functionalwellness
Healing Your Body Through the Gut
by Jason Gourlas, PA-C A
leaky gastrointestinal (GI) tract or “gut” may be the root cause of autism, depression, chronic fatigue, allergies and autoimmune diseases. Hippocrates, the father of medicine said, “All diseases begin in the gut.” As we gain more knowledge and catch up to this ancient wisdom, we are beginning to see how right he was.
The gut and why it leaks The gut is essentially a tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. The lining of the tube is covered with special cells that are bound together tightly and regulate the passage of the gut’s contents into the bloodstream. The GI tract normally keeps toxins, bugs and undigested foods out while allowing nutrients in. If the GI tract becomes inflamed, the cell’s lining can be damaged or killed. When damaged, the gut lets bad things into the body and is not as effective at absorbing the good. Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and fats aren’t available for the body to utilize. Nutrient deficiencies and their associated diseases result. The enemies of gut integrity include poor digestion, bacteria, viruses, yeast, parasites, chemicals (including medications), allergens, GMOs and stress.
A problem with wheat Gluten is a special protein found in wheat. Gluten is a huge problem in people with celiac disease, an inherited, immune-mediated response to a part of the gluten protein known as gliadin. Gluten can inflame the gut for a long time after eating it. However, even those people without celiac disease should be aware of gluten. It has been shown to promote “leakiness” of the gut for about 45 minutes after it is consumed. This becomes a significant problem as today’s wheat (through the process of hybridization and genetic modification) has about 400 percent more gluten than the wheat of just 50 years ago.
22 Natural Awakenings San Antonio
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