Back Clinic Gastro Intestinal Health Functional Medicine Team. The gastrointestinal or (GI) tract does more than digest food. It contributes to various body systems and functions. Dr. Jimenez takes a look at procedures that have been created to help support the GI tract’s health and function, as well as promote microbial balance. Research shows that 1 in 4 people in the U.S. have stomach or intestinal problems that are so severe that it interferes with their daily activities and lifestyle.
Intestinal or digestion problems are referred to as Gastrointestinal (or GI) Disorders. The goal is to achieve digestive wellness. When an optimally working digestive system is on track, an individual is said to be in good health. The GI tract protects the body by detoxifying various toxins and participating in the immunological processes or when the body’s immune system interacts with antibodies and antigens. This combined with supporting the digestion and absorption of nutrients from an individual’s diet.
The gut system is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria that helps biotransformed food into nutrients for the body to function correctly. The gut is also in constant communication with the brain as the neuron signals are in a bi-directional wavelength that helps move the nutrients to their designated areas in the body. These designated areas help the body as well, as they have their own set of instructions to work correctly while the body is in motion. When gut disorders like metainflammation start to disrupt the signals going back and forth between the brain and gut, it can cause various issues that can cause the body to become dysfunctional and progress into chronic inflammation. Today’s article discusses what metainflammation does to the gut-brain axis and how inflammasomes play their role in the gut-liver axis in the body. Referring patients to qualified, skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We provide guidance to our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is critical for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
Metainflammation Affecting The Gut-Brain Axis
Have you been noticing an increase in food allergies or intolerances affecting you? How about feeling digestive problems rise on multiple occasions? Many of these symptoms are due to gut disorders like metainflammation, which can also affect the gut-brain axis in the body. Research studies have mentioned that the nervous system directly influences the gut through endocrine mediators interacting with microbial receptors. When metainflammation begins to affect the gut, it becomes the result of various gut dysbiosis like:
Increased sleep and mood disturbances
Fatigue
Decreased performance and exercise ability
Nutrient deficiencies – vitamin D, B vitamins
Thyroid imbalance
Other research studies have shown that since inflammation is a common factor for various disorders affecting the body, it can do much damage when the inflammatory cytokines affect the gut-brain axis and the immune system. Meta inflammation causes a decrease in intestinal absorption and contractility, but it can also increase the defective tight junctions and intestinal permeability. This causes gut issues like Crohn’s and celiac disease to rise, causing increased insulin and immune dysregulation and brain issues like sleep, cognition, mood disturbances, anxiety, and psychiatric disorders.
An Overview On The Gut-Brain-Axis-Video
Have you been experiencing weight gain around your mid section? How about an increase in memory and cognitive decline? Have you felt a rise in chronic inflammation or immune problems? All these symptoms are signs that you could be experiencing metainflammation that affects the gut-brain axis in your body. The video above explains the gut-brain axis and how neurodevelopment disorders can affect the brain. Research studies have found that a mixture of dysbiosis and inflammation affects the gut, and it can cause the brain to be linked to many neurological disorders. With the bi-directional connection that the brain and gut have, many factors are constantly challenging both microbiomes that can progress inflammatory markers to rise in the body.
What Are Inflammasomes?
Inflammasomes are a family of proteins in charge of initiating the inflammatory process during the innate immune response. Inflammasomes are defensive microbes that cause inflammatory effects against infections and can even affect the gut-liver axis in the body if it turns chronic. What inflammasomes does is that they help pattern recognition receptors to know when the body is feeling stressed or in danger, as they are significant actors in the metaflammation construct. Research studies have shown that inflammasomes in the body can help secrete toxins into the invading microbes causing gut disorders.
How Does Inflammasome Affect The Gut-Liver Axis?
The gut-liver axis is connected with the intestines via bile acid metabolism. Bile acid dysregulation can lead to intestinal dysbiosis, which allows the gram-negative erogenous pathogenic bacteria and LPS to enter the liver. When this happens, it triggers hepatic inflammation via inflammasomes. Research studies have shown that chronic inflammation affecting the gut-liver axis can cause the inflammasomes to affect the epithelial wall integrity and even induce pro-inflammatory cytokine production, causing more issues in the body. In contrast, the NLRP3 inflammasome primarily induces IL‐1beta by causing bile acids to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. This induces bacterial translocation to allow pathogens, i.e., Bacteroidetes (Gram‐negative bacteria) and LPS, into the liver.
