Trust your gut

November is Crohn’s and Colitis awareness month so I want to talk about gastrointestinal health and how it’s intricately tied to how the rest of our body functions. The gut-brain connection is one of the most important, in my opinion, to our well-being. Neurotransmitters are made in the gut and synthesized in the brain. This means that if you have a digestive tract that is out of balance, this can greatly impact your mental health.
The gut-immune connection is another big relationship in the body. The colon is the “house” of the immune system. It regulates the immune response by balancing the flora in the body. This means that it regulates the “good” fighting bugs in your body with the “bad” pathogenic bugs in or that enter your body. A strong gut microbiome means a healthy immune system.
The gut-inflammation connection is also important. The GI tract is responsible for your body’s inflammatory response. This is specifically indicated in individuals that have “leaky gut,” which is where the mucous membranes of the GI tract are permeable to the blood stream. When particles cross over into the blood stream, the body creates a systemic inflammatory response.
The key to all of these connections and conditions is a healthy gut microbiome. This means having more good bugs than bad bugs and making sure the mucous membranes are happy.
My recommendations for a healthy gut are:
1. A good probiotic – My favourite is HMF varieties (By Seroyal) which stands for Human Micro Flora. It is a blend of various bacterial strains that bump up your good bacteria to benefit all of the connections I mentioned above.
2. DGL – this stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, which is a strong anti-inflammatory by blocking certain inflammatory enzymes. It works well at relief of ulcers and inflamed mucous membranes in the stomach and small intestines.
3. Bromelain and Papain – these are from pineapple and papaya and they have strong anti-inflammatory abilities while also balancing stomach acids. This is great for heartburn or any upper GI inflammation/irritation.
4. Amino L-glutamine – this amino acid has beneficial effects on calming and easing digestion while also repairing inflamed mucous membranes. This is a good remedy for individuals that are dealing with intestinal issues.
5. Eating foods that are fermented – like Kefir, Sauerkraut, Kimchi and Miso. These foods contain healthy probiotics and other vitamins and nutrients that are integral to the gut’s healthy functioning.

Kate Hunter is a naturopathic doctor and owner of The Creemore Apothecary.