THE GUT IS IT’S OWN ECOSYSTEM

The gut provides home to 100 trillion microorganisms, with 400 different species of bacteria. These microbes in your gut play a crucial role in digestion, immunity, metabolism, and mental health. Sixty to eighty percent of your immune system is located in your gut and ninety percent of your neurotransmitters – the chemical messengers that help regulate mood – are produced within your gut. This is why the gut is often referred to as the second brain. It is crucial to maintain a proper balance of bacteria in our gut, for the sake of our digestion, mental health and overall well being.

HOW ANTIBIOTICS CAN DAMAGE YOUR GUT

So the way Antibiotics work, is by blocking vital processes in bacteria that stop them from multiplying, or kill the bacteria. Unfortunately, antibiotics can’t differentiate between the “bad” bacteria that may be causing a bacterial infection and the “good” bacteria which belong in your gut. The antibiotic basically comes in and destroys anything in it’s way.

Our gut NEEDS a proper balance of both good bacteria and bad bacteria. When antibiotics kill the bacteria that belong in your gut, it’s now caused a disruption in the ecosystem, creating a state of bacterial imbalance. When the number of good bacteria in your gut falls, it leaves you susceptible to the overgrowth of other organisms, like yeast. Yeast is opportunistic, which means that when given the chance, it will grow and multiply, especially when given its favorite food source, SUGAR. When yeast multiplies, it can damage the lining of your intestinal walls, leading to what’s known as LEAKY GUT (or Increased Intestinal Permeability).

LEAKY GUT AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Imagine a small fish net…water can seep through, but other, larger items cannot. Well our intestinal lining is naturally permeable to allow for certain nutrients from food to seep into our bodies and function properly. But when we bombard our “net” with processed foods, toxins, chemicals, contaminated water, the net’s holes start to become larger, allowing anything and everything to seep into our bloodstream. This is where everything starts to go to shit (no pun intended).

When foreign substances make it into your bloodstream, your immune system flags them as invaders and begins to attack. Over time, this causes your immune system, liver, and lymphatic system to become overwhelmed and overworked. When the immune system can no longer keep up with this demand, your immune response goes haywire, and you can develop autoimmune disease. So yes, gut health SHOULD be our priority.

When you MUST take antibiotics, here’s how you can defend your gut in the process

1. Take a high-quality probiotic

Probiotics will help restore your gut’s population of good bacteria that may be killed by the antibiotics. Be sure to take your antibiotics 2 hours away from your probiotic so that they aren’t killing the colony forming units.

2. Add in Collagen and l-Glutamine

Taking collagen will help repair your gut lining. L-Glutamine helps your gut cells repair and rejuvenate even faster.

HOW TO REPAIR YOUR GUT IF YOU’VE TAKEN ANTIBIOTICS

1. Decrease Yeast Overgrowth

Diets high in sugar, refined carbs or alcohol contribute heavily to yeast overgrowth. Just remember: SUGAR FEEDS YEAST. Consume a mostly low-carb, sugar free, high good fat diet and whole foods diet. Removing the sugar and carbs will starve out the yeast.

2. Restore the Gut with healthy bacteria

• Probiotics are live bacteria strains that help repopulate the gut and restore bacterial balance.
• Prebiotics come in the form of soluble fiber, and help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut by providing them with a food source that helps them grow and multiply. Be sure to take these only AFTER you’ve gotten the yeast overgrowth under control, as they can feed the yeast if consumed when the overgrowth is already in effect. Prebiotics are available in supplemental form – or you can increase your intake of soluble fiber-rich foods like greens, garlic, leeks, onions, and sweet potatoes.

3. Repair Your Gut Lining

• Collagen, rich in glycine and proline – two amino acids that most Americans don’t get enough of because they’re mainly found in the bones and organs of animals. Glycine and proline are not only good for your immune system, they help restore and repair the gut lining. You can take collagen in supplemental form and it’s always best to find a source from grass-fed or pasture-raised animals.
  • Bone Broth
  • Collagen Powder added to your soups, coffee, smoothies, dressings, tea