FYI

YOUR MICROBIAL FOUNDATION

The digestive tract is a dark, moist environment that provides a steady stream of fluid and nutrition. Loaded with trillions of microorganisms (there are about 500 different species in the gut) that form a natural ecosystem known as the gut flora, these microbes actually account for three to six pounds of your weight! (Wait—maybe you don’t like them anymore.) Hashem’s incredible design allows this ecosystem to be symbiotic, benefiting the individual by helping metabolize food particles and form absorbable nutrients, as well as supporting the microbes. These amazing organisms actually support life. They act as powerful, natural antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals, providing a protective barrier that guards the intestinal wall from all the bad guys.

But what happens when this natural symbiosis goes off-kilter? Pathogenic microbes start having a heyday and from there, it’s a hop, skip, and a jump away from chronic gut inflammation and damage to the gut lining.

HOW GUT HEALTH BEGINS— AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT GOES AWRY

The gut health of a baby will only be as strong as the microbial balance of its mother. During delivery, the baby faces exposure and inoculation to its mother’s microbes, which then travel into the baby’s warm and moist areas and begin to form large colonies that support the formation of natural immunity. Gut flora continues to transfer over to the baby through breast milk.

Inside the stomach, we all have a complex intestinal lining, covering more than 4,000 square feet of surface area. When functioning optimally, it forms a tight barrier that filters what gets absorbed into the bloodstream. But when the gut flora gets messed up, the pathogenic microbes start eating through the intestinal wall, causing large cracks or holes in the gut lining and clearing the way for unwanted stuff, such as partially digested food, toxins, and bugs, to cross into the bloodstream. Now the gut is ripe for inflammation and more unhappy changes in the gut flora, which may lead to issues with the digestive tract, like celiac, Crohn’s, and irritable bowel syndrome.

But it often doesn’t stop there. Once these bad bugs are traveling around, they can lodge into joints, neural tissue, the liver, and other major organs, triggering an inflammatory response. Studies are proliferating nowadays, supporting the idea that a leaky gut may play a role in the development of a host of other conditions, like autoimmune disease (lupus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, allergies, asthma, acne, obesity, and even mental illness.

WHOSE FAULT IS IT? WHAT GLYPHOSATE DOES TO YOUR GUT

If you’re one of those who love blaming everything on your DNA, here’s good news and bad news. Your DNA really may have a hand in leaky gut issues, as some of us may be genetically predisposed to gut sensitivities. But the buck doesn’t stop here: typical modern life—subsisting on the standard American diet (lots of sugar, too little fiber), stress, and heavy alcohol use—may be a big driver of gut inflammation.

Plenty of environmental toxins are notorious for damaging the gut flora as well, such as chlorinated water and processed food and drinks. Antibiotics are a biggie too; while antibiotics target pathogenic organisms, they also end up harming the beneficial bacteria, altering the gut balance. Hormones discharged from the liver to the small intestine are also meant to be broken down by the good bacteria, but when the bacteria is depleted, the intestines may end up reabsorbing estrogens that ultimately may cause tumor growths.

Let’s not forget about pain relievers either. When ingested too often, these non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs widen the spaces in the gut wall. Anti-acid drugs do their share too, by eliminating gastric acid in the gut, destroying intestinal microbes and their ability to use enzymes for waste removal.

If we’re looking for something to blame, a good place to start is by pointing fingers at glyphosate. Glyphosate, often referred to under the trade name “Roundup,” is a toxic herbicide sprayed on hundreds of US agricultural crops. Too many foods are glyphosate “victims,” like bread, oatmeal, cereal, snacks, and crackers. Even foods we’d like to think are healthy may be contaminated with glyphosate, including our fruits and vegetables, nuts, and eggs. (That’s why organic is always a better idea.)

Most people don’t realize that when they eat foods polluted with glyphosate, healthy gut bacteria gets killed because glyphosate works like an antibiotic…and that’s as good a way as any to develop leaky gut. But it gets worse. Glyphosate is also an “endocrine disruptor,” which basically impairs nutrient absorption, damages DNA, and causes cells to die prematurely. (If we’re talking about glyphosate, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer formally classifies glyphosate as a “probable carcinogen.” Just saying.)

A senior research scientist at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Stephanie Seneff, has done intensive studies on certain environmental toxins, like aluminum and glyphosate, and how they affect the human physiology. According to her research, it seems that a low micronutrient, high-carb diet, combined with too much exposure to environmental toxins and too little sunlight exposure are associated with many modern diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, autism, and gastrointestinal issues.

We all require healthy levels of stomach acid in NEXT BLAME order to properly digest food and assimilate nutrients, like proteins and complex starches. If there are low levels of stomach acid, food may pass out TARGET: LOW of the stomach undigested, effectively becoming a feeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, like candi- STOMACH da for one. Also, when the stomach is sufficiently acidic, these harmful organisms are inhibited, but when acid levels are low, the stomach pH gets too ACIDMICROBIAL high; these bugs can then survive and prosper, and head straight to the gut. What happens next is an imbalance of gut flora, damage to the gut lining FOUNDATION over time, and there you have it: leaky gut.

