Back Clinic Gut and Intestinal Health. The health of an individual’s gut determines what nutrients are absorbed along with what toxins, allergens, and microbes are kept out. It is directly linked to the health of the whole body. Intestinal health could be defined as optimal digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. But this is a job that depends on many other factors. More than 100 million Americans have digestive problems. Two of the top-selling drugs in America are for digestive problems, and they run in the billions. There are more than 200 over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for digestive disorders. And these can and do create additional digestive problems.
If an individual’s digestion is not working properly, the first thing is to understand what is sending the gut out-of-balance in the first place.
A low-fiber, high-sugar, processed, nutrient-poor, high-calorie diet causes all the wrong bacteria and yeast to grow in the gut and damages the delicate ecosystem in your intestines.
Overuse of medications that damage the gut or block normal digestive function, i.e., acid blockers (Prilosec, Nexium, etc.), anti-inflammatory medication (aspirin, Advil, and Aleve), antibiotics, steroids, and hormones.
Undetected gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or low-grade food allergies to foods such as dairy, eggs, or corn.
Chronic low-grade infections or gut imbalances with overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, yeast overgrowth, parasites.
Toxins like mercury and mold toxins damage the gut.
Lack of adequate digestive enzyme function from acid-blocking medications or zinc deficiency.
Stress can alter the gut’s nervous system, cause a leaky gut, and change the normal bacteria.
Visits for intestinal disorders are among the most common trips to primary care doctors. Unfortunately, most, which also includes most doctors, do not recognize or know that digestive problems wreak havoc in the entire body. This leads to allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, rashes, acne, chronic fatigue, mood disorders, autism, dementia, cancer, and more. Having proper gut and intestinal health is absolutely central to your health. It is connected to everything that happens in the body.
Excessive belching, burning, or burping after eating a meal?
Excessive usage of antacids?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then you might be experiencing Crohn�s disease and how it is affecting your gut system.
The human body and the gut microbiome have a wonderful connection as they help balance each other out. The human body protects the organs and the systems from harmful factors that are from the outside, while the organs and the systems help make sure that the body is functioning properly. With the gut system, it helps the body by providing food to be digested and can help transfer hormones from the gut to the brain. Even though the gut can help make sure the body is functioning correctly, it can be prone to dysfunctions from factors that can harm the gut system. Inflammation, intestinal permeability, and other harmful factors can cause the gut not to work properly. It can cause many problems that can hurt the body, and if it is not treated, it can turn into chronic illnesses.
Crohn�s Disease and The Gut
A recent study that was published in 2019, researchers have discovered that there is a critical link between IL-1? (interleukin-1?) and the gut microbiome. What IL-1? is, is that it is a protein that controls the inflammation in the gut. Researchers were shocked about this information and were able to find that by blocking the IL-1? protein since it is a pro-inflammatory protein in the gut, it can cause a significant decrease in the severity of intestinal inflammation of Crohn’s disease.
Surprisingly there are some more research and information about the effects of anti-ILalpha treatment for helping out the body. The research shows that a study was being controlled by changing the body�s intestinal microbial ecosystem and even correcting mucosal dysbiosis. What this treatment does is that it decreases the ratio of Proteobacteria to be Bacteroidetes, while also decreasing the Helicobacter species as well as increasing Mucispirillum schaedleri and Lactobacillus salivarus. With these microflora modifications being linked, they can provide similar biological effects that steroids have been able to produce in the body, thus considering to be the gold standard for treatment.
With these findings, they show the diversity and balance of how the gut microbiome plays a huge role not only in gastrointestinal health but also playing a role in the health of the immune system and the inflammatory response in the body. Even though this study has been tested on subjects and further research is still needed, it gives many researchers hope for finding some therapeutic targets for any patients that may be suffering from any of these deliberating conditions. The findings can provide the rationale for medical researchers to help conduct a clinical trial for blocking IL-1? for patients that have IBD.
Studies on Crohn�s Disease
Studies have shown that IBD, Crohn�s disease, and ulcerative colitis, are autoimmune conditions that causes multiple triggers that will chronically stimulate the immune system over a long period in the body. These autoimmune conditions can cause the immune system to become overburden and be unable to function properly. What comes with these autoimmune conditions is chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has become the result of function loss, thus leading the body to have chronic gastrointestinal ailments.
These can be characterized by diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and other crippling manifestations that can greatly affect a patient�s quality of life and overall health and wellness. Studies have shown that there is no surprise that the microbial composition of the GI tract can play a huge role in the development of IBD. The studies found that imbalance or dysbiosis are associated with an increase in intestinal inflammation that may cause IBD. Research has shown that the intestinal microbiome can greatly impact the body�s immune health since 70% of the immune system lies within the GI tract.
