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BE GOOD TO YOUR GUT
Teleconference Notes


The old idea that food is simply a vehicle for delivering energy in the form of calories is giving way to a new thought. Food can alter gene expression to trigger illness or to support health. The emerging science of nutrigenomics highlights the complex role of macronutrients, micronutrients and phytochemicals in altering endocrine; immune and metabolic responses that regulate the subtle balance between health and illness.

As we know the majority of people in society are overfed and undernourished, and what we eat can have a profound effect on our health. We need to extract those vital ingredients we need from the food, which we eat.

This teleconference will examine the significance of undesirable gastrointestinal symptoms such as: heartburn, bloating, abdominal pain, wind, constipation and diarrhoea. What these symptoms mean and what people can do about them will be explored. The class will also look at leaky gut (intestinal permeability); gastrointestinal dysbiosis, and small intestine (SI) bacterial/fungal overgrowth. We’ll look at how these relate to health; what can be done to eliminate these problems; which foods and supplements are best for managing leaky gut and dysbiosis; and specific nutrients that may be in short supply.

As each year passes by, more diseases result from gastro (GI) problems. Many people in trying to identify symptoms of poor health would have participated in some form of diagnosis, test, completed a health appraisal questionnaire or metabolic screening questionnaire. Let’s have a look at GI symptoms individually.

Nausea – an indication that your liver is not happy.
Burping – your body is churning food over.
Bloating – occurring 15 – 20 minutes after eating = lack of stomach acid.
Constipation – pain or irregular bowel movement.
Vomiting/diarrhoea – body is saying whatever is in me doesn’t belong.
Heartburn – food doesn’t want to go down.
These problems indicate something has come into contact with the gut wall that the body doesn’t like.

95% of gastro problems are due to a lack of stomach acid. Without the acid, food cannot digest and causes gas, so food starts to go up (such as heartburn) or you’ll release a ‘silent but deadly’ number, which is a result of pancreatic enzymes not being produced. The production of hydrochloric acid or stomach acid is negatively affected by: age; health; stress; nutritional status; bacterial adherence and immuno competence. Stress also affects the digestive function and leads to: increased cholesterol; fatty acid deficiency; HCL deficiency; elevated cortisol and insulin; insulin resistance; salt retention; thyroid and other endocrine problems; reflux; gut bacterial disturbances; diminished mucosal immunity/tolerance, and increased oxidative stress.

Gut Permeability and Intestinal Dysbiosis
Impaired mucosal barrier function may be a contributing factor to a variety of neuro-endocrine-immune-musculoskeletal problems. Researchers believe there is a link between abnormal gut function and illnesses such as thyroid problems, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia, depression, ADD, ADHD and Alzheimer’s. With all of these illnesses you will quite often find dysfunctional gut problems – they are associated with gut microflora disturbances. So the correction of gut dysbiosis may produce widespread benefits throughout the whole body and may be the foundation on which long-term health can be built.

Gut Significance
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most important interface between the body’s ‘internal milieu’ and the external environment at either end of it (mouth and anus). It is the home of micro-organisms who number far exceed that of body cells. One gram of stool contains or should contain 100 billion organisms. Did you know that your intestinal bacterial weight is 1.5 kg or 3 – 4 pounds?

The bowel is a major detox organ therefore it is essential that it is working well. So here AIM’s Herbal Fiberblend® is helpful! Did you know that the stool weights of people in developed countries are approximately 100 grams per day? In rural African countries its 500gm/day! And the size of hospitals is inversely proportional to stool size, meaning that there would be fewer hospitals if our stools were bigger!

We require soluble fibre (eg. psyllium husks) that helps our food go through the SI faster; it delays gastric emptying and delays glucose absorption. Insoluble fibre is also required which helps foods go through the large bowel quicker and increases faecal bulk. A lack of dietary fibre also increases the risk of hiatus hernia, other hernias and varicose veins.

The immune cells respond to the gut content in the cell walls of many undesirable micro-organisms. It is hypothesised that the presence of pathogenic (undesirable micro-organisms) and an abdominal antigen load (that is, undigested protein fragments, for example) may result in increased GI permeability or leaky gut.

Location of Human Gut Microflora
The first area is the stomach – where there is minimal flora. The next area is the SI which also shouldn’t contain any bugs as it should be a sterile environment. It’s the third area or the large bowel (colon) where the bugs live. These bugs should be eliminated through regular stools, otherwise they find a spot and breed.

