31 Interesting Facts About Your GI Tract

Comments: 0 | April 9th, 2019

By Debbie Janak, R.N., FNP-C

Information about our wonderful microbiome is exploding with current research.  As far back as Hippocrates, he said, “All diseases begin in the gut.” So I am sharing with you interesting gastrointestinal (GI), aka gut, health facts.

1. Our microbiome is as unique to all of us as is our fingerprint.
2. 2/3 to ¾ of the human immune system begins in the gut.
3. Human cells do not produce gas, but the bugs in our gut do.
4. 10% of our cells are human.
5. 50% of our cells are microbial.
6. Microbial DNA outnumbers human DNA 150:1.
7. 3-6 pounds of microbes live on our skin surfaces. Ladies don’t think about losing the microbes to move the scale, they are important.
8. So, who hosts who? Another way to look at it, so you think you are human? The microflora in your gut outnumbers your human cells by a factor of 10:1.
9. Constipation is a magnesium deficiency, not a laxative deficiency.
10. American are overfed and undernourished because of poor diet and lack of supplements.
11. Mastication, or chewing food, is the first line defense against “bad” food. Slow down, don’t gulp your food and enjoy your meals.
12. Most people with bloating or belching after a meal have a hydrochloric acid (HCl) deficiency, not an antacid deficiency.
13. The body puts a lot of energy into making HCl, which means it has to be important.
14. Our body makes Lipase to break down fat, Protease to break down proteins and Amylase to break down carbohydrates. We have nothing to break down cellulose, so humans are not part termite.
15. Leaky gut is associated with all autoimmune diseases.
16. There are many natural things to heal a leaky gut, just ask us.
17. The majority of information in the body flows from the gut to the brain, not the other way.
18. Our microbiome changes over our lifetime. The young and elderly need the most protection, but we all need help.
19. The more antibiotics a young child has, the greater the risk of inflammatory bowel disease later in life.
20. The first 4 years of life set up immunity for life.
21. Give babies probiotics for the first 3 months of life.
22. Change up the type or brand of probiotic every 2-3 months.
23. Probiotics do not recolonize the colon, but boost the good bacteria balance.
24. Stop taking probiotics and the benefit is lost within a few days.
25. The mouth and gut have different microbes; the colon is the site of action.
26. In the future, we will take a specific type of probiotic for healing – very exciting!
27. There are dead and live probiotics. Even dead probiotics will modulate the immune system.
28. Look to diet first to support and modify your microbiome.
29. “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” -Ann Wigmore
30. Your microbiome drives your eating patterns and metabolism.
31. There is new research on the horizon looking at obesity, types of microbes and which type of probiotic will turn the situation around in favor of the human vs. microbes – very exciting news for those that struggle with weight.

NEED HELP GETTING YOUR HEALTH BACK ON TRACK?

At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, we can guide you on a healthy, yeast-free eating program that highly benefits your GI tract and helps eliminate any negative symptoms related to yeast.

Besides healthy nutrition, optimal hormone levels are crucial for good health.  Are you experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, unexplained weight gain, trouble sleeping, and just don’t feel like your old self?  Take our symptom checker to help identify what could be the underlying cause. Don’t wait – it’s time to get your life back and feel your best!