where does disease begin?

"All disease begins in the gut."
      Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine

The real secret to good health

The trillions of friendly bacteria in the human gut form the basis of your health.  The Digestive & Immune Systems depend on their protection against microbial and parasitic attack.  A healthy intestinal flora supports the barrier function of the intestinal mucous membrane against digested poisons and allergens, preventing such unwanted substances from entering the blood circulation.

A healthy gut has 3 prime functions...

1. digestion of food,
2. absorption, manufacture and distribution of nutrients,
3. prevention of toxins from entering the body.

If the gut is unhealthy so is the rest of the body

• Leaky bowel syndrome
      (gut dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome)

The intestinal mucous membrane is a dense mesh network, preventing large molecules from migrating.  If predominantly bad bacteria inhabit the intestines, the mesh starts widening, allowing undesirable bacteria, viruses, fungi and other potentially toxic materials to enter the blood stream.

This situation is called Leaky Gut Syndrome, Leaky Bowel Syndrome, or Gut Dysbiosis.

The widened spaces can also allow undigested food particles to “leak” through the intestinal lining.  This could pose a serious health risk since these particles may be considered “foreign” by the body and the immune system may try to destroy them.  This would immediately cause the immune system to weaken because approximately 80% of the immune system is affected by the intestines.  Every tenth cell of the intestines is a lymphatic immune cell.

Leaking intestines are no longer able to produce a sufficient amount of immune cells.  The leaky gut syndrome is almost always associated with autoimmune disease and reversing autoimmune disease depends on healing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.  Any other treatment is no more than symptom management or suppression.  

An autoimmune disease is defined as one in which the immune system makes antibodies against its own tissues.  The activation of immune cells within the huge surface area of the gut lining can cause a systemic inflammatory response and overall bodily inflammation. We are now learning this is a key to many different disease states, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis and diabetes.  The passage of bacteria and toxins through leaky gut mucosa may amplify or perpetuate this systemic inflammation.  Leaky gut syndrome also creates a long list of mineral deficiencies, because the various carrier proteins present in the gastrointestinal tract that are needed to transport minerals from the intestine to the blood are damaged by the inflammation process.  

Leaky gut is linked to a whole host of chronic diseases.  It is not the only cause, but sadly, for many people, leaky gut isn’t detected.  Therefore they don’t know that they should be healing the gastrointestinal lining with probiotics and cellular nutrition.  This is the path to disease reversal.  Empower the immune system and the body can take care of itself.

What is the role of Probiotics?

Probiotic bacteria favourably alter the intestinal microflora balance, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function and increase resistance to infection.  People with flourishing intestinal colonies of beneficial bacteria are better equipped to fight the growth of disease-causing bacteria.  Full spectrum Synbiotics (probiotic + prebiotic) maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora by producing organic compounds - such as lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid - that increase the acidity of the intestine and inhibit the reproduction of many harmful bacteria.  Probiotic bacteria also produce substances called acidophillin or bacteriocins, which act as natural antibiotics.  A broad spectrum of nutrients in the form of bio-available superfoods also assists recovery.

The 7 stages of the 'inflamed’ gut  

1. When the gut is inflamed, it does not absorb nutrients and foods properly and so fatigue and bloating can occur.
2. As mentioned previously, when large food particles are absorbed there is the creation of food allergies and new symptoms with target organs, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.
3. When the gut is inflamed the carrier proteins are damaged so nutrient deficiencies occur which can also cause any symptom, like magnesium deficiency induced muscle spasm or copper deficiency induced high cholesterol.
4. Likewise when the detox pathways that line the gut are compromised, chemical sensitivity can arise.  Furthermore the leakage of toxins overburdens the liver so that the body is less able to handle everyday chemicals.
5. When the gut lining is inflamed the protective coating of lgA (immunoglobulin A) is adversely affected and the body is not able to ward off protozoa, bacteria, viruses and yeasts like Candida.
6. When the intestinal lining is inflamed, bacteria and yeasts are able to translocate.  This means that they are able to pass from the gut lumen or cavity, into the bloodstream and set up infection anywhere else in the body.
7. The worst symptom is the formation of antibodies.  Sometimes these leak across and look similar to antigens on our own tissues.  Consequently, when an antibody is made to attack it, it also attacks our tissue.  This is probably how autoimmune disease starts.  Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroiditis and many others are members of this ever-growing category of ‘incurable’ diseases.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Also known as "Gut Dysbiosis".

Symptoms include: abdominal pain, asthma, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, confusion, fuzzy or foggy thinking, gas, indigestion, mood swings, nervousness, poor immunity, recurrent vaginal infections, skin rashes, diarrhoea, bed-wetting, recurrent bladder infections, poor memory, shortness of breath, constipation, bloating, aggressive behaviour, anxiety, fatigue, feeling toxic.