Studies have demonstrated that there are events, both chemical and molecular, that can shift the microbiome and exacerbate disease activity in patients that have IBD. Although there is a contrast for healthy individual’s gut microbiomes that are shown to be much more stable. Furthermore, the science shows that E. coli can proliferate in IBD during flare-ups in the body. When this happens, it can further contribute to the patient’s symptoms and the progression of the disease.
When a person is trying to get healthier, the best way to do it is by avoiding pro-inflammatory foods that can cause the gut to have inflammation. Studies have found that processed foods, sugars, and trans fats can cause inflammation. The best way to be healthy is to increase the intake of an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in antioxidants, have high omega-3s, and have a high dosage of prebiotic and probiotic supplements. With these healthy options, they can assist with the inflammatory response within the GI tract to help reduce the IBD flare-ups. With certain bacteriophages, they have been shown to infect and inhibit the growth of E. coli, which surprisingly has also been shown to help reduce the symptoms and can even potentially slow the progress of IBD.
Conclusion
With more and more research discovering the link between Crohn�s disease and the gut system is truly remarkable as researchers and scientists are finding ways to calm down and even prevent inflammation from happening. By eating healthy, nutritious food that contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can help the body dampen the effects of inflammation and improve the overall health and wellness of the body. Some products are here to help the body and provide support to the gastrointestinal system.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Demonstrates Fasting-Mimicking Diet Reduces Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathology.� Designs for Health, 15 Mar. 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/974.
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Demonstrates Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Can Reach Remission with Diet Alone.� Designs for Health, 4 Jan. 2018, blog.designsforhealth.com/si-42214/new-study-demonstrates-patients-with-inflammatory-bowel-disease-can-reach-remission-with-diet-alone.
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Identifies How the Microbiome Is Disrupted in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.� Designs for Health, 7 June 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1036.
Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi, and Takanori Kanai. �The Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.� Seminars in Immunopathology, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Jan. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4281375/.
Menghini, Paola, et al. �Neutralization of IL-1? Ameliorates Crohn’s Disease-like Ileitis by Functional Alterations of the Gut Microbiome.� PNAS, National Academy of Sciences, 26 Dec. 2019, www.pnas.org/content/116/52/26717.
staff, Science X. �Researchers Discover Critical Link to Controlling Inflammation in Crohn’s Disease.� Medical Xpress – Medical Research Advances and Health News, Medical Xpress, 16 Dec. 2019, medicalxpress.com/news/2019-12-critical-link-inflammation-crohn-disease.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter.
Team, DFH. �Discovery of a Critical Link between Crohn’s and the Gut Microbiome.� Designs for Health, 5 Mar. 2020, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1208.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
Digestive problems subside with rest and relaxation?
Crave sweets during the day?
Eating sweets does not relieve the craving for sugar?
Stomach pains, burning, or aching 1-4 hours?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then something is disrupting your gut system. Why not try some aloe vera to dampen the symptoms.
Aloe Vera
Whenever someone thinks of aloe vera or aloe itself, the mind goes to sunburns and inflamed redden skin in general. Aloe vera has claimed its way to fame by soothing sunburnt skin; however, this long-celebrated medicinal plant has many properties and potential applications that go way beyond soothing inflamed skin.
Throughout the recent years, there was a surge in research about the gut microbiome and how it both affects and is affected by various diseases. The various research showed that SCFAs (short-chain fatty acids) producing a byproduct of colonic bacteria and fermenting dietary fibers, thus having critical signaling functions and playing a role in the gut-associated immune response. Studies have shown that butyric acid or butyrate may be beneficial for brain health in the body. Furthermore, the study also mentioned how SCFAs could contribute to reducing the inflammation in the gut while also associating between high-fiber diets and reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Aloe Vera�s Prebiotic Effects
Other studies showed that aloe vera has impressive prebiotic effects when it is being incubated within the human gut bacteria cultures. When a culture of mixed bacteria is being incubated with aloe vera, it shows a linear increase in butyric acid and an increase production of acetic acid when Bifidobacterium infantis is incubated with aloe vera. Studies show that when people have an increased intake of their dietary fibers, it can bring negative consequences to their bodies. The research talks about how having an increase in fiber is an obvious way to help support SCFAs, but for people who want to increase their fiber intake, they should consume aloe vera.
Aloe’s prebiotic effects are fantastic due to the chemical structure of some of its components. Surprisingly the aloe vera gel is about 55% polysaccharides and contains a compound called acemannan. With acemannan and the other polysaccharides in the aloe plant, many researchers have believed that these components are a significant contributor to aloe’s prebiotic and gut supportive effects. Since acemannan contains sugar molecules that are being linked to glycosidic bonds, they cannot be digested by human enzymes. However, with the body�s intestinal bacteria, studies have found that it can cleave the bond that acemannan has created and making acemannan digestible for the colonic flora. Another compound that aloe has is known as barbaloin. This compound contains other bonds that are inaccessible to the human digestive enzymes but is cleavable by the GI flora in the body.
