Free Earth - Gut Health

Gut Health

The tract of the gastro intestine influences both the brain and the immune system, as 80% of the immune system is found within and surrounding the gastrointestinal tract. When the immune system is under stress, chemical messages are sent to the brain informing that the system is affected, therefore, in turn disturbing the brain’s normal function. Instead, a disturbance in mood such as irritability and cognitive responses differ.

A result of gastrointestinal disfunction is leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut syndrome is serious as it can result in a vast array of further health problems including mood swings, sleep disturbances, muscle or joint pan, irritability, fatigue, lethargy, memory difficulties and environmental intolerances. Leaky gut syndrome can be associated and accompanied by other illnesses, those of eczema, autism Crohn’s disease, ADHD, alcoholism and food hypersensitivities.

The lining of the small intestine is all but leak proof with fully digested food particles being the only substance to permeate this layer of lining. This is when the gastrointestinal tract is in harmony. The problem here being the cells that form this lining live for a total of three days and can be damaged as this layer is only one cell dimension thick. Unwanted gaps between these cells are capable of being formed if stresses surrounding these cells are concentrated. The gaps allow large molecules to pass through them undigested and straight into the lymph vessels of the intestine as well as the bloodstream. This is the leaky gut sydrome and the undigested particles include carbohydrate, protein and fat as well as sections of micro organisms. Not only does this place a huge impact on the gastrointestinal tract, but also every other organ and system of the body.

Leaky gut can occur due to a diet that is not nutritious. Taking a course of antibiotics can be the cause of leaky gut syndrome and can happen within hours. This syndrome can be persistant should the following diet continue to lack nutrients.

The symptoms to be aware of with the presence of leaking gut syndrome are poor memory and focus issues, muscle pain and joint inflammation, feeling physically and mentally drained or fatigued following eating or feeling less than well after consuming certain foods which may include amongst others junk food.

As mentioned, probiotics are a fighting force to combat the hundreds of species of damaging bacteria found within the gastrointestinal tract alone. When one is unwell, there is an overgrowth of this bacteria and a decrease in the probiotic microbes. The result of this can include stomach ulcers, excessive gas and diarrhoea, abdominal pain, constipation, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome and the function of the immune system can be altered. Research is also illustrating that chronic fatigue sydrome, arthritis, fibromyalgia and autism may be related to microorganisms found within the gastrointestinal tract.

Probiotic bacteria is extremely important for the correct function of the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics neutralise toxins within the gut, stimulate healing of the gut wall, generate important nutrients, diminish allergic reactivity, assist in the digestion of food, prevent the reporoduction of undesirable microbes and stimulate the immune system in a positive manner. Many are led to believe that strains of bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus found in yoghurt provide the body with ‘good bacteria’, however, in reality this bacteria does not survive in the human gastrointestinal tract when taken a supplement orally. However, taking a supplement of Lactobacillus rhamnosus has been proven to lessen the symptoms of those suffering a food allergy and may have the ability to stimulate antibody production that will of benefit to the immune system. This is an important breakthrough, as previously advice given to those with such allergies was to stay clear of the offending food, although it is necessary that this must still be followed.

If suffering from leaky gut syndrome it is important to follow these guidelines:

§ Identify the foods to which the person is intolerant.

§ Eliminate these foods from the diet.

§ Eliminate toxic foods from the diet (eat Stoneage Nutrition) and rid the body of toxins via a

detoxification process (mentioned in this book).

§ Nourish the body with healthy foods full of beneficial nutrients.

Helicobacteri pilori:

Only people with a weak immune system and negative people get! If you strengthen your immune system and become positive the Helicobacteri pilori can not stick to your intestine wall anymore!

Any gut or digestive problem and disease will always be connected with the deficiency in vitamin D, A and DHA (Omega 3) and calcium!

It’s all the guts fault!

