FACTORS THAT DAMAGE THE GUT

The vast number of gut-related health conditions that have arisen in the last century reveals the negative impact our post-industrialized diet and lifestyle are having. Science now shows that a number of nutritional health effects are mediated by intestinal bacteria, and that diet and lifestyle are key in influencing the composition and activity of these bacteria. Likewise, the breakdown of the intestinal walls that leads to leaky gut has been linked to specific nutritional factors that are a major component of our modern Western lifestyle.

GLUTEN

One of the most highly consumed foods in the Western world is gluten-containing grains, particularly wheat. Due to agricultural politics, wheat and other gluten-containing foods are one of the highest priorities on the food pyramid. Mainstream media will always hail whole grains as some of the healthiest foods you can consume for true health. When it comes to the health of your gut, however, especially if it’s compromised, consuming wheat, or any other food containing gluten, can cause serious damage to your intestinal walls.

Research conducted by the Mucosal Biology Research Center at the University of Maryland in 2006 concluded that gliadin (a protein in the gluten fraction of wheat) can cause intestinal permeability in both celiac and non-celiac mucous membranes. This study proved that wheat gluten activates signalling by zonulin (a protein responsible for modulating the structure and permeability of the gut lining) in a way that creates permeable holes within the gut wall. The most interesting part of this study revealed that regardless of whether your autoimmune condition is the result of gene expression or of other factors, gliadin contributes to intestinal permeability in all people. In other words, if you’re trying to improve the health of your gut, you’ll need to avoid wheat and all other forms of gluten.

The hybridization and recent mass consumption of the wheat grain is believed to be one of the main reasons these gluten-induced gut problems are arising. The wheat we consume today has quite a different composition from the wheat consumed forty years ago. In the 1970s the old bread wheat grain was subjected to intensive rounds of hybridization experiments in order to solve some of the world’s hunger problems. The new genetically altered wheat grain contains far more gluten than the original grain and produces ten times the yield of the old Einkorn grain grown in the fertile crescent of the Middle East.

Sadly, this new form of wheat has made its way into Western agriculture and is the most prevalent form of wheat we have today. It provides manufacturers with the greatest yield at the lowest price. Unlike the old Einkorn grain it doesn’t grow in the wild. It’s the result of domestication, intervention and fertilization by humans. This modern-day wheat has been internally and structurally changed. Our bodies aren’t used to this change and, given wheat’s mass consumption, this explains the dramatic spike in autoimmune conditions in the last few decades.

Because wheat dominates the diet of so many people, gluten in all forms should be restricted in order to heal and repair your gut. Gluten can’t be easily digested, which means it gradually deteriorates the gut lining, causing leaky gut. When gluten leaks through the gut it can disrupt organ function, causing problems including fatigue, a foggy brain, and feelings of anxiety and depression, which is exactly what happened in my case.

FOODS AND OTHER PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN GLUTEN AND WHEAT

These include:

* baked goods (almost all forms)

* packaged foods and breakfast cereals

* beer

* salami and cured meats

* muesli and muesli bars

* vinegar and soy sauce

* instant meals, frozen foods

* most breads

* baby food

* salad dressings

* sausages

* packaged chips and crackers

* lipstick and cosmetic products

Several additives and sweeteners, such as glucose syrup, are gluten and wheat-derived. It’s best to avoid all additives if you aim to heal and restore your gut. Stick to gluten-free wholefoods that are free from artificial preservatives and additives. I noticed that as soon as I omitted gluten from my diet, my digestive system felt a lot more at ease and my symptoms were less severe.

Further down the track, when your gut is healed, you can reintroduce gluten into your diet if that works for you.

ANTIBIOTICS

Before I was diagnosed with an autoimmune problem I had recurrent episodes of cystitis. Each time I had an attack I would go to the doctor and he would offer me a script for broad-spectrum antibiotics, which I would take diligently. This, I believe, was why I developed an autoimmune disease. While antibiotics can be vital in treating life-threatening conditions, they’re not without their side effects. The role of the antibiotic is to kill off bad bacteria, but it also takes the good with the bad. The over-prescription and overuse of antibiotics is believed to be causing serious long-term consequences to our health due to its negative impact on the levels and diversity of our precious microflora.

The decrease in good bacteria can be responsible for the overgrowth of bad bacteria and pathogens relating to illness. Antibiotics are known to cause diarrhea, which may be due to infection by antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as salmonella, staphylococcus and possibly candida, as well as to the various consequences of reducing concentrations of friendly gut flora. If you have an illness such as cystitis or the flu (which is caused by a virus, against which antibiotics have no effect) that can be treated without the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, I recommend that you explore natural options for recovery where possible. Where antibiotics are necessary, a qualified integrative doctor or naturopath should be able to supply you with probiotic support and detoxifying herbs such as milk thistle to help recolonize your intestines with some of the lost beneficial bacteria. Other prescription medications that disrupt the balance of your microflora are steroids (including corticosteroids such as prednisone and hydrocortisone), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), antidepressants, laxatives and antacids.

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INFECTION

Infections from unfriendly microbes and bad bacteria cause an overgrowth of bad microbes to outnumber the good guys. When harmful bacteria thrive in the case of an infection, you may experience persistent urinary tract infections, and thrush and yeast infections. When pathogens thrive and outnumber the friendly gut flora, this has an effect on overall immunity, which can cause a cascade of other problems and further infections. The aim is to create an environment where your beneficial microflora eventually numbers in the trillions of individual cells, creating a harmonious, complex relationship that drives a healthy immune system, a healthy brain and overall vitality.

STRESS

Stress can be very detrimental to the health of your gut. Have you ever had stomach discomfort before giving a speech? This is proof of the connection between the stress response and the digestive system. This kind of short-term stress can be dealt with, but consistent stress responses over the long term will cause a range of negative effects, including a decrease in nutrient absorption, decreased oxygenation of the gut, four times less blood flow to your digestive organs (it moves to the limbs, so they can “run away” from a potential threat), decreased metabolism and negative effects on microflora. Some really wonderful ways I’ve learned to de-stress are introducing yoga and meditation into my life, and having a morning routine. Meditation and deep breathing help calm the gut and balance your gut-brain connection.

EXTERNAL TOXINS

Irritants and toxic substances that can upset the balance of gut flora and damage the gut lining come in many forms, such as processed foods and foods containing chemicals, preservatives, flavors and additives. Artificial sweeteners are one ingredient to really avoid, along with nitrites and carcinogenic foods. Skin, hair, body and home-care products also contain high levels of toxic ingredients that can cause internal damage. You can find out more about this in the “Detox your life” section (see here).

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