HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

We have been discussing gut health the past few weeks, possibly one of the most important health topics of all. It is quite possible that healing the gut may help heal the entire body and contrari- wise, an unhealthy gut leads to systemic poor health. Struggling with pain? Think gut. Struggling with allergies? Think gut. Struggling with hormonal issues? Think gut. Struggling with high cholesterol? Think gut. No, this is not hyperbole; there is a strong link between gut health and each of these issues. And lots more.

But one of the most intriguing aspects of intestinal health is the symbiotic relationship between us humans and friendly bacteria. A healthy intestinal tract may be home to over 5,000 species of bacteria, most of which are either friendly (meaning that they impart benefit to us) or benign. When they suffer, pathogenic bacteria are allowed to proliferate and we are in trouble.

If you have frequent or long-term use of antibiotics, a high-sugar diet, stress, medication use, and a hundred other factors, you have killed off a high percentage of good bacteria, leaving you vulnerable to health challenges such as diarrhea, cramping, and various forms of colitis.

What are some roles played by friendly bacteria? They help metabolize foods, produce several key nutrients (many of the B complex vitamins) and induce growth factors. They increase the absorption and utilization of minerals, stabilize the mucosal barrier and decrease intestinal permeability (i.e., prevent leaky gut).

They play a key role in fighting unfriendly bacteria via a number of mechanisms: they prevent pathogenic bacteria from burrowing down into the epithelial tissue and taking up permanent residence by producing a mucus barrier and competing for mucosal binding sites. They produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide which many of the pathogens don’t like (helps prevent Gardnerella vaginalis, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis). They lower the pH of the vaginal tissue which prevent pathogen growth and inhibits the growth of pathogens. They also improve the function of the immune system.

Well, you get the idea. They are really important. To wrap things up, one of my sources writes that “lactobacillus and other probiotics might not only fight intestinal and urogenital pathogens but also be helpful for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, pouchitis food allergy and for use as an adjuvant to vaccination.”

I used to think that plain yogurt provided some friendly bacteria, and it does. However, according to good sources, any type of dairy product produces damage to the GI tract so it would better to get your probiotics from other fermented foods (like raw sauerkraut and some Asian foods) and supplementation. 

— Ms. Simontacchi is a certified lifestyle educator at the offices of Dr. Alan Gruning in Fort Myers. She owns the Island Nutrition Center on Sanibel.