The immune system in your gut…
How Important is My Gastrointestinal System?
Your gastrointestinal system has 4 functions. The first three are related to nutrient intake: digestion, absorption, and excretion. The 4th function however, is related to protecting your body from the external environment. The intestinal wall, along with your lungs, skin, eyes, ears, and nose, are barriers that defend your body from pathogens and toxic particles in the air we breathe, the objects we touch, and food we eat. The lining of your intestinal tract, your tonsils, appendix and lymph nodes are collectively referred to as your Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT). These tissues and associated processes comprise roughly 60-70% of your immune system!
The intestinal wall protects your body by producing different kinds of immune cells called Payer’s Patches, M cells, lymphocytes, B cells, and plasma cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and mast cells. Even your lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels are involved in GI immunity. There is a strong interaction between the gut mucosa and the immune system.
The intestinal lining also produces antibodies, collectively called Secretory IgA. These antibodies identify and destroy foreign invaders called antigens. Toxins and chemicals come in contact with the intestinal wall multiple times each day. When you come in contact with these antigens your body will fight back and raise its defenses: the SIgA levels will be very high. Your mucus membranes will become inflamed and damaged, resulting in increased permeability, called leaky gut syndrome. Inflammation leads to wider gaps between cells which enables larger molecules like undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria to slip past the intestinal lining and find their way into your blood and consequently, throughout your body. They can bunch up in your joints and manifest as arthritis, as acne or eczema in your skin cells, as muscle aches and pains, as asthma in your lungs, as vaginal or bladder infections in your genital/urinary tract, or as anxiety, aggression, confusion, mood swings, or poor memory in your brain. If left untreated, even autoimmune diseases can result.
Your immune system will strive to remain very high and very active to combat the damage and invading pathogens. However, if you present your body with high levels of toxins or food allergens on a continual basis, the immune system becomes tired of fighting and produces less Secretory IgA. Your defenses are down, and the pathogens have much greater power and can inflict greater damage to your body and lead to yeast, bacteria, viral infections and even behavioral and psychological conditions such as Autism, ADHD and ADD, and autoimmune diseases such as Chron’s, Celiac, Grave’s or Hashimoto’s, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Moreover, when your intestines are not functioning properly, nutrient deficiencies due to poor digestion and absorption occur. Enzyme production may also decrease, resulting in a worsening of digestive ability. Gas, bloating, constipation, pain, and diarrhea can occur. Your pancreas, liver, and gallbladder may also experience decreased function. Liver dysfunction can result in a myriad of different symptoms due to the vast amount of roles the liver plays in your health.
Not only do food and environmental toxins we ingest cause a leaky gut, but so do chronic stress, alcohol, low-fiber diets, dysbiosis, medication such as NSAIDS (asprin, advil…), birth control, steroids, and antibiotics.
Food allergens such as dairy and wheat can actually decrease permeability, resulting in inhibited nutrient uptake. This results in fatigue, as your cells are not getting the nutrients they need to thrive. Additionally, if undigested food particles are circulating in your blood your body will make antibodies to try to destroy the “pathogenic food.” Unfortunately, this leads to two main problems: you have developed an allergy to a food you were not previously sensitive to, and secondly, your body will often confuse these large food particles with actual tissue, often joint tissue, and in turn attack and inflame your joints as well.
As you can see, your gastrointestinal system plays a fundamental role in your overall health and immunity. It is critical to nurture your GI tract with supportive foods in order to bolster your immune system. However, if you do have a leaky gut or any of the aforementioned conditions, managing your nutrition, detoxifying your body and your home/work environments, and making supportive lifestyle choices, will drastically improve your symptoms. Eating more fruits and vegetables of all colors, doing stress reduction techniques, and exercise such as yoga all work to reduce inflammation, stress, and free radical damage.
Foods that challenge your GI immunity:
~Non-organic foods with their toxic pesticide residue
~Food sensitivities, intolerances, or allergens
~Coffee, alcohol, medications
Supplements:
~Glutamine-fuel source for intestinal cells, aids in repairing intestinal wall~Gamma Oryzanol-from rice bran oil, improve permeability and soothe mucus membranes
~Gamma Linolenic Acid- Omega-3 fatty acid that is anti-inflammatory and minimize free radical damage
~Probiotics and Prebiotics-repopulate your intestine with beneficial bacteria and your digestion will improve, your immunity will strengthen, and you will excrete more toxins.
~Deglycyrrhized (DGL) licorice-a very soothing herb
Nourishing Foods:
~Hypoallergenic foods such as rice
~Lightly cooked vegetables are easier to digest than raw
~Soups and broths-homemade bone broths are the best
~Whey protein (if not allergic to dairy or wheat) is easily digested and provides protein necessary to repair the intestine
~Bitter foods-stimulate hydrochloric acid for effective digestion
~Foods high in vitamins C, E, A, and zinc (dark green vegetables, legumes, red pepper, sesame seeds, beef)
~Dandelion tea- supports your liver’s detoxification processes
Your gastrointestinal system is the main player in your immunity and over all health. Your stomach and intestines are actually outside of your body, sifting through all the food and drinks you ingest and preventing toxins from entering your body. If you treat it well, your GI tract will keep you healthy, but when things go awry, toxins and bacteria escape into your blood and can wreak havoc on any body system they choose. When thinking of your immunity and overall health, begin healing your GI system and your liver and you will find your whole body appreciating your efforts!
If you are interested in health and wellness, contact Katherine today for a free phone consultation.
Tags: food allergies, gastrointestinal system, immune system, inflammation, leaky gut, liver