A healthy intestinal flora has 400 different bacteria trials which live with us in symbiosis. The intestine of a newborn is totally sterile before birth and breastfeeding. Those bacteria that start to colonise within the baby spread out like a carpet in the guts. The healthy intestinal flora can change during life due to false nourishment, pharmaceutical medication (drugs) such as Cortisol and Antibiotics, additives, preservatives and parasites. It comes to an imbalance between the healthy and morbific intestine bacteria. The morbific intestine bacteria can breed excessively using the undigested food to produce acid toxins. These acid toxins get into the blood through the mucous membrane of the Intestine. If this goes on for a period of weeks or months then the mucousal membrane changes and leads to an increase of the permeance. That’s the reason for a chronic acidity or poisoning of our entire organism. This also leads to chronic inflammation. Normally the mucous membrane is so tight that toxins can not get through but with the overgrowing of the morbific bacteria the intestinal flora gets weaker and the membrane breaks open so that toxins can get through. This weakens the immune system due to there being 80% of the immune cells located in the intestine. The mucous membrane is not able to protest us against pathogens, parasites, yeast and viruses. And the organism is also not able to produce sufficient essential immune cells.

This is called “Leaky Gut Syndrome”. All toxins produced in the digestion process can now pass through the mucousal membrane into our body. Rebuilding the mucousal membrane can take from three months to one and a half years. See chapter Instestinal Restoration and see your Naturopathic Doctor for tests. All these restoration processes aim for a rebuilding of the Intestinal flora.A healthy intestinal flora does not allow allergens into the body as they are killed off from the immune cells in the membrane. Having a leaky gut means that allergens can pass through into the body and cause allergies. The repair of the intestianl flora and the mucousal membrane is the most important factor in getting rid of allergies.

We aim for a life in Symbiosis as this means that all bacteria live a joint life in mutual utility and mutual dependence, i.e. one cannot live without the other. Don’t forget that to beginn of the evolution first life form were the bacterias. They took over important tasks for our metabolism and immune system. A healthy intestinal flora (good gut bacteria) is as important as any other organ in our body. Unfortunately we do not take this seriously these days and the Intestinal flora is often overlooked. This big mistake we see in the chronically sick and patients suffering bad acidity.

A big amount of these toxins that get into our system have to be stored due to our bodys inability to get rid of them. Storage areas of our body are muscles, connective tissue and fat cells. Our body tries to get those toxins out of the Metabolism by storing them there. If our storage capacity is full our body reacts by way of Inflammation, as this is his only way to get rid of parts of or the stored toxins. Depending where the toxins are stored in the body, this leads to different diseases:

1. Heart and Blood Pressure Problems

As we know from the Chapter “How does our body function” acid destroys the ability of the red blood to stretch which results in them being unable to fit through the small blood vessels (capillaries). Studies were done where Heart attack patients were given alkilising remedies and heart supporting vitamin combinations. These studies proved that this therapy reduced or stopped the blood vessels from clotting! So if you want to keep your heart healthy watch your acidity and your guts!

2. Anxiety and Depression

We often see that patients with an acidic Organism often suffer psychological problems. Following the intestinal restoration it can be seen that the depression and anxiety symptoms have disappeared. Our psychic constitution is hormonally controlled and through high acid contents in the body our hormonal system becomes affected, this also changing the psychological mind of a person.The most common change due to an environment of high acidity is that people become lethargic and on this premise symptoms get worse, the patient then starts to suffer from depression and anxiety. So you can now see how important it is to also treat psychological problems with nutrition, detoxification and intestinal restoration. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) are also treated this way as they are caused from a unhealthy intestine.

3. Chronic Pain to Rheumatoid Arthritis

The storage of the toxins is the problem here as well. When the storage overflows with toxins the body reacts with inflammation to fight those toxins. Often the acids are stored in the muscles of shoulder, neck or in the lower back. Just as easily the body can push the toxins through the joint mucous membranes into the joints where they cause a destructive inflammation process. People that often suffer from pain like back pain are often chronic acidic.

4. Allergies like Dermatitis, Eczema, Asthma and Hay Fever

The organism attempts to get rid of some of the toxins through the skin and mucous membrane. The acid irritates the immune cells in the skin and mucous membranes and in turn they react on these toxins with inflammation. Due to the continuous inflammatory reaction of the immune system towards the toxins, our body over reacts with allergies. As soon as the mucous membrane or the skin gets into contact with any substance containing protein (e.g. pollen, grasses or food containing protein) the body starts to react on these with allergies as well. After the immune cells have reacted once to any allergy, they store this information and always react in an allergic manner with any further contact.

