. Proper gut health can have major effects on your entire body – mood, memory, and immune response. How is this possible? Without getting overly scientific, the health of the GI system is determined by the balance of bacteria found in your body’s digestive tract. When the system is balanced (good bacteria vs. bad bacteria), the gut is able to properly digest what is brought in to your body, vitamins and minerals properly absorbed and distributed, and the microbes found in the gut can do their job in healing and protecting the entire body, even that of our brain and immune system. The flip side is, when there is a larger presence of bad bacteria (which many contain compounds known as endotoxins), damage to the mucosal layer of the GI tract can cause the lining to become permeable, allowing various proteins and endotoxins to enter the blood stream (“leaky gut” syndrome) either constantly or right after meals, in turn activating the body’s natural inflammation response. And this is where it gets complicated.
When our bodies experience an immune response, immune cells, blood vessels and molecules are launching an attack against foreign invaders and inflammation is the natural effect. Inflammation is a good thing, generally speaking. But on a long-term basis, chronic, low-grade inflammation (or systematic inflammation) has shown to be a leading driver of many diseases including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, depression and many, many more. Interestingly enough, numerous studies have shown that unhealthy diets can cause endotoxin levels to increase in the bloodstream. Unfortunately, inflammation is incredibly complex, precisely how it is linked to diet is being ever explored and no single dietary agent has been identified; bottom line, it appears “totality” of diet and lifestyle affect it.
What we have learned is that a real food based diet with plenty prebiotic fiber and minimal processed junk food is key. Probiotic supplements are useful and some studies have shown that probiotics can help reduce endotoxemia and its resulting inflammation. However, not all probiotics are made the same so do your research! Probiotic foods like yogurt with live cultures, kefir, and fermented foods such as sauerkraut may also help in the battle, but at the end of the day inflammation caused by poor gut health may be the link between unhealthy diets and so many of the chronic metabolic diseases killing us by the millions.
So pay attention to this vital part of your well being – do not dismiss symptoms including fatigue, depression, brain fog, insomnia, bloating, thyroid imbalances – these could be signs of poor gut health. And by maintaining a healthful diet and lifestyle and making gut health a priority, it is possible to minimize these signs of chronic inflammation and can definitely improve your quality of life!
