| "Life and Death are in the Power of the Gut. They | | | | these substances lack electrons, they are very |
| that master it shall prosper in health thereof. They | | | | reactive and attack the cell membrane lipid bi-layer. |
| that do not shall gnash their teeth in dis-ease." -Uzo | | | | The tight and gap-junctions between cells also give |
| Onuwkugha, MD. | | | | way creating more holes on the membranes. |
| You are not just what you eat; you are what you | | | | As the unwanted substances and chemical toxins |
| ingest, digest and assimilate. Everything you've ever | | | | pass through, they now set up a chain reaction. The |
| eaten since you were a baby all contribute to your | | | | body hates these intruders just like you hate spam. |
| overall health and well-being up till this point. All the | | | | The body tries hard to fight off these free radicals |
| cells in your body have an immunological memory and | | | | as foreign bodies. Often there is no help from the |
| imprint of all that you have eaten. The law of sowing | | | | victim who continues to eat junk, nutrient-depleted |
| and reaping works behind the scenes. Some people | | | | food causing more free radical damage. The stage |
| don't even understand that there are dietary laws | | | | for auto-immune reaction has already been set by |
| that govern optimum health. We should stop focusing | | | | these allergens and carcinogens (allergens are foods |
| on the type of disease and start asking, "What type | | | | that cause allergy and carcinogens are risk factors |
| of person has the disease." Your cells tell the story | | | | for causing cancers). At this time, the body's defense |
| better because it has a record (biological time clock) | | | | mechanisms are also down giving rise to all kinds of |
| of your state of health even when it has not | | | | degenerative diseases or even cancer depending on |
| manifested with symptoms and no medical test could | | | | the end organ and nutritional deficiency involved. |
| pick it up. | | | | Leaky gut also triggers premature aging process. The |
| Well, you are as healthy as your individual cells. There | | | | victim also suffers from chronic fatigue. (Food is |
| is a law in Science that says that in a closed system, | | | | should give energy and not deplete your reserve). |
| any phenomenon in a large scale is also repeated in a | | | | Foods that cause leaky gut include fast sugars, |
| smaller time frame. Therefore, your cells hold the key | | | | partially hydrogenated and trans-fats, wheat gluten, |
| to your overall health. To be precise, the focus is on | | | | yeast, bacteria, viruses, canned nuts, dairy products, |
| the cells of your intestines. My zoom lens is on your | | | | cigarette smoking, alcohol, corn-syrup solids, food |
| small intestine where the majority of absorption and | | | | additives and flavors. Acidic foods and free radicals |
| digestion of food materials take place. The word 'gut' | | | | worsen the whole scenario. All non-living foods, |
| is somewhat vague because it could refer to the | | | | chemicals, processed foods and all junks food deplete |
| digestive system, part of it or even the stomach. | | | | the body of the existing enzymes and leave it open |
| Now, do you know the best selling drugs in America? | | | | for attacks with all kinds of illnesses. For instance one |
| It doesn't matter if it is over-the-counter or | | | | teaspoon of sugar shuts down your immune system |
| prescription drugs. The best selling drugs are antacids | | | | for two hours. Also if you eat in a hurry without |
| or drugs for intestinal disease remedies. You probably | | | | chewing your food or meat very well, you are a |
| know all the brand names: Gelusil, Sucralfate, Mylanta, | | | | candidate for leaky gut syndrome. Digestion is a |
| Pepto-Bismol, Tagamate, and all kinds of laxatives. | | | | process and it starts in the mouth coupled with your |
| Please note that taking antacids worsen the problem | | | | state of mind. Stress is a powerful contributory |
| because these patients are suffering because of lack | | | | factor. |
| of acid. This is because their enzymes that | | | | Here is the good news: "Anything that can prevent a |
| manufacture acid (hydrochloric acid) are depleted. | | | | disease can also help to cure it," said Dr. Bernard |
| Neutralizing the little acid you have give symptomatic | | | | Jensen. These foods boost your immunity, attack |
| relief and tend to worsen the problem. | | | | free radicals, strengthen your intestinal walls, help |
| The target diseases include heartburn, gastritis, | | | | digestion and absorption, cleanse and detoxify you, |
| flatulence dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel | | | | give you energy, and add more years to your life |
| syndrome, colorectal cancer, chronic constipation and | | | | and more life to your years. The list of healthy |
| other forms of digestive ailments. Some of the | | | | alternative is many. But my favorite is a bunch of |
| diseases may not even have a well defined symptom | | | | green super foods--barley grass, wheat grass, |
| or signs that fit into a definite clinical pattern. That's | | | | chlorella, green kamut, wheat grass, alfalfa and |
| why they are often called syndromes. | | | | spirulina. Please add avocado to your staple diet. Also |
| Many times, clinical tests will reveal nothing, and yet | | | | essential fatty acid blend (omeg-3, 6 and 9), |
| the patient continues to agonize. What is the | | | | multivitamin and mineral supplements, aloe |
| underlying cause of these diseases? The answer is | | | | vera-papaya, periodic fasting and colon cleanse. Avoid |
| not what you think. It is an uncharacterized | | | | junk and processed food. Drink eight glasses of |
| phenomenon most doctors don't talk about. The | | | | water per day. Our body is 70% water. Water |
| name is 'the leaky gut syndrome.' It is simply saying | | | | supports metabolism and help to eliminate toxins that |
