The Intestine as a Protective Barrier

Consider as an analogy the atmosphere surrounding the earth and its role in protecting our environment. It parallels the function of the intestine and its role in protecting our overall health. The earth's atmosphere provides a protective barrier to support and sustain the abundant variety of life found here. But it is important to note that balance is the key! The atmosphere is composed of a critical balance of different gases that enable it to provide the earth with important filter-like protection, selectively screening out anything that could be damaging to, or allowing the penetration of anything that would be necessary for, the life of its 30 million different species of inhabitants.

In principal, the intestine provides a very similar protective barrier. The healthy intestinal wall is coated with hundreds of different species of microorganisms, both healthful and unhealthful bacteria numbering in the billions. This rich, protective coating of micro- organisms acts in concert with the physical barrier provided by the cells lining the intestinal tract and other factors, to provide the body with important filter-like protection. Damaging substances like unhealthy bacteria, toxins, chemicals and wastes are filtered out and eliminated. Simultaneously, the critical factors needed for life, such as nutrients and water; are absorbed into circulation and made available to the billions of cells in the body that need them.

The atmosphere acts as a selective barrier making sunlight available for life-sustaining photosynthesis, while simultaneously preventing the sun's disease-causing ultraviolet light from penetrating. It is screened out by a protective portion called the ozone layer. The selective barrier function of the intestine is equally profound. In the healthy state, the absorption of small sugars, fats and proteins proceed through the intestinal wall and circulate throughout the body. They are required for a myriad of essential reactions. Simultaneously, damaging substances from unhealthful bacteria, incompletely digested food, toxins, or chemicals, are largely prevented from being absorbed and transported throughout the body. We are continually and unknowingly protected from the ill effects of these damaging substances.

Bad Habits That Negatively Impact Intestinal Health

Unfortunately human beings have developed bad habits that promote imbalance in both the atmosphere and the intestinal tract. For example, pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have punctured holes in our ozone shield. The ozone hole has widened and deepened every year since scientists began measuring ozone levels in 1985. Scientists feel that the continued depletion of the ozone layer will cause greater amounts of ultraviolet radiation to reach earth, resulting in greater cancer risk, as well as other health problems.

In a remarkable parallel, other bad habits in our society in general have contributed to an imbalance of intestinal protective factors in an alarming percentage of the population. These bad habits include wide spread consumption of a diet high in refined, simple sugars and fat and deficient in nutritious, whole, unprocessed foods and fiber. This type of diet could potentially tip the intestinal balance toward the overgrowth of unhealthful bacteria and the proliferation of yeast or fungal organisms. It is also associated with less frequent bowel movements and a number of forms of chronic intestinal disfunction. Other bad habits include the excess consumption of alcohol and the use of antacids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers. These may contribute to a breakdown or deterioration in the physical integrity of the intestinal wall, much like CFCs have punctured the ozone layer; creating holes for ultraviolet radiation to enter through. Scientists describe this state of intestinal breakdown as 'leaky gut syndrome" and feel it may contribute to intestinal disfunction. A high stress lifestyle combined with a bad diet, deficient in important nutrients such as L-glutamine, pantothenic acid, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin A and others, may impair the healing of intestinal deterioration. Another bad habit is the over use of broad spectrum antibiotics. Researchers have acknowledged that virtually every antibiotic taken orally causes alterations in the balance of the bacteria in the intestine. Even as little as one course of antibiotics may deteriorate that rich, protective coating of microorganisms and upset the balance between healthful and unhealthful bacteria, reducing the resistance to intestinal and systemic ill health.

Helpful Suggestions for Achieving Optimal Intestinal Health

Those interested in achieving optimal intestinal health should find the following suggestions helpful. Avoid excessive alcohol use and refined, sugar- rich, fiber-poor foods. Avoid the use of antacids and broad spectrum antibiotics as much as is possible. Eat a diet rich in whole, unprocessed, nutritionally adequate foods and fiber. Drink plenty of pure water. Consume a diet rich in, and/or supplement the diet with, probiotic proteins (lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin) and globulin proteins that may support a balanced and healthful population of intestinal bacteria. Mso consider adding to the diet fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) which act as a food source to nourish certain healthful bacteria but not unhealthful ones. Finally, supplement the diet with scientifically proven, high quality, (HLC) Human Lactic Commensal  prebiotic and probiotic bacterial products.  We recommend the Pharmax LLC brand available from our Virtual Pharmacy