Aloe Helping with Insulin
Aloe supplements can provide beneficial properties to battle against diabetes. A study from India stated that individuals who tale aloe vera gel powder for three months showed a substantial improvement in their glycemic control and cardiometabolic health.
Earlier studies have found out that aloe supplementation can improve the biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in the body as well. The study found that individuals who are pre-diabetic or have metabolic syndrome were given the standardized aloe extract for about eight weeks, and the results were astounding. The results showed that the consumed aloe supplement leads to a significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C in the body as well as fasting glucose and fructosamine. Consuming aloe can cause a reduction in insulin in the body so people can start feeling better.
There is a more recent study that confirmed that aloe supplementation helps improve glycemic control and lipid profiles for pre-diabetic individuals. The results showed a decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-C, as well as an increase in HDL in the body. Research found out that low-carbohydrate and the ketogenic diets are highly effective for improving blood glucose and insulin, especially for anyone who has type 2 diabetes. By adding aloe supplementation, it can be a powerful adjunct, especially for those who have a difficult time sticking to a strict low-carb regimen when a person’s dietary change is absent.
Conclusion
Aloe vera is an exotic plant that has many beneficial properties that can not only reduce red, inflamed skin but can provide support to the gut system and help individuals who may be pre-diabetic. Aloe vera can help the body’s gut system by making sure that no disruption and inflammation can affect the intestinal barrier, causing leaky gut. By consuming aloe vera in plant form or even using it as a supplement can provide fantastic health benefits for the body. Some products can be taken with aloe vera in order to make sure the gastrointestinal is being healthy by supporting the metabolic system and the gastrointestinal. These products offer hypoallergenic nutrients, enzymatic cofactors, and phytonutrients for overall health and wellness.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Quezada, Maria Paz, et al. �Acemannan and Fructans from Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) Plants as Novel Prebiotics.� Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 26 Oct. 2017, pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04100.
Alinejad-Mofrad, Samaneh, et al. �Improvement of Glucose and Lipid Profile Status with Aloe Vera in Pre-Diabetic Subjects: a Randomized Controlled-Trial.� Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, BioMed Central, 9 Apr. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4399423/.
Bourassa, Megan W, et al. �Butyrate, Neuroepigenetics, and the Gut Microbiome: Can a High Fiber Diet Improve Brain Health?” Neuroscience Letters, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 June 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4903954/.
Choudhary, Monika, et al. �Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effect of Aloe Vera L. in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetics.� Journal of Food Science and Technology, Springer India, Jan. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3857397/.
Devaraj, Sridevi, et al. “Effects of Aloe vera supplementation in subjects with prediabetes/metabolic syndrome.” Metabolic syndrome and related disorders�vol. 11,1 (2013): 35-40. doi:10.1089/met.2012.0066
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �Diversity Is the Key to a Healthy Gut.� Designs for Health, 5 Apr. 2018, blog.designsforhealth.com/diversity-is-the-key-to-a-healthy-gut.
Pogribna, M., et al. �Effect of Aloe Vera Whole Leaf Extract on Short Chain Fatty Acids Production by Bacteroides Fragilis, Bifidobacterium Infantis, and Eubacterium Limosum.� Society for Applied Microbiology, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 19 Mar. 2008, sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1472-765X.2008.02346.x.
Sivaprakasam, Sathish, et al. �Benefits of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Their Receptors in Inflammation and Carcinogenesis.� Pharmacology & Therapeutics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942363/.
Team, DFH. �Alternative Applications for Aloe.� Designs for Health, 5 Mar. 2020, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1209.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
With everything that is going on in today’s world immunity is especially important. Without a properly functioning immune system, our bodies can become inflamed and more susceptible to viruses. Inflammation can cause a weakened immune system, joint pain, headaches, fatigue and more!
So what can we do to build up our immunity and help give our bodies a fighting chance? First off, washing your hands is highly important. Not just now, but always. Be sure to wash your hands with warm water and scrub everywhere. Second, get plenty of sleep. Rest is how the body recovers. If you do not give your body adequate sleep, the strength you’re cells have to fight off infection lessens. Third, eat healthy food, hydrate, and exercise. Finally, last but not least help kick up your immune system by supplementing the body with all-natural supplements.
There are many supplements that will be beneficial to the body. However, two of the most important are NAC and Glutamine.
What Are They?
NAC stands for N-acetyl-Cystine. NAC is an amino acid that the body can produce but the body can also greatly benefit from taking additional NAC in supplemental form. NAC plays an important role in helping the liver to detox. In addition to this, NAC helps to replenish the glutathione levels in the lungs and can help to reduce the inflammation. This is highly beneficial in helping to relieve the symptoms of a respiratory infection.
