This column is the forth in a series on how to heal your gastrointestinal tract to improve your health and change your life. To begin, science is in its infancy of discovery about how the gastrointestinal system contributes to your health. One important discovery has been the relationship between your diet and your immune system. In short, dysfunction of digestion can impair your immune system which can lead to disease.
Gastrointestinal dysfunction can lead to unseen inflammation throughout the body. This type of inflammation is called systemic inflammation. Systemic inflammation can lead to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, allergies, autoimmune disease and even back pain. This is why taking care of the gut is so important.
One of the main ingredients to good health is to have the right bacteria in the intestines. There are good germs and bad germs that can populate your gut. Problems arise when the delicate balance is disrupted and bad germs proliferate and take over.
There are more bacteria in your gut than all of the cells in your body. Most of the bacteria are friendly and necessary. There are hundreds of different species of good bacteria. We call them intestinal flora, which help regulate many important functions.
The good bacteria of intestinal flora are the first line of defense against the bad bacteria that can cause problems. Intestinal flora helps regulate the immune system. It signals the immune system that things are working well, and not out of balance.
There is an amazing relationship between the cells of the intestinal wall and the bacteria of the intestinal flora. The cells which line the intestines can actually detect which bacteria are helpful and which bacteria are harmful. The cells of the intestinal tract are constantly on the lookout for good and bad bacteria.
This mechanism keeps the immune system awake and alert, prepared to act if necessary. If the intestinal cells detect the wrong bacteria, then they will initiate inflammation. This inflammation can be local or widespread throughout the body.
Good bacteria also provide other important functions. For instance, intestinal flora helps digest food and help the body absorb the nutrients it needs. Intestinal flora provides a detoxification to the body and acts like a second liver removing toxins from the system.
Bad bacteria on the other hand can produce toxic waste such as methane gas and neurotoxin. These elements within your body can initiate inflammation within the gastrointestinal system that can spread into the body.
So what is a person to do? Thankfully, there are supplements you can take to help restore good bacteria. The supplements are called probiotics and are sold over-the-counter at your local pharmacy. Another option is to eat fermented foods. Foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi are natural probiotics. Vitamins are important too. A daily multivitamin can help support the good bacteria in your system.
Lastly, be careful of the over utilization of antibiotics. Taking antibiotics inappropriately can disrupt your normal intestinal flora. Antibiotics can create an imbalance allowing bad bacteria to take over. Antibiotics are important medications, just be careful you take them only when absolutely necessary.
Matthew McQuaid, DPM is a board certified foot surgeon practicing in Lakeport. He has a particular interest in Mind/Body medicine and its impact on healing. He is an award winning author and teacher. For more information call (707) 263-3727 and visit www.drmcquaid.com.