| that your intestines are ailing because they are short | | | | cause diseases and ravages of premature aging. |
| of energy as such has become porous. I prefer a | | | | Don't forget the recommendation of at least five |
| more scientific term called 'intestinal permeability | | | | servings of green leafy vegetables daily. Minimize |
| disease.' | | | | acidic food eat more of alkaline food. Practice food |
| The onset coincides with depletion of functional | | | | combining to make it easy on your digestive |
| enzymes in the body. This is the time when the | | | | enzymes. Don't eat for at least 3 hours before you |
| resilience of youth tends to wean. Depending on your | | | | go to bed. (The body heals itself at night). Otherwise |
| dietary habits, it peaks around late twenties or early | | | | the body will use the energy for regeneration and |
| thirties. Rapid aging seem to pick up at this point. It is | | | | repair to digest food. This makes you tired when you |
| a process that sneaks in on you. At this time, your | | | | wake-up. |
| hairs begin to thin and fall off. Bald head set in. Some | | | | I must add that I take lemon juice and green tea |
| of your hairs may even start graying because of | | | | regularly. Just cut off taking coffee it can worsen the |
| nutrient depletion especially the B-complex Vitamins. | | | | leaky gut. Lemon is excellent because all the bacteria |
| Symptoms of intestinal malady seem to worsen at | | | | that cause disease hate anything bitter. They love |
| the same time. People begin to notice bloating, gas, | | | | sugar because they can multiply in nanoseconds. Both |
| belching, constipation and lactose intolerance. | | | | lemon juice and green tea help digestion (has life |
| The key to explaining 'leaky gut syndrome' lies at the | | | | enzymes) and boost your immunity and strengthen |
| cellular level. The small intestine has the hardest | | | | your enzyme reserves while cleansing your system. |
| working cells in the human body. These complex cells | | | | Both are potent antioxidants that combat free |
| may even work harder than brain cells. (No wonder | | | | radicals that cause lack of energy and aging. Lifestyle |
| they are called 'brain in the gut' because they have all | | | | of regular exercise should be added. |
| the chemical messengers found in the brain.) In fact, | | | | Exercise is so important that it requires a special |
| the gut is regarded as the center of life and intuitive | | | | emphasis. Lack of exercise causes intestinal paralysis |
| thinking. People tend to called it gut instinct--a | | | | of some sort. This gives undigested food more |
| meeting point of supernatural and physical energy. | | | | transit time to sit in the gut and for toxins to leak |
| The Japanese call it the 'power center.' The cells of | | | | into the blood triggering degenerative changes, allergy |
| the gut are arranged in finger-like fashion called | | | | and stagnant immune system. However, when you |
| villi--designed to increase the surface area for | | | | exercise, nature cooks the food twice-- both in the |
| absorption of nutrients. This process is an | | | | stomach (more acid is mixed with the food) and in |
| energy-dependent mechanism called active transport. | | | | the intestines. This improves digestion and elimination |
| (Water is absorbed by osmosis and is not | | | | of wastes. Overall, many people notice bowel |
| energy-dependent). | | | | movement during or shortly after exercise. Also |
| Thus 85% of our life-time energy is used in digestion, | | | | exercise draws air into the body which is more |
| absorption and assimilation of food. You could imagine | | | | efficient in combating the bugs that cause diseases. |
| that only 15% is reserved for the rest of the body | | | | Disease does not exist in aerobic environment. All |
| for active work and other functions. Do you see why | | | | cells start to age when they don't get enough |
| your digestive health is very important? Everything | | | | oxygen. Many other benefits of exercise are beyond |
| about life is energy and sickness is nothing but lack | | | | the scope of this article. |
| of force. It is either you take care of your digestive | | | | In a nutshell, if you do these basic things, including |
| health or live at the mercy of the medical community. | | | | adding raw food to your diet you will improve the |
| Most times they are confused because most doctors | | | | quality of your life and enjoy optimum health all the |
| are not trained in nutrition therapy. | | | | days of your life. The key is to take responsibility for |
| Furthermore, the gut acts as a semi-permeable | | | | your own health. Watch what goes into your mouth. |
| membrane. In other words, it has a gating mechanism | | | | Educate yourself on how your body works. Listen to |
| that allows some nutrients to pass while eliminating | | | | your body. Give it what it needs to serve you better. |
| others. For instance essential nutrients like minerals, | | | | Your life is in your hands; not the doctor. Don't kid |
| vitamins, and essential fats are absorbed while toxins, | | | | yourself. You don't put water in your gasoline tank. |
| bacteria, parasites, and partially digested or allergic | | | | Do you? Don't think you're a machine. Even machines |
| foods are prevented from entering the blood. These | | | | break down. Before you blame God and your |
| wastes are eliminated through the stool. However, if | | | | parents, change your eating habit first. There are |
| the linings become porous like an old filter, everything | | | | healthy alternatives to the junk you see all around |
| goes into the blood without restrictions. The gut is | | | | you. Good health is lifelong journey. The earlier you |
| now said to be leaky. Note that most of the junk | | | | start the better. Good luck in your quest for |
| food all full of nutrient-depleted, energy deficient | | | | optimum health! |
| elements called oxidants or free radicals. Because | | | | |