Recent research shows the significance of the gut and its implications on overall health. The gut-brain connection is well documented. In this article, we will look at gut health, its importance to your patients’ health, and tools you can use to heal leaky gut syndrome and restore patients to ultimate health.
The gut microbiome is a collection of trillions of bacteria, and 80-90% of the immune system depends on a healthy gut. There are more gut bacteria than there are cells in the body. The imbalance of the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) causes the beginning of major illnesses. The other cause of leaky gut is the hyperpermeability of the gut wall lining. Let’s take a look at these two causes of leaky gut syndrome.
The gut wall lining becomes irritated and leaky because of factors such as the standard American diet, pharmaceutical use, overuse of antibiotics, undigested foods, toxins in the food, air and water, processed foods, overgrowth of yeast, virus, bacteria, parasites, and so many other reasons. Undigested food particles, bacterial toxins, and germs can pass through the leaky gut wall and into the bloodstream, triggering the immune system (autoimmune disease) and causing persistent systemic inflammation (the beginning of all disease processes). This is linked to a much wider range of health problems, including food and seasonal allergies, tiredness, mental fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, mood changes (mood swings), increase in chronic stress, migraine, increased inflamed bowel, asthma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, skin conditions (eczema, scleroderma), cancer, heart issues, and so many more to list.
Let’s look at some tools that I use in my practice that you can use to promote the healing of a leaky gut and help your patients overcome their health challenges.
First, there’s nucleotide supplementation. Nucleotides are essential for cell division. Nucleotides are needed to increase the number of cells for growth and repair. Trillions of nucleotides are needed to continuously replace the millions of cells the body loses every day. Nucleotides also mobilize the immune system, recognize and destroy invader and errant cells, and allow the immune system to work at a high efficiency to maintain health. Nucleotides stimulate killer cell activity in the body.
..."The imbalance of the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) causes the beginning of major illnesses."...
One of the many important applications of nucleotides is in gut health. Nucleotides nurture a healthier profile of intestinal bacteria. They convert bad bacteria to good bacteria. The single-layer thick lining of the gut wall is highly dependent on a sufficient supply of nucleotides to completely regenerate each week. Exogenous supplantation of nucleotides improves and regenerates the height and absorption of the villi. The nucleotides help thicken the gut wall lining and fill in holes causing leaky gut.
Tributyrin is another supplement I use to heal leaky gut syndrome. It is a natural short-chain fatty acid consisting of three butyrate and one glycerol molecules. It boosts the butyrate in the colon and butyrate-producing bacteria, which ferment fiber to produce more butyrate that fills in the holes of the gut, thus nourishing the gut wall lining and preventing gut hyperpermeability (leaky gut).
I also use a combination of four products to heal and improve gut health.
1. Xanthohumol — Blood sugar regulator, powerful antioxidant, inflammation reducer, antimicrobial, immune system booster, liver detoxifier, weight loss facilitator, and anti-blood clotting agent.
2. C3-Curcumin — One of the most powerful versions of curcumin with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
3. Carbon 60 — Increases length of telomere, powerful anti-inflammatory.
4. PQQ — Repairs and increases mitochondria, liver detoxification, and increases circulation.
Dr Michael Epitropoulos is a chiropractic physician and has a PhD in clinical nutrition. He has practiced chiropractic and functional medicine for more than 30 years and teaches nutritional therapy and continuing education seminars for chiropractors. He also currently serves on the science advisory board for Hapinss Brands, a nutraceutical company specializing in gut health. For more information on the Gut Health Triad please visit http://hapinss.com/dnhs.
References
1. Harvard Health Blog November 16, 2021 'Leaky Gut-what is it and what does it do for me'?
2. Leaky Gut As A Danger Signal for Autoimmune Disease; Frontiers in Immunology, May 2017
3. The Intestinal Epithelial Barrier. A Therapeutic Target? Nature Reviews; Gastroenterolgy and Hepatology.
