logo logo
  • Home
  • About me
  • Nutrition
  • Chef
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Portuguese (Portugal)
logo logo
  • Home
  • About me
  • Nutrition
  • Chef
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Portuguese (Portugal)

The intestine and our health

We know the intestine as the digestive organ that it is, but it is more than that. It is also a neurological (nervous system), endocrine (hormonal) and immune (defense) organ.

Its internal surface is about 200 m2 and this surface acts as a barrier that separates the interior of the intestine from its exterior. This intestinal barrier regulates the absorption of nutrients, signals molecules and prevents microorganisms, food residues and harmful substances from entering the circulation.

In the intestine we find this barrier mentioned above, the intestinal mucosa and the bacteria that live in our intestine - microbiota. In order to have a good digestion and absorption of the food we eat, but also to be in balance from a neurological, endocrine and immune point of view, it is essential that the intestinal barrier, intestinal mucosa and microbiota are well, in balance and healthy. However, given the lifestyle and food available today, it is very easy for this balance to be lost and for the invitation for disease to be made.

It is important to realize that since the industrial revolution, food has changed drastically: food started to be modified and highly processed, to face the hunger that existed in Europe. The diet has changed a lot in recent times, a change that is too fast for our bodies to keep up with. These changes did (and continue to do) affect our microbiota, the intestinal mucosa and the gastrointestinal barrier.

In addition to the drastic dietary alterations of the recent years, factors such as stress, alcohol, unbalanced and unhealthy food, heavy metals, antibiotics, among others, alter the intestinal barrier, causing intestinal permeability (the so-called “leaky gut”), allowing the passage of biomacromolecules and microorganisms for circulation, something that would not happen in balanced and healthy circumstances.

This intestinal permeability can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, affect the immune system, and can lead to food intolerances and allergies, as well as the development of inflammatory, metabolic, neurological diseases and mental disorders. 
A decrease in the microbiota's biodiversity can contribute to increasing chronic inflammation, including types of depression.

There is a bidirectional signalling between the intestine and the brain, which is regulated at the neural, endocrine and immune system levels. These pathways are under the influence of the gut microbiota and with it form the Brain-Intestine axis. Changes in this microbiota will affect, through this axis, our brain, as well as changes in our brain (stress, less sleep ...) will affect our microbiota.

It is essential to take care of ourselves, our intestinal barrier, intestinal mucosa and microbiota, so that we have balance and health throughout all our body. We take care of it through the nutrition we give to it, physical and emotional nutrition.

The intestine is our roots, where we absorb nutrients and it is essential that it is healthy, so that we are healthy too.
Signs of a possible unhealthy gut and unbalanced nutrition:
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Dhiarrea
  • Acid reflux
  • Gas
  • Abdominal pain
  • IBS
  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Pathogenic microbes such as Candida
  • Arthritic pain
  • Unexplained muscle and joint pain
  • Back pain 
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Brain fog
  • Forgetfulness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Hard to get up in the morning
  • Need of stimulants as coffee
  • Asthma
  • Sinus infection
  • Stuffy nose
  • Seasonal allergies  
  • Chronicle allergies
  • Eczema
  • Acne
  • Psoriasis
  • Unexplained rash
  • Hives
  • PMS
  • Hot flashes
  • Irregular periods
  • No periods
  • Adrenal fatigue
Feel like sharing?
Sources
Liang S, Wu X and Jin F (2018) Gut-Brain Psychology: Rethinking Psychology From the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis. Front. Integr. Neurosci. 12:33. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2018.00033
Kelly JR, Kennedy PJ, Cryan JF, Dinan TG, Clarke G and Hyland NP (2015) Breaking down the barriers: the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability and stress-related psychiatric disorders. Front. Cell. Neurosci. 9:392. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00392
Obrenovich MEM (2018) Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain? Front. Mircroorganisms 6, 107; doi:10.3390/microorganisms6040107
Book your nutrition appointment today to
start your healing journey
Contact
© 2014-2020 ZenCook® - All rights reserved
© 2014-2020 ZenCook® - All rights reserved