Conclusion
Overall, the gut-brain axis allows bi-directional communication to the entire body as the gut help regulates the metabolic function of the body. At the same time, the brain controls the signals and processes that the body encounters. When chronic issues like metainflammation or chronic inflammasomes begin to affect the gut, it can disrupt the bidirectional communication to the brain, causing the body to become dysfunctional. Incorporating small changes to confident life choices like adding supplements and nutraceuticals to dampen inflammation, eating healthier, and exercising can help relieve the gut. When many individuals make these small changes in their health and wellness journey, they can feel themselves have more energy, feel less inflammation affecting their gut, and move around more.
References
Clapp, Megan, et al. “Gut Microbiota’s Effect on Mental Health: The Gut-Brain Axis.” Clinics and Practice, PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italy, 15 Sept. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/.
de Zoete, Marcel R, et al. “Inflammasomes.” Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 16 Oct. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292152/.
Herradon, Gonzalo, et al. “Connecting Metainflammation and Neuroinflammation through the PTN-Mk-Rptpβ/ζ Axis: Relevance in Therapeutic Development.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers Media S.A., 12 Apr. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6474308/.
Osadchiy, Vadim, et al. “The Gut-Brain Axis and the Microbiome: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.” Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology : the Official Clinical Practice Journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6999848/.
Wang, Junfeng, et al. “Roles of the Inflammasome in the Gut‑Liver Axis (Review).” Molecular Medicine Reports, D.A. Spandidos, Jan. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6297761/.
The gut system is a massive ecosystem that helps modulate the body’s immune system and metabolic changes that the body itself is going through. The gut system provides the body with the necessary nutrients to function correctly and transports these nutrients to their respective sections like the endocrine system, the nervous system, and the musculoskeletal system to do their jobs. When gut disorders start to affect the intestinal walls, it can cause the inflammatory cytokines to attack the gut walls due to bacteria and nutrients leaking out of the tight junctions. Fortunately, there are therapeutic ways to help the gut system and prevent inflammation from causing more issues in the gut. Today’s article looks at gut metainflammation and how nutraceuticals can help many individuals with gut metainflammation. Referring patients to qualified, skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We provide guidance to our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is critical for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
What Is Gut Metainflammation?
Does your gut system feel sore or tender to the touch? Do ordinary factors like stress, sleep problems, hormone imbalances, and cardiovascular issues affect you more than they should have? Have you experienced inflammatory gut issues like IBS or leaky gut? Having any gut disorder is no laughing matter for your health. When the gut system is experiencing chronic low‐grade inflammatory sequela, this is what gut metainflammation is in the body. Gut metainflammation is defined as an over‐activation of immunity in the gut that leads to increased production of inflammatory cytokines, thus referring to metabolism-induced inflammation. Research studies have shown that when the gut is experiencing metainflammation, it causes a disturbance to the neurometabolic pathways. This causes an increase in the aging processes and metabolic signaling issues the gut is trying to provide for the body. Other research studies have shown that metainflammation is one of the primary markers for metabolic disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Gut metainflammation also causes an increase in peripheral and central inflammation that can cause gut disorders like leaky gut to allow bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream, thus leading to peripheral and central inflammation of the body.
Treatments For GI Disorders-Video
Have you experienced a leaky gut? Do you feel tired throughout the entire day? Have you experienced any food sensitivities in your gut? These gut issues are due to gut metainflammation that can impact a person’s health and quality of life. When this occurs, the body will become dysfunctional, and other issues will arise unless it is treated right away. The video above shows how treatments are available for alleviating motility disorders and GI disorders affecting the gut system. Utilizing treatments beneficial to the gut system can help dampen the effects of metainflammation and other gut disorders from progressing in the body. Some treatments that can help with draining metainflammation in the gut system can be found by changing dietary lifestyles and incorporating nutraceuticals that are beneficial to the gut.
Controlling Gut Metainflammation Through Nutraceuticals
Research studies have shown that since trillions of microbial cells make up the gut microbiota when factors like obesity, metainflammation, and impaired insulin activity affect the gut, it can cause the immune cells to reactivate and reinforce the inflammatory process to attack the gut system. When the gut system becomes dysfunctional, many individuals try to find ways to alleviate gut inflammation. One of the treatments is by incorporating nutraceuticals to provide relief from gut metainflammation. Research studies have mentioned that combined with functional foods can help provide a positive influence on the body’s metabolism and the gut microbiota. Nutraceuticals help give the body the necessary nutrients it deserves and help dampen any effects from disorders affecting the body’s gut, immune, and metabolic components. Two nutraceuticals can help control gut metainflammation: curcumin and peptides.
Curcumin & Peptides For Gut Metainflammaion
From turmeric (Curcuma longa) root/rhizome and used traditionally for dyspeptic conditions, research studies have mentioned that curcumin and its anti-inflammatory metabolites can help influence the gut microbiota. What curcumin does to the gut is that it helps decrease the inflammasome signaling while decreasing oxidative stress via the Nrf2‐keap1 pathway. Curcumin can also help improve flexibility and mobility in the body while inhibiting the activation of a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma pathway. Additional information has provided that curcumin can help not only reduce oxidative stress and even prevent neurodegeneration.
