Better Health Starts In Your Gut

Recent studies show that your gut performs another lesser-known, very important function for your health. This function may be associated with obesity, or on the contrary, a healthy metabolism. Good intestinal health can therefore be decisive for your further overall health.

Indeed, it has been associated with digestion for hundreds of years. However, it has now been shown that good intestinal health also affects the rest of your body.

Your gut and your health

The microorganisms that live in your gut are essential for your digestion as well as your immune system. It is  even thought that 60 to 80% of your immune system resides in your gut. That’s why the gut plays such an important role in your overall health and in the prevention of multiple diseases.

The tissues in the gastrointestinal tract are the largest and most complex part of the entire human immune system. The micro-organisms in the intestines have an important function for the development of a strong and balanced immune system.

It is precisely in the intestines that our immune system produces antibodies that fight multiple invading diseases.

In addition to this important role for the development of a strong immune system  , the gut is also responsible for 90% of the neurotransmitters in our body.  These regulate our mood and our feelings.

When someone experiences problems in the gastrointestinal tract, they can also suffer from other health disorders. Think about:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hashimoto’s disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• Fear
• Depression
• Eczema

Now that we know all this, it’s time to start healing the gut. So we can enjoy better overall health.

To do this, the homeopathic physician Amy Myers, expert in the field of functional medicine, has put together a program called “ 4R. The purpose of this is to heal the gut so that you can heal yourself.

Of course the four R’s do not correspond in Dutch. However, this does not detract from the positive effect that the program has. In English the four R’s stand for: “ repair the damage, replace, re-inoculate and repair. ”

The 4R program

Repair the damage (‘repair the damage’)

The purpose of the first step of this program is to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of all substances that can damage the duct. To do this, it is necessary to eliminate from your daily diet all foods that can cause inflammation or stomach irritation.

These are substances such as alcohol, caffeine and drugs or medicines. In addition, all substances that can cause infections must also be eliminated. Foods that can cause infections include any products that people may be intolerant to, such as:

• Gluten
• Dairy
• grain
• soy
• Eggs
• Sugar

It is important to have an IgG allergy test to determine the level of certain proteins in the blood. This way it can be checked which food sensitivities you have and you can find out whether you are intolerant to one of the above products.

Infections can be caused by parasites, bacteria, or fungi. A stool test can help find out how much good bacteria there are in your gut. This can tell if there is an infection.

To fight infections, you can apply treatments with herbs, antiparasitics and even antibiotics (although this is not recommended without medical consultation).

Replace (‘replace’)

The body needs several essential ingredients to maintain healthy digestion and to properly absorb nutrients. Medication, illness or aging can deplete these elements.

That is why it is extremely important that you include these ingredients in your diet. This way you can ensure that your digestive system is functioning properly. Some of these ingredients are:

• Digestive Enzymes

• Acids
• Hydrochloric acid glazes

Re-immunize (‘re-inoculate’)

In order for the intestinal system to function properly, it is very important to restore healthy gut bacteria. You can do this by taking a probiotic supplement  that contains good bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

In addition, it is also important to include more fiber-rich products in your diet!

Restore (‘repair’)

The final step in this program focuses on restoring the gut by following a diet rich in essential nutrients.

We have to provide the colon with certain nutrients through various foods. Only in this way can the organ perform its many tasks properly.

To restore the gut, you can take an L-glutamine supplement.  This is an amino acid that helps to renew the lining of the gut.

In addition, it is important to provide the colon with other important nutrients such as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish, vitamins A, C, E and plants such as elm or aloe vera.

This bowel cleansing program can be very helpful in treating various diseases. So it is absolutely worth putting this program into practice and enjoying the benefits it offers to your health.