Stomach acid levels can be increased naturally through various measures. Avoiding the use of antacids is a good place to start, since antacids essentially cover up a symptom. Heartburn or acid reflux can actually be a sign of too low, not too high, stomach acid. Getting to the root of underlying food allergies is an important step in healing digestive problems. A teaspoon or two of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar before meals may be helpful for those with mildly low stomach acid issues. Various herbal digestives have also shown to be helpful, as well as taking betaine hydrochloric acid with pepsin during meals. (Taking betaine, along with digestive enzymes, helped me tremendously when I was dealing with intense acid reflux and bloating.)

LEAKY GUT AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE LEAKY GUT AND GLUTEN

Research shows that leaky gut syndrome is the precursor to many diseases. With cracks in the intestinal lining, the bloodstream is not protected and may become polluted with toxins. This indirectly affects the lymphatic system, endocrine system, liver function, and immune response. An out-of-balance gut may end up burdening all the organ systems.

All these toxins in the bloodstream signal danger to the immune system, which may start attacking its own tissues, resulting in autoimmunity. This can lead to a host of issues, which may get even worse when leaky gut is ignored. Nutrients aren’t being absorbed properly, the gut lining becomes inflamed, and the body becomes more vulnerable to infection.

Gluten is a well-known bad guy for many because it is often very difficult or impossible to digest when one is lacking in robust healthy bacteria. (One reason why gluten digestion used to be less of an issue in times gone by is because a probiotic culture was used to pre-digest the gluten proteins before the bread was baked.) With gut flora out of whack, gluten proteins cause irritation and inflammation to the intestinal tract. Research shows that for individuals with celiac disease, or those who’ve developed immune responses to gluten, even trace amounts of gluten may trigger an inflammatory response and cause irritation and damage to the cells that line and bind the intestinal wall tightly together, aka leaky gut.

DIAGNOSING LEAKY GUT

Digestive problems are the most obvious symptoms of leaky gut syndrome, but if you have no stomach complaints, that doesn’t mean there’s no leaky gut. If you’re suffering from any chronic disease, frequent infections, autoimmune disease, or a weak immune system, chances are you’re dealing with a leaky gut, regardless of whether you’re experiencing digestive issues per se. Other symptoms include skin rashes, mood swings, anxiety, poor concentration, constipation, and persistent muscle or joint pain, among others. Also, many conditions are associated with leaky gut syndrome, such as hives, acne, eczema, allergies, psoriasis, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, and liver dysfunction.

The lactulose-mannitol test is used to diagnose a leaky gut. The individual drinks a solution containing both of these water-soluble molecules, and urine is collected afterward for six hours. The amount present in the urine reflects how much of these molecules was absorbed by the body. A person with a healthy gut would show high levels of mannitol and low levels of lactulose. If high levels of both are found, it reveals leaky gut syndrome, while low levels of both indicate malabsorption of nutrients.

THE ROAD Through Hashem’s incredible kindness, the body is designed to regenerate and renew itself. And so the gut has the capability to heal. The first step to healing a leaky gut is to cleanse TO HEALING and detox. Toxins must be flushed from the system, parasites eliminated, and candida overgrowth treated. Low stomach acid needs to be dealt with as well. Most important: a nutrient-dense diet, the addition of probiotics, and the avoidance of trigger foods are in order for restoring a healthy balance of gut flora. For many people with leaky gut syndrome, getting off gluten is a major first step. Cutting out foods containing corn (and corn is hiding behind almost every unpronounceable ingredient in too many processed foods) may also be important, as evidence shows that corn is largely produced from GMO varieties and can contribute to intestinal permeability. Sugar, dairy, refined carbs, and alcohol are also common culprits. Choose high-fiber, nutrient-dense foods, drink lots of (purified, not fluoridated!) water, and focus on getting essential fatty acids from fish, flax, or chia—those are anti-inflammatory. Choosing organic foods whenever possible is also an important means of healing. Non-organic foods are often genetically modified and/or sprayed with pesticides that are really bad news for the gut.

Several herbs are known to have incredible anti-inflammatory effects, which are crucial for gut healing. Both marshmallow root and slippery elm, among others, soothe and coat the intestinal tract, decreasing toxin absorption. When parasites are present, echinacea, garlic, colloidal silver, cloves, and grapefruit seed extract are some choices that may be helpful.

When treating leaky gut syndrome, supplementation may often be necessary, as malabsorption of key nutrients is a common side effect. It’s important to have optimal levels of vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. L-glutamine is touted for rebuilding and strengthening the gut wall. And of course, remember to add a high-quality probiotic to the list.

On top of all that, a balanced lifestyle that includes adequate sleep, gentle exercise, and minimizing stress (easier said than done, I know) is essential for a healthy digestive system—or a healthy anything, for that matter.

In the words of Dr. Campbell-McBride, author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome, “A well functioning gut with healthy gut flora holds the roots of our health. And, just as a tree with sick roots is not going to thrive, the rest of the body cannot thrive without a well-functioning digestive system.” So you may want to pay some attention to your gut. Eighty percent of the immune system is in there. Once the gut is healed, the rest of the body can, with the help of Hashem, heal as well.