Peptides or BPC‐157 (Body Protection Compound) are derived from human gastric juice that is cytoprotective and anti‐inflammatory that helps support the gut mucosal lining. Research studies have shown that peptides play a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis while being effective in decreasing metainflammatory signaling in the gut microbiota. When there is metainflammation in the gut, peptides can help improve cell survival under oxidative stress conditions by downregulating TNF‐alpha in the body. Incorporating peptides can help improve GI mucosal integrity from meta inflammation and help the gut function normally.
Conclusion
The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help keep the body’s functionality and regulate immunity from various diseases. When unwanted factors like metainflammation start to infiltrate the gut, it can lead to dysbiosis and wreck the intestinal walls. Nutraceuticals like curcumin and peptides have beneficial properties that help repair the intestinal walls while dampening inflammatory effects from progressing further in the gut system. Incorporating nutraceuticals is helpful for many individuals who suffer from gut disorders and improve their health by replenishing their nutrients in the body.
References
Boulangé, Claire L, et al. “Impact of the Gut Microbiota on Inflammation, Obesity, and Metabolic Disease.” Genome Medicine, BioMed Central, 20 Apr. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4839080/.
Gubatan, John, et al. “Antimicrobial Peptides and the Gut Microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” World Journal of Gastroenterology, Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 21 Nov. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8613745/.
Laparra, J M, and Y Sanz. “Interactions of Gut Microbiota with Functional Food Components and Nutraceuticals.” Pharmacological Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 Nov. 2009, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19914380/.
Scazzocchio, Beatrice, et al. “Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Curcumin: A New Key of Understanding for the Health Effects of Curcumin.” Nutrients, MDPI, 19 Aug. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7551052/.
Scheithauer, Torsten P M, et al. “Gut Microbiota as a Trigger for Metabolic Inflammation in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.” Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers Media S.A., 16 Oct. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7596417/.
Tilg, Herbert, et al. “The Intestinal Microbiota Fuelling Metabolic Inflammation.” Nature Reviews. Immunology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 6 Aug. 2019, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31388093/.
When it comes to the gut system, its main priority is to ensure that the body is supplied with nutrients and digests the consumed food that a person is eating. The beneficial nutrients help the body stay in motion, while the gut system constantly communicates with the immune and the central nervous system. The gut microbiota also harbors beneficial bacteria that helps keeps the gut staying functional and turns the consumed food into nutrients and vitamins to be distributed to the rest of the body. When disruptive factors start to affect the gut microbiota, it can cause unwanted symptoms, causing the body to become dysfunctional. Today’s article post will discuss how the gut microbiota helps the body and how healthy nutrients like probiotics and fermented foods help support the gut system. Referring patients to qualified, skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We provide guidance to our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is critical for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
How Does The Gut Microbiota Help The Body?
Have you felt discomfort in your gut? In your gut microbiota, do you experience inflammatory discomforts like IBS, SIBO, or GERD? Do you feel low energy or feeling sluggish throughout the entire day? Many of these symptoms that a person has encountered are associated with the gut system and can become chronic over time when it is not treated right away. Research studies have defined the gut microbiota as a complex organ system with a dynamic population of microorganisms that influences the body during homeostasis and diseases it encounters. The body needs the gut system since it plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s immunity and metabolic stasis while protecting it from infections. Additional studies have shown that when the body is going through different changes like dietary habits, lifestyle changes, or physical activities can influence the gut microbiota. Any of these changes can affect the gut system by changing the composition and density of the gut. When the changes are harmful to the gut, they can cause unwanted symptoms that cause dysfunction in the gut; however, when the changes are good, they can help the gut system in so many ways that help the body.
Tips For Keeping A Healthy Microbiota-Video
Feeling tired throughout the entire day? Have you become sensitive to the food you eat? Have you experienced inflammatory gut systems like GERD, IBS, or SIBO that affect your life? Many individuals with some gut issues try to find ways to alleviate them and change their dietary habits. Sometimes incorporating gut-healthy foods and supplements is beneficial in regrowing the gut flora in the intestines while also dampening the inflammatory effects caused by gut-related issues. Healthy nutrition and nutraceuticals that help the gut microbiota can also repair the intestinal wall lining from inflammatory factors attacking the gut. The video above gives an excellent presentation on five tips for keeping a healthy gut microbiota. When many individuals start changing their dietary habits to improve their gut system, they will experience more energy and a happy gut.