NAC is also greatly beneficial in boosting brain health. NAC helps to regulate glutamate levels and replenish glutathione. However, one of the most important factors of NAC is its ability to boost Glutathione levels.
Glutamine is an amino acid that helps the body perform many functions. Glutamine plays a crucial part in the immune system.
The Connection & How It Impacts Immunity
However, one of the most important factors of NAC is its ability to booze Glutathione levels. NAC and glutathione can help to boost an individual’s immune health. In research studies shown, NAC has been shown to lessen the effects of a virus and its ability to replicate. When it comes to immunity NAC and Glutamine are powerful molecules. Stoping the replication of a virus can help reduce the spread and the length of the virus in an individual.
Many infections and diseases have been linked to low glutathione levels. When the glutathione levels are low this is typically due to enhanced oxygen radicals. Studies have been done and show that when supplementing NAC to those who have low glutathione levels, it directly boosts their levels and helps with infection.
Especially with everything happening today, we want to increase our immunity and decrease the inflammation in the body.� Essentially, think of the body as a road trip. For this trip we need two main things: the gas for the car, and the car to take you to the end destination.� NAC is the gas that drives the car. We need the gas to get to our end destination. Our end destination is being healthy and giving our body the best chance to fight off infection (increased Glutathione). So by giving our body gas (NAC) we provide it with what it needs to take us to where we want to go (increased Glutathione, leading to increased immunity).
How Can I Benefit?
Overall, NAC is great to decrease inflammation. Inflammation is an extremely common underlying issue relating to other health conditions individuals suffer from. By providing your body with additional supplements, you can help increase your immunity and decrease your chances of contracting a virus and/or the length of the virus. Always discuss supplements with your primary care doctor before you begin them, but consider adding these into your daily routine!
I always recommend talking to your primary care provider and taking supplements daily. Supplements, in general, are a great way to help provide the body with the essential vitamins and minerals you may be missing. However, now more than ever supplementation is key. By building up and providing the body with the nutrients it needs for proper function, it will help prepare your body to fight off an infection. Supplementation like NAC is great to have already running in your system to help combat an infection if you were to catch one. Remember to be smart, talk to a primary care doctor before beginning supplementation, and keep in mind that not all supplements are created equal.� -Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach��
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.�
References:
Dinicola S, De Grazia S, Carlomagno G, Pintucci JP. N-acetylcysteine as powerful molecule to destroy bacterial biofilms. A systematic review.�Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2014;18(19):2942�2948.
Wessner B, Strasser EM, Spittler A, Roth E. Effect of single and combined supply of glutamine, glycine, N-acetylcysteine, and R,S-alpha-lipoic acid on glutathione content of myelomonocytic cells.�Clin Nutr. 2003;22(6):515�522. doi:10.1016/s0261-5614(03)00053-0
Stomach pains, burning, or aching 1-4 hours after eating?
Digestive problems subside with rest or relaxation?
Indigestion and fullness last 2-4 hours after eating?
Excessive belching, burping, or bloating?
Abdominal distention after certain probiotics or natural supplements?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then it might be due to a decrease in your gut system’s Bifidobacteria.
The body’s microbiome is home to numerous bacterial species that help contribute to their unique health-promoting properties. These bacterial species help the body by making sure that each organ and body system is working like a clock. When the body contains harmful pathogenic bacteria, it can cause the body to dysfunction, and chronic illnesses will start to form and even harm the body.
Research studies have found out that the number of bacteria species that are in the human gut microbiota could probably exceed 104. This means that there are at least ten times more bacterial cells in the human gut than the number of human cells. There are even over 100 times the amount of the genomic microbiome as the human genome. Surprisingly though, there are even more studies that have found that there is an equal ratio of humans to bacteria cells.
Bifidobacteria
Regardless of the number, the gut microbiome still has the most abundant microorganisms in the body. When the gut and the body are well balanced, there are a variety of microbes that can give the body both fortified and strengthen that can support the immune system, fight off the inflammation that has entered the body. The microbes can provide the gut a barrier against pathogens, and help metabolize as well as producing critical nutrients for the body to function. With the numerous amounts of bacteria species in both the gut and the body, there is one of the bacterial species in the body that is highly important for a healthy body. It is known as Bifidobacteria, and these bacterial species play a massive role in the body’s microbiome.
Bifidobacteria is an indigenous genus species that are an abundance of this bacterial species that lie in the gut, and their numbers, as well as their species, can be altered with age. Bifidobacteria is prominently dominated in the intestines. Surprisingly though, the Bifidobacteria species can be found in breastfed infants and are in the intestines. Since the fucosylated oligosaccharides in breast milk help the infant grow, it will substrates for B. longum. With the Bifidobacteria colony in infants have become well-colonized until the species B. catenulatum and B. adolescentis is there in the adult years, and it seems that B. longum remains to be an abundance throughout the human life span.
