{"id":31273,"date":"2018-03-06T11:36:38","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T11:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shawellness.com\/shamagazine\/en\/?p=31273"},"modified":"2022-03-04T08:53:07","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T08:53:07","slug":"how-does-gut-health-affect-our-immunity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shawellness.com\/shamagazine\/en\/how-does-gut-health-affect-our-immunity\/","title":{"rendered":"How does gut health affect our immunity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hippocrates once said, \u201cevery disease begins in the gut\u201d<\/strong>. At the time<\/strong>, such a statement might have not been taken so seriously,<\/strong> however, today<\/strong>, this once bold statement is truer than ever<\/strong>. The topic on gut health<\/strong> has taken centre stage<\/strong> in most recent times, as scientists continue to learn<\/strong> the importance of gut health for optimum health<\/strong>. We\u2019ve discovered that the digestive system<\/strong> is also known as \u2018the second brain\u2019<\/strong>, because of the millions of neurons that lie within our gut lining<\/strong>, filled<\/strong> with important neurotransmitters<\/strong> that influence<\/strong> our mood<\/strong>, energy<\/strong> and weight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, a staggering 70% of our immunity<\/strong> is based in our gut<\/strong>. When we think about it logically, it makes sense that our digestive system<\/strong> plays a central<\/strong> role<\/strong> in maintaining the immune system<\/strong>, considering that it\u2019s the first contact that the outside world<\/strong> has with our internal body<\/strong>. If any threatening pathogen<\/strong> or toxin<\/strong> comes in contact<\/strong> with the gut<\/strong>, the intestinal lining<\/strong> needs to know how to detect them<\/strong> and expel them<\/strong> from the body before<\/strong> they get into the bloodstream<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In an ideal world<\/strong>, our gut microbiome would be healthy<\/strong>, allowing<\/strong> for only nutrients<\/strong> to be absorbed<\/strong>, and the pathogens<\/strong> and toxins<\/strong> to be expelled<\/strong>. However, the reality<\/strong> is that there are many factors<\/strong> which compromise<\/strong> gut health<\/strong> and in effect, lower immunity function. The gut lining<\/strong> is a tightly woven net<\/strong>, permeable<\/strong> only to small molecules<\/strong>, when it\u2019s healthy<\/strong>. However, when<\/strong> exposed<\/strong> to infections<\/strong>, toxins, antibiotic overuse<\/strong>, stress, excess sugar<\/strong>, alcohol and gluten<\/strong>, the intestinal walls<\/strong> can be broken apart<\/strong> (leaky gut syndrome), allowing harmful to enter the bloodstream<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Many<\/strong> of the symptoms<\/strong> many people suffer on a daily basis<\/strong>, like bloating<\/strong>, digestive issues, fatigue<\/strong>, brain fog, inflammatory skin conditions<\/strong>, etc. are a result<\/strong> of an unhealthy gut<\/strong>. By addressing<\/strong> the problem from the root cause<\/strong>, all of these symptoms<\/strong> we consider<\/strong> to be the new normal<\/strong>, can<\/strong> be eliminated<\/strong>, without<\/strong> the use of medications<\/strong> or energy boosters<\/strong> like coffee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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How can we ensure that our gut is healthy?<\/h3>\n

Since the digestive system<\/strong> is made up of millions of bacteria<\/strong>, we need to preserve these healthy bacteria<\/strong> and eliminate<\/strong> the growth of unhealthy bacteria<\/strong>. Our intestinal flora<\/strong> needs<\/strong> the following foods<\/strong> to thrive:<\/p>\n