Healthy Nutrients For The Gut
When it comes to the gut system and trying to keep it healthy, the best way that a person can do that is by figuring out which healthy foods are beneficial to the gut and provide energy to the body. Since many people want to change their dietary habits from eating processed foods to nutritional whole foods, research studies have found that since the gut microbiota is a changing ecosystem, dietary strategies that a person goes under can help prevent diseases and maintain a healthy gut. One of the best ways that a person can do to ensure a healthy gut is by consuming prebiotic-rich foods, fermented, and cultured food to balance out the gut microbes. These two nutrients help stabilize the gut when the harmful bacteria start to overpopulate inside the intestines and diminish the beneficial bacteria in the gut system.
Probiotics & Fermented Foods
Probiotics are defined as a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms that are conferring a health benefit to the gut system. Research studies have also defined probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that help dampen the inflammatory effects in the intestinal walls and help replenish the gut flora in the gut system. Additional research has also shown that pro and prebiotics help stimulate the beneficial growth of microorganisms in the gut. Probiotics can also alleviate many disorders affecting the immune, cardiovascular, and gut issues that a person is experiencing.
Just like probiotics, fermented foods can also promote a healthy gut microbiome. Fermented foods are more digestible while producing bioactive peptides such as CLA and bacteriocins in the gut. Fermented foods also allow polyphenols into an active state that incorporates vitamins, enzyme activity, and amino acid production while enhancing mineral absorption. Research studies have shown that fermented foods help balance gut microbial and brain functionality. Fermented foods also improve the balance with the intestinal permeability functions while filling with antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory factors. Additional information has shown that when people incorporate fermented foods into their diets, it can enhance a person’s health by changing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut system. This will help restore the gut flora functionality and help reduce the gut inflammation that a person is experiencing.
Conclusion
The gut system helps keep the body functional by releasing nutrients and minerals to the vital organs, tissues, and muscles that help keep the body moving. The gut system also communicates with the immune and brain system in transmitting the information that the food is being transformed into nutrients. When a person is suffering from gut issues and inflammatory effects, the best way to alleviate these symptoms is to slowly change dietary habits by incorporating probiotics and fermented foods into a healthy diet to repair the gut system and the intestinal walls. When people make these small changes to their diets, their gut system will replenish the gut flora and have a happy gut.
Rinninella, Emanuele, et al. “Food Components and Dietary Habits: Keys for a Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition.” Nutrients, MDPI, 7 Oct. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835969/.
Stiemsma, Leah T, et al. “Does Consumption of Fermented Foods Modify the Human Gut Microbiota?” The Journal of Nutrition, Oxford University Press, 1 July 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7330458/.
Thursby, Elizabeth, and Nathalie Juge. “Introduction to the Human Gut Microbiota.” The Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd., 16 May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5433529/.
Wieërs, Grégoire, et al. “How Probiotics Affect the Microbiota.” Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 15 Jan. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6974441/.
The human body requires nutritional healthy foods to provide energy for each component, like the muscles and tissues to move around. The gut system takes the nutrients and transports them to the different organs, systems, and body parts that need these nutrients to function correctly. The gut system is also in communication with the brain and the immune system, where they send information to each other back and forth and help the body stay healthy. When chronic issues start attacking the gut system, they can throw the body off course by causing inflammation, an overflow of gut bacteria, and other gut issues that can affect the gut and the body. Today’s article looks at how finding the proper diet can help the gut microbiome and the body and how different dietary components affect the gut microbiome. Referring patients to qualified, skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is critical for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
How Does A Diet Help The Gut?
Have you been feeling low on energy throughout the entire day? Have you felt inflammatory symptoms like acid reflux or IBS occurring in your gut? Or have you felt that you could be sensitive to your favorite type of food? When experiencing these symptoms constantly, it happens to affect your gut microbiome. Numerous factors can influence the gut microbiome; some are good while others are bad. One of the good influences for a healthy gut microbiome is a nutritional diet. A diet plays a massive role in the gut microbiota as it helps determine the gut’s composition and changes. Since diets have the most powerful influence on gut microbial communities in healthy human bodies, research studies have found gut microbiota is considered a dynamic system. Incorporating the proper diet can have a significant influence.
Since about 75% of the food in a typical Western diet is limited or has no beneficial nutrients to the microbiota in the lower gut, most of it is explicitly comprised of refined carbohydrates that are already absorbed in the upper GI tract. After the food has been consumed, it will eventually reach the large intestines containing only small amounts of the necessary minerals and vitamins to maintain the gut microbiota. Additional research studies have found that since various dietary patterns do correspond with gut microbiota composition, it is up to the person’s habits to see what works for them and what doesn’t when it comes to eating healthy.
How Does It Impact The Body?
