[g_podcast id="6925556"]
The gut as a gateway to health
In this episode, you'll find out:
To begin with, it is important to clarify what the gut is actually responsible for.
The gut is responsible for our fluid balance, the immune system, the digestion of our food, the absorption of nutrients and the elimination of toxins.
I like to compare the gut to the root of a tree. Even the biggest, most beautiful, strongest tree will become ill or even die if it has a problem at the root. And so it is with us humans with the gut.
As our root, the gut is our contact with the outside world, and thanks to the bacteria living in the gut, our microbiome, it is both an ecosystem and an organ.
It is important to know that 80% of our immune system is located in the gut. The gut is therefore a defensive bulwark, a physical barrier against intruders such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses or parasites. And, it is also called our "second liver" in the line of defense against toxins.
The gut is also called our second brain (although there is some debate as to whether it is the first or second brain). Interesting to know: The intestine and brain develop from the same tissue in the fetus! That should already make things clear to us. The intestine can also work independently of the brain. And important substances such as hormones and enzymes are also produced in the gut, which are then also important for our state of mind and our entire metabolism. For example, 95% of our neurotransmitters are produced in the gut! That's why you could also call the gut a chemical factory.
In its function of fighting inflammation, it is also a kind of firefighter. And why is that important? Inflammation is one of the biggest problems when it comes to chronic diseases. A healthy gut is able to fight inflammation. So the picture is becoming clearer as to why the gut is so important for our wellbeing, isn't it?
Finally, the gut is also a stress soother. It has a direct influence on our ability to deal with stress! On the other hand, stress paralyzes digestion. In fight or flight mode, the gut is considered unimportant by our body and digestion does not function at 100%.
Conclusion: The microbiome and the gut as the headquarters and control center of our body determine our mental and physical health much more than we could ever imagine!
Bacteria have been living on our planet for more than 3 million years. We have about 2 kg of intestinal bacteria inside us, a total of 100 trillion bacteria (most of them in the digestive tract). There are 10 times more bacteria than human cells and we have 350 times more bacterial genes than human genes in us.
What weakens our gut?
Complaints that are associated with the gut are
Our lab has also created an interesting chart on this:
Many people ask about so-called "leaky gut syndrome" or permeable bowel. I talked a lot about it in this podcast episode and you can find more information in the blog article.
So what are the things you can do to support your gut?
So patience is an important virtue when it comes to the gut!
If you would like to learn more about gut-healthy eating and a gut-healthy lifestyle, we recommend our Gut Happiness course.
And if you would like to have your microbiome analyzed, we have two options for you.
As promised in the podcast episode, here is another interesting blog article on the topic of gut and gut problems symptoms.
Now I recommend that you subscribe to the podcast so that you don't miss an episode, and if you like what you hear, I would really appreciate a review on iTunes or Apple Podcast. Because these reviews also help other people find the podcast so we can spread the knowledge about gut and health more.
The gut as a gateway to health
In this episode, you'll find out:
- Why the gut is so important for overall health
- What functions the gut has
- A few facts about our roommates, the bacteria
- Which complaints indicate a problem in the gut
- What the term "leaky gut" is all about
- What steps are recommended to restore a healthy gut
To begin with, it is important to clarify what the gut is actually responsible for.
The gut is responsible for our fluid balance, the immune system, the digestion of our food, the absorption of nutrients and the elimination of toxins.
I like to compare the gut to the root of a tree. Even the biggest, most beautiful, strongest tree will become ill or even die if it has a problem at the root. And so it is with us humans with the gut.
As our root, the gut is our contact with the outside world, and thanks to the bacteria living in the gut, our microbiome, it is both an ecosystem and an organ.
It is important to know that 80% of our immune system is located in the gut. The gut is therefore a defensive bulwark, a physical barrier against intruders such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses or parasites. And, it is also called our "second liver" in the line of defense against toxins.
The gut is also called our second brain (although there is some debate as to whether it is the first or second brain). Interesting to know: The intestine and brain develop from the same tissue in the fetus! That should already make things clear to us. The intestine can also work independently of the brain. And important substances such as hormones and enzymes are also produced in the gut, which are then also important for our state of mind and our entire metabolism. For example, 95% of our neurotransmitters are produced in the gut! That's why you could also call the gut a chemical factory.
In its function of fighting inflammation, it is also a kind of firefighter. And why is that important? Inflammation is one of the biggest problems when it comes to chronic diseases. A healthy gut is able to fight inflammation. So the picture is becoming clearer as to why the gut is so important for our wellbeing, isn't it?
Finally, the gut is also a stress soother. It has a direct influence on our ability to deal with stress! On the other hand, stress paralyzes digestion. In fight or flight mode, the gut is considered unimportant by our body and digestion does not function at 100%.
Conclusion: The microbiome and the gut as the headquarters and control center of our body determine our mental and physical health much more than we could ever imagine!
Bacteria have been living on our planet for more than 3 million years. We have about 2 kg of intestinal bacteria inside us, a total of 100 trillion bacteria (most of them in the digestive tract). There are 10 times more bacteria than human cells and we have 350 times more bacterial genes than human genes in us.
What weakens our gut?
- Unhealthy diet
- Sugar / fructose
- Medication / toxins
- Smoking
- Gluten / grains
- Excessive hygiene
- Stress (chronic)
- Lack of exercise
Complaints that are associated with the gut are
- Asthma
- Skin problems
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Food intolerances
- Allergies
- Hay fever
- Mental illnesses such as depression, dementia or ADHD
- Chronic Fatigue
- Autoimmune diseases (MS, Hashimoto's, psoriasis, colitis, etc.)
- Obesity
- Disorders of bowel function (constipation, diarrhea)
- Flatulence
- Sleep problems
- Strong appetite for sweets
- Chronic events and inflammation
- Migraines
Our lab has also created an interesting chart on this:
Many people ask about so-called "leaky gut syndrome" or permeable bowel. I talked a lot about it in this podcast episode and you can find more information in the blog article.
So what are the things you can do to support your gut?
- Eliminate foods that are harmful to the gut (e.g. sugar, wheat, dairy products)
- Reduce toxins, for example by avoiding irritants, but also by eating slowly, chewing, taking a 5-hour break between meals
- When things get better, it is important to maintain new good habits
So patience is an important virtue when it comes to the gut!
If you would like to learn more about gut-healthy eating and a gut-healthy lifestyle, we recommend our Gut Happiness course.
And if you would like to have your microbiome analyzed, we have two options for you.
As promised in the podcast episode, here is another interesting blog article on the topic of gut and gut problems symptoms.
Now I recommend that you subscribe to the podcast so that you don't miss an episode, and if you like what you hear, I would really appreciate a review on iTunes or Apple Podcast. Because these reviews also help other people find the podcast so we can spread the knowledge about gut and health more.
