The Immune-Gut Connection + 5 Tips to Implement Today!

As humans, we are hosts to hundreds of trillions of bacteria. In fact, our bacteria outnumber human cells 10:1! These bacteria are responsible for doing incredible things in our bodies, including regulating inflammation, modulating the immune system, aiding digestion and communicating with our brain.

It is well known that the impact of the state of our gut and immune system goes far beyond preventing a cold, flu, or other virus. When compromised, there may be increased susceptibility to developing allergies, autoimmune conditions, Cardiovascular Disease, fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, Fibromyalgia, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and chronic infections such as Lyme Disease.

What is the Gut Microbiome?

The gut microbiome is a mini ecosystem within our gastrointestinal tract, consisting of intestinal cells, trillions of nerves, immune tissue and of course, the trillions of bacteria I previously mentioned. In addition to healthy intestinal bacteria, our microbiome is also home to a variety of other microorganisms including fungi, yeast and even pathogenic bacteria. To have a healthy gut, this balance between good and bad bacteria is critical and can easily be thrown off by a poor diet, antibiotic use, stress, pesticides and other chemicals in our food and water.

Where the Gut and Immune System Collide

When functioning optimally, our gut, which is where 70% of our immune system resides, provides protection from invaders, while allowing nutrients through. It’s one of your body’s first lines of defense and is the barrier between you and the outside world. 

When we have a compromised, or “leaky” gut, this puts our immune system on overdrive and can leave us reacting to different foods, chemicals, environmental toxins and other substances we regularly encounter. (You can learn more about Leaky Gut here.) An overactive immune system also puts excess stress on other organs such as the liver, adrenals and kidneys, as the body fights to eliminate and deal with these stressors. 

In a chronic state, an overactive immune system will eventually begin to underperform, and can result in suppressed immune function due to overload. In this case, a person becomes much more likely to develop chronic symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, chronic pain, chronic allergies and digestive issues, increased sensitivity to foods or one’s environment, as well as frequent or longer lasting infections. I frequently see clients who are seeking to improve these areas of their health. Click here to learn more about what I can offer you.

Is Your Immune System Struggling Due to Poor Elimination?

Digestion and elimination go hand in hand and you can’t have a healthy gut without healthy elimination. If you’re not having regular, daily bowel movements (between 2-3x a day), this can lead to many issues, including toxin build up and the inability to properly detox, which can affect the liver, lymphatic/immune pathways and other organs. Constipation also leads to GI symptoms on the other end, such as burping and low stomach acid, resulting in poor breakdown of foods and nutrient malabsorption. It also results in increased fermentation in the intestines and provides fuel for pathogenic microbes like parasites and bacteria, while promoting inflammation.

How Can You Start Improving Your Gut and Immune Function?

Here are a few quick tips:

1. Avoid “gut bombs” like refined sugar and gluten - more on this next!

2. Eat plenty of fiber-rich vegetables, fruits and seeds to support elimination

3. Eat probiotic-rich foods and supplement to promote healthy bacterial balance

4. Drink half your body weight in ounces of pure, spring water to promote healthy bowel movements and lymphatic flow

5. Eat organic whenever possible and follow the EWG’s Dirty Dozen to reduce toxin load

I offer online consulting! To book your FREE 15-Minute Stress & Immunity call click here!

---

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6104162/