Research studies have mentioned that with the many microorganisms in the GI tract, having a proper diet with the right amount of nutritional food group can help modulate and influence the microbial body profile. Let’s say, for example, that two different groups ate meat, eggs, and cheese for one day and switched to whole grains, vegetables, and legumes the next day. What happens is that within about 1-2 days, there were significant alterations in the gut microbiome that were measured by 16S rRNA sequence in both groups. The microbial activity mirrors the differences between herbivorous and carnivorous diets, and it reflects the trade-offs between carbohydrate and protein fermentation in the body. Other research studies have also mentioned that long-term nutritional habits are fundamental for a person’s health status and how it shapes their gut microbiota.
What Role Does The Gut Play In A Healthy Diet-Video
Have you been trying to eat healthier? Do you feel sluggish and lose energy quickly? Have you experienced food sensitivity from your favorite type of food? The video above explains how the gut microbiome play’s its role when a person eats healthier. Since various nutritional diets do go together with the gut microbiota, it is essential to know that incorporating healthy foods into the gut can provide the necessary vitamins and nutrients for the rest of the body. When bad choices influence lifestyle habits, it becomes challenging to get the motivation to reset the body and incorporate the beneficial nutrients the body needs. Unhealthy habits can also affect the gut by causing inflammation and other gut issues that can cause a person to be under constant stress and pain. By figuring out what causes these issues and eating the necessary foods filled with nutrients like vitamins and minerals, the body and the gut can begin to heal themselves properly.
The Dietary Components That Affect The Gut
Since the gut microbiota is responsible for influencing the body, it is essential to know which components are being digested in the gut that can directly affect a person. Since research studies have found that a healthy diet is one of the critical modulators that directly influences the gut microbial composition by thoroughly changing the biological process of fermenting the nutrients and impacting the intestinal barrier functions. Increased fruits, vegetables, and higher fiber consumption are associated with high gut bacteria richness. Additional research has provided that the diverse population in the gut microbial can even mediate the beneficial effect of fermenting the dietary fibers to produce SCFAs (short-chain fatty acids) to reduce inflammatory effects in the gut. Other nutritional components that can affect the gut include:
Incorporating a healthy diet can provide a beneficial influence on the gut microbial system. When unwanted factors like a poor, unhealthy diet, stress, and gut issues begin to affect the body, it can cause the person to be in pain and affect their overall health. Making small changes can have a massive impact on the individual when trying to become healthier and take back their life. When incorporating whole foods, the body will begin to heal itself properly, and the individual will have more energy in their health and wellness journey.
References
Conlon, Michael A, and Anthony R Bird. “The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle on Gut Microbiota and Human Health.” Nutrients, MDPI, 24 Dec. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303825/.
Moszak, Małgorzata, et al. “You Are What You Eat-the Relationship between Diet, Microbiota, and Metabolic Disorders-A Review.” Nutrients, MDPI, 15 Apr. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7230850/.
Rinninella, Emanuele, et al. “Food Components and Dietary Habits: Keys for a Healthy Gut Microbiota Composition.” Nutrients, MDPI, 7 Oct. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835969/.
The gut system is home to many beneficial bacteria that ensure that everything is working correctly. The organs that make up the gut system help transport the nutrients and oxygenated blood to the muscles, tissues, vessels, and nerve roots that allow the body to function. The gut also communicates with the brain and the immune system to provide the necessary energy to make the body move from one place to another. When disruptive factors start to mess with the gut microbiota, it can cause inflammatory factors and other gut-related issues to wreck the intestinal walls of the gut and affect the overall health of a person. Today’s article post will focus on the gut microbiome’s role in the body, the metabolic functioning of gut bacteria, and how different factors can affect the gut from functioning correctly. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
The Gut Microbiome’s Role In The Body
Have you been feeling sick to your stomach? Do you feel bloated around the mid-section of your body? Have you been feeling sensitive to the food you have been consuming? Many of these symptoms are gut-related issues that affect the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota plays a critical metabolic role in many systems that help keep the body functional by maintaining delicate balance and cross-talking with the immune system. Research studies have shown that the gut microbiome is homed to a very complex and dynamic population of gut flora that influences the body. Since the gut microbial ecosystem is considered the largest endocrine organ in the body, it can produce various biologically active compounds that are the same as hormones. These compounds are carried in circulation and distributed to distant sections within the host, influencing different essential biological processes. Other research studies have mentioned that the intestinal tract in the body has an integrated resilient ecosystem that can be influenced by the many factors that affect the gut microbiome in its composition and changes. Some of these changes benefit good bacterial growth in the gut microbiota.
