This article is from Dr. Laura Ruby’s blog
The eyes are the window to the soul
I am sure many of you have heard this phrase. But what you may not know is the gut is the window to our immune system. The first time I heard this, I was startled to say the least. After 12 years of traditional health education and many, many more years of experience, I never made this connection.
A startling 100 million Americans suffer from gastrointestinal problems! Is it possible that our gut may be one of the key factors in healing our body from chronic illness? Given my traditional training and highly skeptical nature, my first response to this question was NO WAY! Fortunately, my skepticism is balanced by my willingness to think outside the box. Now that I know what to look for I am completely blown away by the fact that imbalance in our gastrointestinal tract can be an underlying trigger for many chronic issues such as arthritis, acne, skin rashes, allergies, chronic fatigue, depression, autism, cancer and a host of autoimmune disorders. Hence, one of the primary goals in treating chronic disease is to balance the gut.
If you have been following my blog you are already aware of the fact that our typical American diet is highly inflammatory and that inflammation is the underlying thread to most chronic disease. Superimposed upon these facts is that the medications that are currently being prescribed for gastrointestinal issues may further compound the underlying problem and worsen gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Role of the Gut
Our gut or gastrointestinal system is essential for the absorption of nutrients from our food. That inherently assumes that the food we eat actually has any nutritional value. The gut plays a major role in defending our body against toxins, microbes and allergens.
“There are bugs (bacteria) in your gut that form a diverse and interdependent ecosystem like a rainforest. In fact, there are 500 species and 3 pounds of bacteria in your gut which form a HUGE chemical factory that helps you digest your food, regulate your hormones, excrete toxins, and produce vitamins and other healing compounds that keep your gut and your body healthy”. Dr. Mark Hyman, MD
So an overgrowth of bad bacteria or a lack of good bacteria can have serious consequences. These consequences can be manifested in a variety of ways. While some individuals will have typical gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping or gas, many others may have more covert signs and symptoms such as joint pain or a skin rash with no associated gut related symptoms.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
For the rest of this article go to: http://drlauraruby.com/inflammation-and-chronic-disease/healing-your-gut-a-key-factor-in-reversing-chronic-disease/
