New Consciousness Review Winter 2016 | Page 24

HEALTH

myalgia , lupus , Hashimoto ’ s thryroiditis and more )
• Allergies & Food Sensitivities
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease ( including Crohn ’ s & Ulcerative Colitis ) & other digestive issues
• Skin Conditions ( acne , psoriasis , eczema , rashes )
• Stubborn Weight Loss / Obesity
• Diabetes
• Hormone Imbalances
• Mood / Cognitive Function
• Autism & Childhood hyperactivity
• Cardiac conditions
• Alcoholism

The Role of the Gut

The gut has four quite critical functions : 1 . To digest food and convert it into vitamins 2 . To absorb nutrients
3 . To prevent toxins and pathogens from entering the bloodstream
4 . To activate thyroid hormones , which are involved in almost every physiological process in the body
Our digestive system also houses about 70 % of our immune cells , 95 % of our serotonin and 90 % of all neurotransmitters .
A big determinant to ensuring the above processes work effectively and efficiently is the makeup of the bacteria , or microorganisms , that live within the digestive tract , otherwise known as your gut microbiome .
Ideally , we have a strong , working relationship with the friendly bugs . Through our diet we provide the nutrients to feed these beneficial bacteria , and in turn , they keep our immunity in check , make certain vitamins , regulate our metabolism , and assist in gene expression , digestion , and many other processes that we are continuing to learn about . It ’ s a win / win . Or , at least it should be .

Categories of Disruption

Unfortunately , your digestive system and the related processes it is in charge of can be compromised via two general categories . ( here ’ s where we start to get concerned ):
1 . Dysbiosis
The goal for a healthy gut is to have the good , beneficial bacteria outweigh the bad . The good guys act as a physical barrier to the bad . If the good guys get killed off , don ’ t show up in the first place , or if you consume a diet that feeds the bad bacteria , it makes more room for the bad ( pathogenic ) to take over . This leads the way to a skewed ratio of much more bad bugs to good , aka dysbiosis .
2 . Leaky Gut
The protective lining of your digestive system or gut lumen ( the space inside the tube of your intestine that regulates the passage of nutrient particles into your bloodstream ), can be damaged by various diet and environmental factors . This causes your digestive system to become overly permeable . And when this protective barrier breaks down , it takes down your entire system with it .
Usually your intestinal wall is woven like a piece of cheesecloth . When it ’ s “ leaky ” though , it ’ s more like a tennis net . This series of openings allows larger , undigested nutrient particles to get into your bloodstream before they ’ ve had time to marinate in the proper digestive juices . Various toxins and bacteria can also pass through . These escapees are viewed as foreigners by your immune system and trigger an antibody reaction leading to inflammation , putting a huge strain on your entire system .
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