The Metabolic Function Of Gut Bacteria
When a person consumes nutritional foods, it travels into the gut to be biotransformed into nutrients. It makes its way into the intestines, where it is stored and ready to be distributed to the rest of the body. When digestive food is sitting in the intestines, that is where the beneficial gut bacteria comes in and helps shape the gut microbiota. Research studies have shown that the beneficial bacteria in the intestines play a critical role in the gut microbiome as it helps maintain immune and metabolic homeostasis. The gut bacteria’s metabolic function to the body helps break down dietary fibers that then get turned into SCFAs (short-chained fatty acids). Other tasks that gut bacteria do for the gut microbiome include:
Production of Phenols
Breakdown of oligosaccharides
Helps regulate Fats, TG, and Cholesterol
Vitamin absorption
Mucous production
Detoxification
An Overview Of a Diverse Gut-Video
Have you been feeling sluggish throughout the entire day? Do you feel constipated or bloated? Have you become sensitive to your favorite foods? If you have been experiencing these issues throughout your whole life, it could be due to your gut microbiome talking to you. The video above explains how the gut microbiome is one of the essential organs in the body since it helps with biodiversity in the gut system. The importance of greater microbial diversity is associated with the body’s ability to deal with stressors, such as opportunistic pathogens or dietary perturbations affecting the digestive system. When individuals have gut-related diseases, they are more likely to alter their gut microbiome than healthy individuals. Multiple associations between reduced microbial diversity and illness are recorded in the literature for people to find out what is going on in their gut system. Keeping a healthy gut can prevent risk factors like metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), SIBO, and other gut risk factors from affecting the gut.
Factors That Can Affect The Gut
When there is a state of imbalanced microbial ecology that contributes to affecting the gut bacteria ratio, it can cause many chronic diseases that cause the body to be dysfunctional. The overgrowth of micro-organisms in low intrinsic virulence induces disease by altering:
The nutritional status
The immune response
The elimination capacity of the host
Research studies have found that factors affecting the gut microbiome can trigger the inflammatory pathways attacking the gut intestinal walls and letting the bacteria leak out. Other factors like stress or emotional outburst can cause the growth of harmful bacteria to overpopulate the good bacteria. This causes the gut microbiome to become dysfunctional and progress to chronic gut issues. Other research studies have shown that environmental factors also play a role in altering the gut microbiome. These factors cause unwanted changes that can harm a person without even knowing. Figuring out which factors affect the gut can be prevented when a person puts in the work to better their health.
Conclusion
As stated earlier in today’s article, the gut microbiome is considered the largest endocrine organ that helps metabolize the immune system and homeostasis in the body. Therefore, replenishing the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria can help solve the majority of chronic issues affecting the body. When environmental factors cause havoc to the gut system, it can affect the entire body if it is not treated right away. Eliminating the harmful environmental elements from a person’s daily lifestyle can provide the much-needed relief they have been searching for.
References
Al Bander, Zahraa, et al. “The Gut Microbiota and Inflammation: An Overview.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 19 Oct. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7589951/.
Durack, Juliana, and Susan V Lynch. “The Gut Microbiome: Relationships with Disease and Opportunities for Therapy.” The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Rockefeller University Press, 7 Jan. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6314516/.
Lobionda, Stefani, et al. “The Role of Gut Microbiota in Intestinal Inflammation with Respect to Diet and Extrinsic Stressors.” Microorganisms, MDPI, 19 Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722800/.
Thursby, Elizabeth, and Nathalie Juge. “Introduction to the Human Gut Microbiota.” The Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd., 16 May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5433529/.
Inside the body lies the internal organs that provide the nutrients and energy for the body to stay in motion. The gut system helps the body energy by digesting the consumed food that gets turned into energy and nutrients beneficial for the vital organs, muscles, tissues, and growth that the body needs. The gut system also helps regulate the other body systems like the musculoskeletal system, the immune system, central nervous system, and the endocrine system. The gut system operates by transporting these nutrients to make the body operational, to name a few needs. When unwanted issues start to enter the gut system and cause havoc, it can lead to many chronic problems that will cause the body to be in constant pain while causing other issues that affect the entire body. Today’s article will look at how different gut issues start to affect the body and how an amino acid named glutamine can provide beneficial relief to various gut issues. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
How Gut Issues Affect The Body
Have you been experiencing pain located in your gut? Does your gut seem to be extra sensitive after consuming food? Have you been anxious or stressed that it has been affecting your body? Experiencing these symptoms are signs that you might have some gut issues that are affecting your body. Research studies have found that gut issues or disorders usually develop when the gut has either underproduced or overproduced the beneficial gut bacteria that can influence harmful bacteria to attack the gut’s intestinal walls. Gut issues can also be influenced due to lifestyle choices or autoimmune disorders that affect the gut and the rest of the body and its systems. Additional information has found that when the microbiome is being challenged with factors that change the physiology of the gut microbiome. These changes will cause an increase in the intestinal permeability, which allows the harmful bacteria to leak out, causing the immune system to attack the exposed bacteria at the intestinal walls leading to inflammatory issues.