Internal nutrients coming from mucous, gut proteins, biliary secretions, sloughed cells all lead to gut flora. These come from antibiotics, bacterial interactions, disease, drugs, pH; age and bile acids to name a few. Other sources of danger include contaminated foods; environmental toxins; food preservatives and additives.

What is Leaky Gut/Intestinal Dysbiosis?
It’s a condition of altered intestinal microflora. It arises from the excessive growth of naturally occurring micro-organisms, the overgrowth of externally derived micro-organisms or the migration of colonic organisms beyond their usual environment into the SI, stomach and oesophagus. Substantial, repeated antibiotic use which reduces the friendly flora; steroidal hormone therapy; poor diet especially low in fibre and high in fat, impaired gastric secretion, and impaired pancreatic enzyme secretion all contribute to Leaky Gut.

Overgrown flora in the small intestine can inactivate pancreatic and digestive enzymes; destroy dietary flavonoids which serve as important natural antioxidants; deconjugate bile salts, and consume vitamin B12.

What makes the gut leaky?
Food particles and other small molecules are actively absorbed across the mucosal cell wall and transported into the bloodstream.

Process of Gut Damage
Gut damage can occur with any of the following steps in this vicious cycle: reduced enzyme activity; increased leaky gut; prevents digestion and assimilation of nutrients; increased bacterial, yeast and heavy metal insult; intestinal injury; increased fermentation; and the cycle continues.

Leaky Gut can lead to a poorly functioning liver
To be on the safe side, if you have any of the symptoms discussed during this teleconference, it is essential that you don’t start with a liver detox diet. Always start with assisting the gut, and in doing so AIM Herbal Fiberblend® may assist. Note: if a practitioner suggests you complete a liver function test, this is actually checking for any liver damage.

Treating underlying causes
Deficient production of gastric acid can result in (1) maldigestion of food, (2) increases survival and delivery of organisms to the SI. Correct gastric acid production with betaine hydrochloride supplementation with meals. This comes in the form of tablets and are available through a practitioner.

Change the diet - a sluggish digestive tract allows for excess proliferation of organisms. The addition of insoluble fibre will help create bulk and encourage motility. However, soluble fibres may be poorly tolerated until microbial counts have been reduced. Avoid sugars, allergic foods you have identified; refined carbohydrates; additives and preservatives as much as possible. The optimal health food pyramid by Murray & Lyon in 2003 suggests green drinks by consumed daily – that’s our AIM BarleyLife®! Many practitioners believe this is the best pyramid out there amongst the hundreds of pyramids at the moment. This version incorporates the traditional Mediterranean and Asian diets.

Use prebiotics – non-digestible oligosaccharides (which are great for the liver) which occur in onions, garlic, leeks, artichokes and chicory.

Use probiotics – such as AIM’s Flora Food or ONEgroup’s In-Liven and Fast Tract. You want to fast track the colonisation of good bacteria in the gut. Start with a small amount of a probiotic and build up.. You want to fast track the colonisation of good bacteria in the gut. Start with a small amount of a probiotic and build up.

A number of herbs can inhibit e.coli and salmonella and they come from the lamiaceae family, which include: thyme; rosemary; oregano and mint. Additionally, tea tree oil and hypericum have antibacterial activity.

Essential Fatty Acids such as fish oil or flax seed oil also help. If you don’t have enough EFA’s then other nutrients won’t work. EFA’s are the cement that hold the bricks together. This will be available in AIM’s AIMega®, which will be available in Australia shortly.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Is an irritated digestive system and is clinically defined as abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, need to rush to the toilet, straining, feeling of incomplete bowel emptying and alternating periods of diarrhoea and constipation. When symptoms are registered prospectively, abdominal pain starts or worsens after meals and is not relieved by defaecation.

IBS is present in 10 – 20% of the population and accounts for up to 50% of referrals to gastroenterologists. Studies suggest that as many as 50-75% of patients with IBS have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth as demonstration by hydrogen breath testing.

The normal response to bacterial infection, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, is reactive and beneficial. However in about 10% of patients symptoms persist and reflect the development of post-infective IBS, which may persist for many years.

There is considerable evidence that Candida can cause systemic symptoms in non-immuno-suppressed humans, and is capable of translocation from the GIT to internal organs. AIM Australia has a limited supply of Candida: The Slow Killer by Teresa Schumacher and Toni Lund and is available for $8.50.