Bifidobacteria Benefits in Infants
When a woman becomes pregnant, Bifidobacteria becomes the first genus of bacteria that is being transferred. This bacterium ensures that it is being transferred from the mother’s vaginal canal, breast milk, placenta, and amniotic fluid to the infant that is growing in the mother. When this is taking process, it highlights the importance of vaginal birth and breastfeeding to establish a healthy, growing microbiome. Research shows that this establishment of Bifidobacteria in an infant can delay if the mother of the growing child has a polymorphism in the FUT2 (Fucosyltransferase 2) gene. What this gene does is that it encodes enzymes to transfer fucose to glycans in breastmilk, then the glycan is then metabolized by the Bifidobacteria for the body to grow and be healthy.
Studies have found that in some Bifidobacteria species like B. breve, have antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties that are vital for the life stages of the human body where the immunity may be weak or even compromised. For infants, the Bifidobacteria species are even more valuable, since they help with the development of a new immune system and are not able to transfer antibiotic resistance. This can be concerning for some probiotic species in the body. With the B. breve bacteria species, however, studies have found out that these bacterial species are significant for preventing numerous gastrointestinal conditions for children.
Bifidobacteria Benefits in Adults
When it comes to the Bifidobacteria in adults, their bacterial quantities decrease due to natural aging. However, the Bifidobacteria still provides an equal amount of beneficial properties that exert a numerous amount of biological activities that can prevent some of the most common gastrointestinal conditions. Studies have shown that Bifidobacteria can show promising results in the prevention of colorectal cancer and can be used as an adjunct therapy. The studies even show how Bifidobacteria can display anti-mutagenic activity, protecting DNA from carcinogen-induced damage, and even inhibited the genotoxic effects of carcinogens.
Another study has even shown that Bifidobacteria can prevent and mitigate diarrhea that is caused by Clostridium difficile. The results show that Bifidobacteria therapy can significantly reduce the quantity of Clostridium difficile and dropping the clostridial toxin titres.
Conclusion
Bifidobacteria is a large genus of bacteria that is responsible for maintaining a healthy body and gut system. When the body is dealing with inflammation or having stomach issues, then the bifidobacterial genus will be affected as well. This bacteria is in the human body from infancy to adulthood, and it will decrease naturally through aging. Some products are specialized to help the gastrointestinal system and the gut system by offering hypoallergenic nutrients, enzymatic cofactors, metabolic precursors, and phytonutrients that the body needs.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Arboleya, Silvia, et al. �Gut Bifidobacteria Populations in Human Health and Aging.� Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 19 Aug. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4990546/.
Bozzi Cionci, Nicole, et al. �Therapeutic Microbiology: The Role of Bifidobacterium Breve as Food Supplement for the Prevention/Treatment of Paediatric Diseases.� Nutrients, MDPI, 10 Nov. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6265827/.
O’Callaghan, Amy, and Douwe van Sinderen. �Bifidobacteria and Their Role as Members of the Human Gut Microbiota.� Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 15 June 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4908950/#!po=8.75000.
Team, DFH. �The Basics of Bifidobacteria.� Designs for Health, 5 Sept. 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1100.
Thursby, Elizabeth, and Nathalie Juge. �Introduction to the Human Gut Microbiota.� The Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd., 16 May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5433529/.
Wei, Yanxia, et al. �Protective Effects of Bifidobacterial Strains Against Toxigenic Clostridium Difficile.� Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 8 May 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5952185/.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
Today, there can be a lot of confusion when it comes to diet. The information received can be contradicting, confusing, and leave individuals feeling lost. This can often result in giving up on the diet and being left with joint pain, inflammation, discomfort, headaches and more.
The reason why there is more than one diet out there is because the research is always advancing. We have come to realize that everyone’s body reacts to different food sources and diets differently.
Genetic Code
As more and more research is being done, the more we are realizing how the genetic factor of individual cells directly correlate to a patient’s weight, diet, and changes as they age. For years, as one would get older and start gaining weight, we would attribute it to age. Although age is a factor, what we are finding now is that the genes are actually changing as we age and that is what creates this weight gain.
Sure enough, there are also genes that will tell us if you are susceptible to snacking. These genes can detect if you have a predisposition for heightened snacking or satiety. Satiety is the feeling of fullness after a meal. If you have reduced satiety, you tend to snack more because you do not feel as full after the meals you eat.
Getting your genes tested will allow the treatment plans created to be more personal and more geared to see results! Believe it or not, your genes can tell us if you are genetically prone to obesity,� if you have weight loss resistance when it comes to carbohydrates, and how your body responds to exercise! Using the genes, we can see how many hours per week you will need for weight loss or to maintain your current weight.
Proven Methods
The best option is to know your genes so the diet plan can be geared more towards you directly. However, if that is not a possibility right away, there has been one diet that has been proven time and time again to work for almost everyone. This diet is referred to as the Ketogenic Diet.