Other research studies have found that gut bacteria provides an essential role in the body as it helps supply the vital nutrients beneficial for the body’s health. When abnormal changes affect gut bacteria, the gut ecosystem accelerates dysbiosis, causing many chronic issues. Many individuals will begin to lose their quality of life due to pain. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate the chronic issues affecting the gut and even help lower the harmful bacteria by replenishing the beneficial bacteria while reducing inflammatory markers.
An Overview About Glutamine-Video
Have you been experiencing issues that are affecting your gut? Has your torso area been feeling tender to the touch? How about random pain spots that are in your abdomen? You could be experiencing gut issues affecting your overall health and wellness. Why not incorporate glutamine into your daily supplementation. Research studies mentioned that glutamine is an amino acid with beneficial properties in replenishing the immune system and metabolizing in the gut and other vital organs that need glutamine to nourish the cellular structure for the body to feel better and provide energy for many individuals. The video above includes information about the benefits of glutamine and how it can help the body.
How Glutamine Helps The Gut
As stated earlier, glutamine is an amino acid with beneficial properties that are utilized to provide energy for the entire body. Research studies have shown that glutamine in the gut system can maintain the intestinal structure and function as the body ages while regulating the tight junction proteins. Glutamine has also helped modulate the gut intestinal permeability effects of HPA-axis stress that affects the gut and protects the cells from apoptosis and cellular stress. Additional research studies have provided that when individuals take glutamine as part of their daily regime, they will have a better inflammatory response and redox balance in the gut with the combination of physical activities. Utilizing glutamine for gut health can help improve the gut function and gastrointestinal permeability function for many athletic individuals.
Conclusion
Overall, the gut system utilizes glutamine for optimal gut health in dampening the effects of gut issues and disorders that will affect the body. The gut provides the transportation of the essential nutrients for the rest of the body systems that need them to function correctly. When unwanted factors or unhealthy lifestyles affect the gut system, it can increase the harmful bacteria in the gut and diminish the beneficial bacteria. This will cause the inflammatory cytokines to attack the intestinal permeability walls and cause more issues that will affect the body. Beneficial supplements and nutrients that help alleviate inflammatory factors or alleviate gut issues are there to provide relief by dampening these harmful effects and repairing the body. Incorporating glutamine into your gut will help the body recover over time and become pain-free.
References
Almeida, Ewin B, et al. “L-Glutamine Supplementation Improves the Benefits of Combined-Exercise Training on Oral Redox Balance and Inflammatory Status in Elderly Individuals.” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Hindawi, 22 Jan. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7204202/.
Clapp, Megan, et al. “Gut Microbiota’s Effect on Mental Health: The Gut-Brain Axis.” Clinics and Practice, PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italy, 15 Sept. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/.
Cruzat, Vinicius, et al. “Glutamine: Metabolism and Immune Function, Supplementation and Clinical Translation.” Nutrients, MDPI, 23 Oct. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266414/.
Kim, Min-Hyun, and Hyeyoung Kim. “The Roles of Glutamine in the Intestine and Its Implication in Intestinal Diseases.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, MDPI, 12 May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5454963/.
Nouvenne, Antonio, et al. “Digestive Disorders and Intestinal Microbiota.” Acta Bio-Medica : Atenei Parmensis, Mattioli 1885, 17 Dec. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502202/.
Zhang, Yu-Jie, et al. “Impacts of Gut Bacteria on Human Health and Diseases.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, MDPI, 2 Apr. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425030/.
The previous article talked about how photobiomodulation or low laser therapy can help improve the gut microbiome. Today’s article gives an in-depth look at how photobiomics can provide the therapeutic potential to the gut. When it comes to the gut, an individual must take care of it. Supplying it with wholesome, nutritional food feeding the good bacteria will provide outstanding results like more energy throughout the day, the feeling of being full, weight loss, and healthy brain function. By eating these nutritional foods, the body can feel good; however, when harmful bacteria come into play and starts attacking the gut, it causes the gut microbiome to have all sorts of problems that can turn into chronic pain. Some of the ailments can be leaky gut, IBS, and inflammation, to name a few. When these harmful pathogens affect the gut, it can cause the body not to function correctly and dampen a person’s ability to go about their everyday life.
Photobiomodulation Works With The Gut
So how does photobiomodulation work with the gut microbiota? Research studies show that when photobiomics are being applied to the gut, the low laser wavelength can help rebalance what is happening to the gut and maintain diversity in the gut microbiota. It can sustain a healthy production of vital metabolites, and the diversity can help the gut from getting many harmful bacteria from causing too much trouble in the gut. Not only that, but photobiomodulation therapy affecting the gut, directly and indirectly, gives it a mimicry of the circadian clock from the brain. Since the brain and gut are connected with the brain giving signals to the gut microbiota to regulate and produce the bacterial metabolites.
