Spring Cleaning For Your Gut

As we welcome the rejuvenating season of spring, it’s the perfect time to embark on a journey of health renewal. Just as we tidy up our homes and declutter our spaces, it’s essential to give our bodies a thorough spring cleaning, starting from the inside out. And what better place to begin than with our gut health?

In the ongoing pursuit of optimal well-being, the intricate relationship between gut health and immune function, mental health, and even weight cannot be underestimated. Research has suggested that dysbiosis or alterations in the gut flora contribute to the development of a broad spectrum of diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

We do not learn this in medical school, but much of the immune system resides in the gut. If you’re having symptoms that make you wonder how healthy your gut is, it’s important to take a deeper dive into the gut microbiome. Inflammation in the gut causes inflammation in the body. Functional medicine recognizes the undeniable link between gut health and the health of your entire body. By identifying and addressing the root cause of gut issues, and bringing back healthy diversity into the gut microbiome, we can revitalize our immune defenses and response to infections as well as overall resilience.

The gut microdome, a universe within us: So, what is the deal with the gut microbiome and what is it exactly? Deep within our bodies lies a hidden universe – a bustling ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome. This intricate community of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes forms the foundation of our internal environment. Making sure this complex ecosystem is in balance is crucial for maintaining balance and harmony within our bodies. After all, a clean and well-organized home fosters a sense of peace and tranquility, much like a healthy gut microbiome creates an optimal environment for immune function to thrive.

Gut microdome and immune development: When we think of immune development, the gut microbiome takes center stage during the formative years of infancy and childhood. Like planting seeds in a garden, microbial colonization of the gut sets the stage for immune maturation, shaping the balance between tolerance and defense mechanisms. How many rounds of antibiotics one had in their lifetime, number of gastroenteritis episodes, and what type of delivery and whether one was breast- or bottle-fed, all play a role in immune maturation. Just as we nurture young plants to ensure their growth, fostering a diverse and thriving gut microbiome in early life is crucial for laying the foundation of a resilient immune system that can stand the test of time.

Gut barrier integrity and immune defense: Maybe you’ve heard of a condition called leaky gut, otherwise known as hyperpermeability of the gut lining. Like the sturdy walls of a well-fortified castle, the integrity of the gut barrier is paramount for protecting our body against invaders. Much like repairing cracks in the foundation, maintaining gut barrier integrity is essential for preventing the translocation of harmful pathogens and toxins into the bloodstream. By strengthening tight junctions between epithelial cells and producing antimicrobial peptides, beneficial gut bacteria fortify our body’s frontline defenses, ensuring that our immune system remains vigilant and robust. Nurturing our gut microbiome helps fortify our body’s natural defenses against illness and infection.

Optimization of gut health: At our longevity practice, we help our patients restore a healthy diverse microbiome at any stage of their life through modifiable lifestyle factors including nutrition. Understanding the relationship between diet, gut microbes, and affected metabolic pathways helps inform personalized therapeutic strategies that address gastrointestinal imbalances.

Clients for whom we focus on gut health are those not just with symptoms of gut imbalance but also those with autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Reducing inflammation in the gut decreases progression of these conditions.

After the appropriate testing reveals what deficiencies/imbalances are present, we utilize a comprehensive five-step process helpful for restoring gut function. It’s a step-by-step approach known as the 5R protocol that helps to eliminate, identify, and heal various gut-related health symptoms as well as diseases such as Crohn’s.

The first step is to identify and remove factors that might be contributing to leaky gut/intestinal permeability, which includes dietary triggers. Common culprits that can cause intestinal inflammation include gluten, dairy, soy, and sugar. In many cases, there are foods that are healthy that may trigger inflammation. These also should be identified, as well as any harmful gut bacteria/yeast or parasites that are disrupting gut health. SIBO – or small intestinal bacterial overgrown – is not an uncommon condition we uncover when evaluating gut health. Food insensitivity testing and SIBO testing as well as elimination diets can be helpful here.

Step 2 involves replacing what is missing such as digestive enzymes, which help break down food into nutrients. Some people are missing hydrochloric acid, which is also necessary to break down proteins and minerals. Testing reveals what is missing and requires correction.

The next step, reinoculation, involves reintroducing beneficial gut bacteria and the food they need to be healthy. Here we add probiotics based on which types of bacteria are missing as well as prebiotic foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir.

The fourth step involves repairing and healing any damage that occurred in the gut lining, which means taking in gut-healing supplements such as L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, and aloe vera as well as gut-healing nutrients such as collagen and bone broth.

The final step in the 5R protocol is rebalancing the gut ecosystem. The initial evaluation takes a deep look at optimization of sleep and stress management as well as fitness. Keeping cortisol levels down is necessary for a healthy gut as chronic stress negatively impacts every cell in your body.

As we bid farewell to the winter chill and embrace the warmth of spring, let us embark on a journey of health renewal—a spring cleaning of the body and soul – that is essential for optimal health and longevity. Just as we declutter our homes and tidy up our spaces, let us turn our attention inward and work on building and maintaining a healthy gut. Our systematic approach after testing, utilizing the 5R system – remove, replace, reinoculate, repair, rebalance – supports gut function, a healthy immune system, and overall well-being.