The GI tract, in summary, is the system of organs that processes food into energy.  The breakdown of food into nutrients such as amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, and other micronutrients is absolutely critical for life. It is a complicated process that requires a lot of moving parts and precision by assistant organs such as the pancreas, liver, and kidneys. Waste products in the form of urine and feces are the end result, and even then, this process needs to be extremely precise for optimal health.

The GI tract, also referred to as the GUT, will include primarily: the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum. While the GI system has specific functions of breaking down the food we eat, it also plays another very crucial role.  The GI system is essentially our immune system. It is our “immunity” and is often referred to as the GUT microbiome.

When healthy, the GI tract is a wondrous bodily process that is amazing in so many ways!.  The food we eat is processed much like a factory.  When we eat food, it is broken down initially in the mouth and enters the stomach for further processing.  The broken-down food is called “chyme” and is slowly released first into the small intestine and then the large intestine.  Here they are further broken down into nutrients that the body can absorb and utilize.  The rest is sent further down the line to the rectum and then eliminated as feces.

Many issues may disrupt this naturally occurring and usually smooth process.  For example, the foods we eat can definitely affect these processes negatively. Foods in excess that consist of simple sugars, fats, processed foods, and alcohol may be problematic.   GI symptoms may occur, such as bloating, nausea, pain, diarrhe,a and constipation if the things we consume are in excess and our diets are not balanced nutritionally.

In time, with poor diets, “leaky gut” may occur, which is the damaging of the very tight cellular lining in the intestines.  This causes the leaking of small particles of broken-down food into the bloodstream where it circulates and causes an immune response by the body.  The body views these particles as invaders and goes to work trying to clean up the mess.  During this clean-up process, our bodies may respond by developing an autoimmune disease,  allergies, Diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, and a host of other health issues.

The gut microbiome being in balance, as you can see, is crucial for immunity and overall health.  We discussed in the past that most disease, including cancer, starts with 3 primary issues, and they are as follows:

• Chronic inflammation
• Chronic Infection
• Chronic exposure to Environmental pollutants/molds

The GUT microbiome, when out of balance, most definitely can cause systemic inflammation. Inflammation is a significant factor in the development of Cancers and proper GUT health is essentially anti-cancer!

We eat several times a day, and if we have “leaky gut,” we are subjecting our bodies to inflammation every day.  Symptoms may be very apparent, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, pain, and blood in our stool. They can also be very subtle.  If an inflammatory response happens as a result of an invasion of partially digested food particles into the bloodstream, then the body reacts by sending in a cellular immune response team to defend itself.  During this “fight” (per se of good vs evil), symptoms such as shortness of breath, hives, allergic reaction, headache, mood swings, insomnia, malaise, fatigue, and many more may occur!

Chronic infections in the GUT can cause a host of problems.  Ulcers are a good example of a bacterium that eats the lining of the stomach.  This specific bacterium, called H. pylori, can take “root” in the stomach and cause significant health issues. Additionally, parasites and other bacteria and viruses (Hepatitis) can also be problematic and lead to damage to the GI tract.

Long term infections and parasites change the tissue microenvironment where disease and possibly cancers can take hold.  SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is a term that was unheard of just a few years ago; however, it is now becoming a very common GI concern for many.  As the name implies, there is an overgrowth of bacteria from issues such as diet, age, medication use, diabetes, IBS, and others. SIBO is a chronic infection that may be treated naturally with caprylic acid and oil or oregano. A low FODmap diet is a food-eating strategy plan that reduces or eliminates certain carbohydrates that the GUT does not process well.  Foods high in certain carbohydrates may irritate the GUT and cause symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, pain, or constipation.  Following a list of foods low in these carbohydrates may help patients heal their GUT lining and overall health. If these therapies do not help, then antibiotics are used in high dosages and over long periods of time.

Environmental pollutants and molds are everywhere.  They are hidden in the foods we eat, such as preservatives, dyes, pesticides, chemicals from plastics and food preparation, in our water, and more.  When these EPPs hit the GUT, they cause damage over time, leading to “leaky gut” and thus damaging the tissue-microenvironment.  Damage leads to inflammation, and the cycle goes on!

Taking care of our GI system.

The best way to nurture our GI microbiome is to eat healthy – it’s that simple! Create a diverse GUT microbiome by eating a variety of healthy fruits, vegetables, and other fiber-rich foods. But please remember, everyone is different and may not tolerate a lot of fiber in these types of diets.  Vegetables, if you remember, contain natural compounds that are designed to protect the plants.  These compounds, when eaten by us humans, may damage the GUT!  Listen to your body and find out what foods your body likes or does not like.  The goal is to create a diverse GI microbiome and not to have a disproportionate amount of good and bad bacteria. When bad bacteria get out of hand, then so does inflammation, infections, and ultimately health!  Its all about the balance!

If you have SIBO, leaky Gut, diverticulitis, Crohn’s, or other GI issues, it is best to work with an experienced practitioner who knows about diet and nutrition – and does specialized GI testing, such as SIBO testing, as well as stool testing for inflammation, parasites, bacteria, and viral infections.

At FreezeWellness, we offer SIBO, GI, Environmental pollutant, and Mold testing.  We also ‘dive” into advanced bloodwork that looks at infection and inflammation.