The Brain-Gut Connection
The brain and gut connection is more of consistent bidirectional communication between the brain and gut. Studies show that the gut and brain connection ensures the proper maintenance of gastrointestinal homeostasis and has multiple effects on motivation and cognitive functions in the body. When inflammation comes to play in the gut; however, it can affect the gut to not work properly and disrupt the signals it is receiving from the brain and vice versa. When there is a disruption in the bacterial diversity in the gut, it can decrease the brain’s circadian rhythm. The disruption of the bacterial diversity of the gut can even reduce vitamin D absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation and heightening the effects of autoimmune properties that the body is experiencing.
Vitamin D and Photobiomics
Studies have shown that vitamin D plays an essential role in bone health and regulating gastrointestinal inflammation. This is huge since vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties and can dampen the effects of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD or inflammatory bowel diseases. Vitamin D has many beneficial properties since it can help improve the body’s immune system and has anti-inflammatory properties. Anyone who takes vitamin D in supplement form or food form as part of their daily ritual will notice that they have more energy in their system and feel good overall. That is because vitamin D can modify the integrity of the epithelial cell in the gut and increase the composition and immune response to the gut microbiome. When vitamin D and photobiomics are combined, it can restore the vitamin D receptors in the gut and cause improvements to body immunity and bone health and dampen the inflammatory effects that were causing harm to the body.
The Vagus Nerve
Another unique fact that photobiomodulation can help is that it can improve low vagus nerves in the brain. Since the brain and gut are connected, it shows that photobiomics can help the brain by decreasing the inflammation receptors that are disrupting the brain-gut connection and causing problems to the body. The vagus nerve is a part of this connection since it sends the information back and forth from the brain to the gut. Studies show that the vagus nerve is represented as the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system. This means that the vagus nerve can oversee many crucial bodily functions, including sending information between the brain and gut. Not only that, but the vagus nerve represents an essential link to neurological and inflammatory responses to the body. When inflammation affects the gut and the vagus nerves, it can disrupt the signals to the brain, causing the inflammation to become worse and hurting the body. Treatments like photobiomodulation can target the vagus nerve and help increase the vagal tone in the body and inhibit cytokine productions.
The 4 R’s
When the body is being affected by inflammation, treatments can help the body feel a bit better and start recovering. With photobiomodulation therapy and natural foods that are beneficial to the gut can bring the balance of a healthy lifestyle back to a person. For a better gut, doctors have recommended the 4’s for gut health.
The First R: Remove
REMOVE– Removing foods that a person has a food sensitivity or allergic reaction to can help dampen the effects of inflammation to the gut. These can be common foods like dairy and wheat or processed food containing high fats and added sugars.
The Second R: Replace
REPLACE– By replacing processed food with wholesome, nutritional food that is chalked up with the necessary vitamins and minerals can give the body more energy and put the person in a good mood. Thus, helping the gut produce more enzymes to digest the nutritional foods.
The Third R: Reinoculate
REINOCULATE– Adding prebiotics and probiotics into your recovery process can help improve the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Fermented food is a great way to get the necessary probiotics and prebiotics into the gut.
The Fourth R: Repair
REPAIR– Eating certain food that can help repair the gut lining in the gut microbiota ensures that inflammation won’t flare up due to gut stress. Adding fermented foods, butyric acid, L-glutamine, and aloe vera into a person’s diet is excellent in gut repair.
Conclusion
Overall, gut health is essential to the human body as it helps the body function properly. With the help of photobiomodulation, it can help the recovery process. Since photobiomics are still providing excellent results to treat patients with inflammation, it is necessary to combine whole, nutritional foods and the proper supplements into the everyday lifestyle so the body doesn’t have specific ailments like inflammation. This new combination has opened the doors to many new avenues of effective treatments for inflammation and improving overall body health and wellness.
References:
Breit, Sigrid, et al. “Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain-Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers Media S.A., 13 Mar. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5859128/.
Carabotti, Marilia, et al. “The Gut-Brain Axis: Interactions between Enteric Microbiota, Central and Enteric Nervous Systems.” Annals of Gastroenterology, Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology, 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367209/.
Silverman, Robert G. “Photobiomics: A Look to the Future of Combined Laser and Nutrition Therapy.” Chiropractic Economics, 5 Oct. 2021, www.chiroeco.com/photobiomics/.
Tabatabaeizadeh, Seyed-Amir, et al. “Vitamin D, the Gut Microbiome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 23 Aug. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116667/.
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