5. Migraines

Migraine is an acid disease with inflammation. The acid stores itself in the neck muscles and this leads to inflammation in that area. The inflamed area interferes with the nerve channels who are responsible for migraine pain. Those affected nerve channels withdraw as a Spinal nerve from the spinal cord of the neck and run over the head forward to the eyes and to the face.

6. Immune Weakness Disease

A weak immune system and often recurring viral infections in children and adults and Auto-Immune Disease are directly results of bad Intestinal flora. As we know 80% of the immune cells are located in the gut, so the immune system and the lymphatic system suffers severe damage from those acid toxins in the gut.

7. Digestion Disorders

That can arise from a weak and ruined Intestinal flora are bloating, chronic constipation, diarrhea, stomach and gut inflammation, Morbus Chron, Colitis Ulcerosa

8. Chronic Fatigue and Concentration Deficiency

We easily can imagine that our body is not capable anymore if he is permantly overloaded with lots of toxins which he tries to fight with permanent inflammations. It is then quite understandable that this will affect energy levels, concentration and memory and as a result will suffer in this bad enviroment.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Several symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) include constipation, diarrhoea, stomach bloating, pain and cramping and mucus in the stools. Stress is commonly blamed for IBS which is accurate to an extent, but it is actually the fact that your digestive system is placed under too much strain and your intestines do not work properly. The resultant being erratic peristalsis contractions which move the food through the intestinal tract. Not only do these abnormal contractions lead to either constipation or diarrhoea, but they also interfere with the absorption of nutrients, leaving you nutritionally depleted. Do not attempt to diagnose yourself as having IBS, as symptoms are similar to that of the more serious illness Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Please visit your Naturopathic Doctor, Naturopath or Health Practitioner.

Do the Intestinal Restoration Plan Chew food until it becomes a liquid and do not overeat.Drink vegetable juice daily.Introduce a high fibre diet consisting of sprouted seeds, legumes, whole grains and vegetables (be cautious eating onions, cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower as these vegetables may aggravate the situation). Eat Stoneage Nutrition!Cut out refined and processed foods such as sugars and sweeteners, alcohol, dairy products, wheat, corn, red meat, eggs, margarine and coffee. Peppermint oil capsules can be of use.Take Steffen’s Matrix Clearing KitSprinkle 1 tablespoon of linseeds over salads.Take 2 tablespoons of flax oil (Udo’s Choice) daily.Take 1 tablespoon of aloe vera juice ahead of meals. To assist the breakdown of foods, take B complex daily and a digestive enzyme supplement with meals. Take 1000mg of glutamine powder three times a day before meals with Glutathione.

Gas, Wind or Flatulence

Occasional gas is considered normal, however, it is a problem when continual wind, flatulence and bloating occur. Poor diets are the main factors which lead to these difficulties. An excess of sugar, wheat and dairy make the problem even worse.

Solution:

Eat slowly with thorough chewing of the food.Consume smaller portions.Take digestive enzymes with every meal. This will break down foods.Do not drink liquids with meals. Drink 20-25 minutes prior to the meal.Eat when you feel relaxed. This ensures maximum digestion.Make it a point to have dinner early. Eating late at night will result in indigestion. Fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains and Miso Soup are beneficial for flatulence.To stimulate digestion drink one tablespoon of aloe vera juice and a teaspoon of liquid chlorophyll prior to your main meal of the day. See Chapter Detox and Intestinal Restoration.

Constipation

Twice a day, regularly and without effort, your bowels should be emptied. You are likely to be constipated if you empty the bowels less than once a day. Added signs that show you may be suffering constipation include trying to force something out, sitting on the toilet for a period of time and dropping little pellets. The following dietary guidelines will offer assistance with constipation:

Cut out:

Saturated fat

Meats

Black Tea and coffee

Dairy products

Spicy or hot foods

Sweets and sugary foods

Wheat, Yeast & Gluten

Increase:

Healthy gluten free whole grains

Fresh fruits

Drink plenty of fluids