In simple terms, the ketogenic diet is a low carb, high-fat diet. This diet works by sending the body into a state of ketosis which burns fat as fuel.
Research shows that those using a ketogenic diet demonstrated a higher percentage of weight loss and kept the weight off longer when compared to those who did a low-fat diet.
Available Resources
Considering the fact that there is misinformation about diets out there, proper education is going to be the key. As someone who has gone through dietary changes myself and figuring out what works best with my body with type 1 diabetes for optimal health, the right team is what made me successful.
Surround yourself with those who are continuously educating themselves and have a system in place. For example, we make sure our patients get one on one time with the doctor and a health coach. From here, the health coach and patient become connected through a virtual database allowing the patient’s food, weight, supplements, hydration, BMI, BIA, and activity to be tracked by the health coach. The health coach can then instant message or video chat the patient throughout the week to ensure they are staying on track, staying motivated, and answer any questions they may have!
Do not be left confused over diets anymore! Remember that your genetic code holds the key to the right diet for you.
The right diet has the ability to make individuals see the results they have been waiting for. It all comes down to the genes. As mentioned, genes change over time but they hold the code. If you are someone who has struggled with diets, feeling good, or are stuck at a certain weight, I highly recommend getting tested! The information you gain from this is so beneficial! I have seen the results first hand, and they are eye-opening. They let you know if you have the genetics that will hold onto fat. This knowledge can help us prevent health issues such as metabolic syndrome! – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach�
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post DisclaimerThe scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
REFERENCES
Bueno, Nassib Bezerra, et al. �Very-Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet v. Low-Fat Diet for Long-Term Weight Loss: a Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.� British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 110, no. 7, 2013, pp. 1178�1187., doi:10.1017/s0007114513000548.
Stomach pain, burning, or aching 1-4 hours after eating?
An overall sense of bloating?
Difficulty digesting roughage and fiber?
A sense of fullness during and after meals?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then there might be some problems with your gut system or immune system. How about adding some arabinogalactan into your diet.
Around eighty-eight percent of Americans are living with compromised metabolic health and becoming overweight or obese. Some people are typically healthy and take active measures to stay that way through a healthy diet, which consists of eating the right nutritional food and exercising regularly. While with others, they are consuming high sugar and fatty processed foods and are being inactive and not exercising. When people fall behind on trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle, they need some reliable backup evidence to help them get back on track.
With the constant flood of information about the latest trendy diet or superfood airs on television, the radio waves, or being adversities on the online web and newspapers, it might be challenging for patients to find the right help that they need amongst all the media outlets. Two things can help influence a person’s overall health by supporting a person’s immune system function and even maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. The supplement, arabinogalactan, which is sourced from the larch trees, is a compound that can fill both roles to support a healthy, functional body.
Arabinogalactan
Arabinogalactan is a fiber that is found in many plants; however, it is mostly found commonly in the wood from the larch tree, and the larch tree wood comes out larch arabinogalactan. Larch arabinogalactan is highly branched polysaccharides that have a galactan backbone with side chain acids of galactose and arabinose, which are both monosaccharides. Surprisingly though, arabinogalactan falls into the carbohydrate category known as hemicelluloses. Research shows that hemicelluloses are non-starch polysaccharides that can occur abundantly in the primary and secondary cells walls from plant cells. With arabinogalactan being found in all plant life from the seeds, roots, leaves, fruit, and sap, it is traditionally used to treat specific ailments.
Arabinogalactan Beneficial Properties
There are many beneficial properties that larch arabinogalactan can provide as this supplement can help stimulate the body’s immune system and even prevent viral and bacterial infections that enter the body. Arabinogalactan has been used as traditional medicine for centuries as people have been taking advantage of its medicinal properties. Some of the beneficial properties that arabinogalactan can prevent or even treat the following health conditions like:
Asthma
The common cold
High cholesterol
Liver cancer
Pneumonia
Studies even have shown that arabinogalactan can even promote a healthy gut flora in the body. The research shows that arabinogalactan can help resist digestion from the salivary enzymes and even the enzymes in the small intestines. When this happens, arabinogalactan allows itself to arrive at the large intestines. It transforms to be a prebiotic fiber, where it has high fermentability and can be used for beneficial colonic microorganisms. The research even shows how there is a unique chemical bond that forms the arabinogalactan molecules and making them resistant to digestion.
Arabinogalactan is a product of microbial fermentation known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and is with butyrate, propionate, and acetate. Since research shows that SCFAs play an essential role in the body’s gut health, especially butyrate, it has become the primary fuel source for colonic epithelial cells. Since butyrate helps increase mucin production in the gut system, it can even help contribute even better health by reducing the likelihood of pathogenic bacterial adhesion to the colon. With the combination of arabinogalactan, the gut system and the intestinal walls are well protected.
