Secret Immunity: Gut Health Part I

“A huge proportion of your immune system is actually in your GI tract,” says Dan Peterson, assistant professor of pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Welcome to our series on gut health.  This is one of those topics that is overwhelmingly MASSIVE and hard to even know where to start.  You have likely heard or maybe even researched a little for yourself, on the topic of gut health.  Maybe you know that probiotics are pretty good for you, you are just not sure why.  I'm just going to scratch the surface a little bit today on gut health, then I will dig deeper for you in the subsequent weeks to come. 

What is the gut Microbiome?  “Just like any other environment on the planet, our bodies have their own ecosystems -- made up of 100 trillion microorganisms, or microbes, that live in and on our bodies," says Rachael Buck, PhD, Abbott's lead research scientist and resident gut health expert. "These include bacteria, fungi, viruses and other types of tiny organisms. It’s so large in fact, that the genes of microbes outnumber our body’s genes by 100 to 1." 
The Gut Microbiome Explained (© 2019 Abbott)

When it comes to the microbiome, the large intestine (or, the colon) receives the most attention because it contains the highest concentration and greatest diversity of microbes in the entire body. The large intestine is lined with a layer of mucus and the microbes that live there form a gut biofilm. The biofilm contains an array of different microbes that carry out different tasks in your body and also work together to keep you healthy.What’s even more fascinating is that each and every person has a unique make-up of microbes. What determines the different types of microbes in a person is a result of ones genes, age, gender, diet, hygiene, and even the climate you live in and your occupation. In fact, studies show that the gut microbiome affects everything from pain, mood, sleep and stress, to how our bodies use the food we eat and how we fight off infection.

What affects our Microbiome

1) NUTRITION
Your gut bacteria can become unbalanced with a poor diet of high fats and highly refined carbohydrates/sugar.  Numerous studies are showing a HIGH correlation between highly processed foods and Leaky Gut Syndrome (more on that later).  The poorly managed diet ends up eroding the muccosal layer that lines the inner wall of the intestinal tract which is suppose to protect us from the unwanted bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.

2) SLEEP AND MOOD
The quote: 'Our gut is our second brain", has become increasingly well known and popular.  Dubbed the second brain, the enteric nervous system within the gut contains 30 types of neurotransmitters and 100 million neurons. Ninety-percent of serotonin, which helps to produce melatonin, the “sleep hormone,” is located in the gut. There is also 400 times more melatonin in the gut than there is in the brain.  The gut brain axis picture below is great depiction of this relationship.

3) Inflammation and Infection
Healthy microbes in the gut destroy the harmful bacteria plus release chemicals that decrease inflammation in the body.
4) Skin
In addition to helping to keep our mind and body healthy – research has shown the microbiome also works to keep our skin healthy. Oily parts of the body – like the back or the face – tend to have fewer types of microbes because oil is anti-microbial, which keep bacteria out.These microbes also transform oils in the skin into natural moisturizers to keep the skin soft and supple. And when skin is moisturized, it also prevents bacteria from invading our bodies.

What does all of this mean in regards to a healthy immune system?  It's simple, yet not: healthy gut = healthy you.  Let me do a little bit of schooling here though to help set the ground work for understanding more.  The gut lining has 2 very important parts: the microbiome that is home to all of our good bacteria, and the barrier layer that keeps all of the good, bad, and ugly in our gut and not floating about.  As mentioned above, the microbiome is working to keep the good bacteria growing and fighting, and the rest of the bad and ugly down and out.  The gut barrier is "the Wall".  The wall is very protected by a mucus layer.  Check out the picture below:

The lining of the intestine is made up of Intestinal Epithelial Cells that are bound tightly together to not let anything bad break through to the bottom barrier.  As we consume a poor diet, take medications, live in a constant state of stress, etc., these cells lose their strength and start to break down.  When bad bacteria, fungi, viruses, even food particals infiltrate past the damaged barrier, our bodies immediately start fighting those substances.  The constant battle is on with everything that enters your gut.  The end result is a constant state of stress in the body = inflammation = poor immune function = chronic symptoms such as poor mood, sleep, nutritional deficiencies, weight gain, and even the start of autoimmune diseases.  Here's another diagram below.

 In Part II of our healthy gut series, we will look more in depth to food sensitivities and autoimmune diseases with regards to our gut health.  Lastly, we will map out plans to help heal the gut while restoring your health and increasing your immunity.