Symptoms associated with Increased Intestinal Permeability
Fatigue and malaise; myalgias, fevers of unknown origin; food intolerance; abdominal pain; abdominal distension; diarrhea; skin rashes; toxic feelings; cognitive and memory deficits; shortness of breath; poor exercise tolerance

Diseases associated with Increased Intestinal Permeability
Inflammatory bowel disease; infectious enterocolitis; acne; eczema; psoriasis; urticaria; pancreatic insufficiency; AIDS, HIV infection in general; hepatic dysfunction; IBS; alcoholism; celiac disease; dermatitis; autism; childhood hyperactivity; multiple food and chemical sensitivities.

Source: Clinical Nutrition: A Functional Approach by Jeffrey S. Bland p.205

Eliminating Intestinal Toxins
Be aware of heavy metal poisoning which can also affect the gut. Acid rain where the decreased pH in soils releases heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead and aluminium. This damages plants and animals. Acute intoxification can occur too – if this does make sure you receive treatment from a medical expert in environmental medicine, for example, one from ACNEM – www.acnem.org

Treating Dysbiosis and IBS – the 4R Protocol
1. Remove – dysbiosis, toxins and allergens (remove antigens and sources of cell wall irritation and inflammation. Antibiotics may be necessary).
2. Re-inoculate with prebiotics and probiotics (lactobacilli for the SI and stomach, and Bifidobacteria for the large intestine). These protect the intestine and help stimulate repair processes and reduce intestinal immune system modulators.
3. Replace enzymes and digestive factors (promote a better environment for beneficial gut bacteria to break down food into nutrients).
4. Repair gut wall with appropriate nutrients (EFAs, zinc, magnesium, B group vitamins)

Natural Methods - Top 15 Tips for improved digestive function
1. Eat slowly and chew your food completely (to a paste). Your stomach doesn’t have teeth. Your digestive enzymes won’t work if there are large pieces of food in the stomach. The French are thin and they eat slowly and enjoy every mouthful.
2. Use apple cider vinegar regularly on salads and vegetables. If tolerated, begin with 1 – 2 tspn and increase to 1 – 2 tblspns in a small volume of water before meals. Use lemon juice as a cheaper version.
3. Consider incorporating some ideal food combining principles at mealtime.
4. If your digestion is sluggish and when consuming solid food (ie. sandwiches, steak, pasta etc) avoid consuming fruit straight after meals. This generally applies to lunch and dinner meals.
5. Stress foods to limit and possibly avoid for a short time (1 – 2 weeks) and observe gastrointestinal impact:
- Sugar
- White flour products
- Alcohol
- Conventional tea & coffee (look out for dandelion brewed coffee with soy milk)
- Milk chocolate
- Foods with chemical additives
- Foods containing yeast (eg. beer, Vegemite, processed single cheese slices, stock cubes, bread with yeast)
- Foods containing residues of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides).
6. Try adding herbs and spices to food including Cumin, Turmeric etc to your food.
7. Try to make a genuine effort to increase functional foods in your diet including:
- Fruits and vegetables which known to have at least 20 different types of protective factors
- Many salad dressing oils are poly monounsaturated and high in VE which is a powerful antioxidant, assisting in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and which also has a powerful cholesterol lowering action (ie. EVOO, Flaxseed Oil).
- Deep sea fish (ie. Salmon, tuna, sea perch, blue eye) which provide Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which helps lower triglycerides and which may help reduce coronary heart disease.
- Wholegrain breads/cereals provide fibre, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals (ie. Country Life, Freedom Foods). If you enjoy pasta try spelt pasta – taste is the most similar to white pasta.
- Biodynamic yoghurts (eg. Jalna) which contain live cultures which helps build up good intestinal bacteria which inturn strengthens the immune system.
8. Try to have your vegetables and fruit RAW at least 50% of the time.
9. Break your fast (breakfast) with live juices (apple, AIM BarleyLife®, AIM RediBeets®, AIM Just Carrots®, celery, strawberries) and raw nuts.
10. Where possible, eating organically grown foods.
11. Limit eating excessively processed convenience foods such as frozen dinners.
12. Avoid eating too great a variety of food at one meal as this can stimulate you to overeat.
13. Avoid eating when stressed, depressed, extremely tired or emotional or when you are not truly hungry as this may compromise optimal digestion, absorption and assimilation of nutrients.
14. Avoid eating between meals unless you are prone to blood sugar drops as your body can utilise this time to maximise essential detoxification processes.
15. If you are prone to digestive upset, try not to drink liquids, including water, with your meals and try to separate your meal from any liquid intake by at least 15 – 30 minutes.

REMEMBER!
ONE DISEASE OR ILLNESS LEADS TO ANOTHER
AND
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!

www.pathways2wellbeing.com.au (Eat Well DVD)