Butyrate and arabinogalactan can help each other improve the integrity of cellular tight junction. When the gut starts having obvious implications, butyrate and arabinogalactan can help maintain a proper intestinal permeability and limiting the passage of incomplete digested peptides into the body�s systemic circulation. Studies have shown that the immune response to these errant peptides can be a significant etiological and causal factor in numerous chronic illnesses, especially in autoimmune conditions. When a person consumes arabinogalactan, the supplement has been known to increase the colonic population of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. Studies have found that these two organisms have a potent antimicrobial effect against pathogenic bacteria that is affecting the gut flora.
Conclusion
Arabinogalactan is a carbohydrate that is found in the larch tree and can provide support to the immune system and the gut system. This supplement is a powerhouse when it is consumed and can fight off pathogenic bacteria that can harm not only the body but also cause intestinal permeability to the gut, thus creating leaky gut. With arabinogalactan having these fantastic beneficial properties, the body will thank this carbohydrate for protecting the immune system and the gut system. Some products are used to help support the immune system and the gastrointestinal system by using advance formulas to provide more excellent stability to the body by offering hypoallergenic nutrients and enzymatic cofactors that the body much needs.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Dion, Carine, et al. �Does Larch Arabinogalactan Enhance Immune Function? A Review of Mechanistic and Clinical Trials.� Nutrition & Metabolism, BioMed Central, 12 Apr. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4828828/.
Fasano, Alessio. �Zonulin, Regulation of Tight Junctions, and Autoimmune Diseases.� Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384703/.
H�tt, P, et al. �Antagonistic Activity of Probiotic Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria against Entero- and Uropathogens.� Journal of Applied Microbiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16696680.
R�os-Covi�n, David, et al. �Intestinal Short Chain Fatty Acids and Their Link with Diet and Human Health.� Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 17 Feb. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4756104/.
Team, DFH. �Arabinogalactan � Immune Function Enhancer.� Designs for Health, 1 Oct. 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1117.
Team, UNCCH. �Only 12 Percent of American Adults Are Metabolically Healthy, Carolina Study Finds: UNC-Chapel Hill.� The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 29 Nov. 2018, www.unc.edu/posts/2018/11/28/only-12-percent-of-american-adults-are-metabolically-healthy-carolina-study-finds/.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
Stomach pain, burning, or aching 1-4 hours after eating?
Aches, pains, and swelling throughout the body?
Greasy or high-fat foods cause distress?
Inflammation in the intestinal lining of your stomach?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then you might be experiencing the leaky gut syndrome. How about trying spore-based probiotics to dampen the effects of leaky gut.
Spore-Based Probiotics
The human body has many functions as there has been researched on how probiotics can help gut flora. With the usage of spore-based probiotics, what they are, and how they function with the GI (gastrointestinal) tract. The research shows how spore-based probiotics are more functional than the commonly used LAB (lactic acid bacteria) probiotic supplements and how spore-based probiotics may benefit and support the digestive system to make sure that it is functioning correctly. Anyone using spore-based probiotics will realize that it can aid the overall digestion and help promote the body to have a daily bowel regularity and function.
Spore Probiotics Help Support LAB
Many shelf-stable, spore-forming bacteria can help and improve the survival of LAB probiotic supplements. These spore probiotics can help with leaky gut symptoms that have affected the gut system as well as reducing the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria that are within the intestines, which can often be the root cause for GI distress and digestive pathologies. The spore-based probiotics are known as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus clausii are some of the spore probiotics that can help the gut system and dampen the harsh symptoms that can do more harm than good.
The spore Bacillus subtilis is a spore-based, non-pathogenic probiotic that has been recently gaining interest in many research studies and, surprisingly, in new supplement formulas. Studies have shown that Bacillus subtilis can withstand the harsh conditions of the GI tract, unlike Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli, which both of these species are lactic acids and both of their effects have mixed results in scientific studies. Bacillus subtilis, it can help produce an extracellular matrix that can protect itself from stressful environments that it encounters. Studies have shown that when Bacillus subtilis and lactic acid bacteria are being cultivated together while also increasing the survivability and are considered to be a novel delivery technique.
There are even some more research studies showing that when LAB supplements are being co-administered with spore-based probiotics. The biodiversity of the microbiome increases as more probiotics are being delivered to the intestines, so that way the bacteria can propagate robustly so the gut system can function correctly.
Leaky Gut Syndrome and Spore-Based Probiotics
With spore-based probiotics, they can be part of dietary endotoxemia and can be correlated with a variety of preventable conditions that are chronic and non-communicable. These conditions can be anything from type 2 diabetes to chronic pain in the body. Researchers have found that with there are levels of endotoxins in the blood, they are classified as either leaky gut syndrome or intestinal permeability. These two conditions are similar since they affect the gut, due to the endothelial lining from the intestines and through years and years of eating poorly. The endothelial lining is a single thick cell layer that lines in the intestines. When someone eats poorly, it can cause a highly inflammatory response, and the mucosal lining will create gaps allowing endotoxins, allergens, bacterial pathogens to escape and travel through the bloodstream, thus resulting in endotoxemia.
A research study from the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology stated that healthy subjects were identified as having dietary endotoxemia. When this happens, there is an elevated level of endotoxins in the blood after consuming very high fat and high sugar meal that is highly common in Western society. What the study found was that participants received either rice flour or a multi-spore supplement for thirty days, while maintaining their regular diets and lifestyle. The results showed that participants that took the multi-spore supplements had a 42% decrease in post-prandial endotoxins and a significant reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. So by adding spore-based probiotics supplements orally, it can provide anyone an excellent adjunct to a healthy diet and lifestyle by reducing leaky gut syndromes in the body.
Spore-Based Probiotics Can Protect Against Pathogenic Bacteria
The beneficial properties from the Bacillus spores can produce a variety of antimicrobial and antifungal lipopeptides to help the body find the balance for the internal bacterial that’s inside the body. When spore-based probiotics help find a microbial balance in the gut, it can help reduce or even prevent an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria that is in the small intestines that have been affected by SIBO. What is surprising is that spore-based probiotics are aggressively competitive than lactic acid bacteria. With spore-based probiotics being aggressively competitive, they can help keep foreign invaders at bay, while also giving the host a better opportunity to return to a homeostasis state more quickly. Studies from Cornell University have determined that Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus clausii spores can have intrinsic antibiotic-resistant genes as well as having non-toxin-producing genes to inhibit the cytotoxic effects of bacterial toxins that are in the body. Another study showed that Bacillus subtilis could maintain a favorable balance of the microflora in the GI tract effectively. Bacillus subtilis are helping the gut by producing beneficial properties and even producing a protective extracellular matrix to protect the good bacteria that is in the gut.
Conclusion
By providing the gut probiotics, especially spore-based probiotics can help dampen the effects of leaky gut syndrome and inflammation that can cause discomfort in the gut system. By consuming spore-based probiotics, the gut can benefit these probiotics since the spore probiotics can aggressively attack the bacterial pathogens that harm the gut. Spore-based probiotics can help the gut create good bacteria in the gut flora and even prevent the effects of the leaky gut so the body can be functional, including the gut. Some products, when combined with spore-based probiotics, can offer support to the gastrointestinal system while also providing metabolic support for the body.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Cuentas, Ana Maria, et al. �The Effect of Bacillus Subtilis DE111 on the Daily Bowel Movement Profile for People with Occasional Gastrointestinal Irregularity.� Department of Science and Technology, Deerland Enzymes, Cobb International Blvd, 10 Nov. 2017.
Elshaghabee, Fouad M.F., et al. �Bacillus As Potential Probiotics: Status, Concerns, and Future Perspectives.� Frontiers, Frontiers, 24 July 2017, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01490/full#h5.
Elshaghabee, Fouad M F, et al. �Bacillus As Potential Probiotics: Status, Concerns, and Future Perspectives.� Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 10 Aug. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5554123/.
Khatri, Indu, et al. �Composite Genome Sequence of Bacillus Clausii, a Probiotic Commercially Available as Enterogermina �, and Insights into Its Probiotic Properties.” BMC Microbiology, BioMed Central, 1 Jan. 1989, bmcmicrobiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12866-019-1680-7.
Kimelman, Hadar, and Moshe Shemesh. �Probiotic Bifunctionality of Bacillus Subtilis-Rescuing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Desiccation and Antagonizing Pathogenic Staphylococcus Aureus.� Microorganisms, MDPI, 29 Sept. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6843919/.
Knight, Chinyere A., et al. �The First Report of Antifungal Lipopeptide Production by a Bacillus Subtilis Subsp. Inaquosorum Strain.� Microbiological Research, Urban & Fischer, 2 Aug. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944501318304609.
Kov�cs, �kos T. �Bacillus Subtilis.� DTU Research Database, Elsevier, 1 Jan. 1970, orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/bacillus-subtilis.
McFarlin, Brian K, et al. �Oral Spore-Based Probiotic Supplementation Was Associated with Reduced Incidence of Post-Prandial Dietary Endotoxin, Triglycerides, and Disease Risk Biomarkers.� World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology, Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 15 Aug. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561432/.
Team, DFH. �Balance Bacteria with Spore-Based Probiotics.� Designs for Health, 4 Feb. 2020, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1196.
Yahav, Sagit, et al. �Encapsulation of Beneficial Probiotic Bacteria in Extracellular Matrix from Biofilm-Forming Bacillus Subtilis.� Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29806505.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
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