America, We’ve Gut A Problem! – (But There is a Remedy) (Part 3 of 4)
“What are they doing to our foods?” my mother used to ask. She got it from her mother asking the same question, back when they first started bleaching flour. I heard it so many times growing up that when it came time to do a science project in the sixth grade, I titled it, “What Are They Doing to Our Foods?”
But I think now the important question is, “What are our foods doing to us?”
I recently read that about two thirds of churches’ prayer lists are for health related issues.
The Problem:
Think of the immune system in our gut this way: there is an army of soldiers fighting disease. There’s good guys and bad guys. The good guys fight for your health by fighting bacteria, yeast and viruses—the bad guys. Kind of like good versus evil. Normally, the bad guys get overtaken by the good guys. That’s the way it’s suppose to work. But, a bunch of other bad guys have been dropped off, and they’re overtaking the good guys instead.
Who are these bad guys?
Pesticides
Herbicides
Synthetic fertilizers
Increased gluten
GMO’s
Food additives
Preservatives
Food dyes
Artificial and refined sugars
Tap water
Hormones
Overuse of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals
Aspirin and other NSAIDs
(To learn more about these toxins, see my two previous blogs below this one.)
The Result:
All these have created a toxic overload and bacterial and fungal imbalances in our gut. These substances create holes in our gut lining, which allow toxins into our bloodstream, called Leaky Gut Syndrome. These toxins create inflammation and an autoimmune response.
Inflammation causes problems anywhere in the body and is the basis of every disease and disorder. A weakened immune system can make a person more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases, cancer or multiple sclerosis.
Autoimmune diseases are among the fastest growing in our country, now more prevalent than cancer or heart disease. Symptoms may be:
Fatigue
Headache
Depression
Irritable bowel syndrome
Digestion issues
Weight gain
Skin problems
Muscle and joint pain
Impotence and fertility problems
Respiratory problems
Short attention span and hyperactivity
Toenail fungus
Fibromyalgia
Increased colon and other cancers
Furthermore, the gut has its own independent nervous system, called the enteric nervous system, and therefore has been called “the second brain.” The toxins associated with Leaky Gut Syndrome induce depression by killing the body’s own anti-depressants. They also negatively effect melatonin, which induces sleep, and estrogen, which results in hormone imbalances. Is it any wonder one in four women in our country are on an anti-depressant?
In addition, our modern day foods make our body too acidic resulting in yeast/candida/fungus overgrowth, which feeds cancer. Cancer cannot grow in an alkaline environment. (You can purchase litmus paper to test your pH levels at your local vitamin/health market).
As you can see, decreased beneficial gut bacteria leads to a plethora of ailments for which doctors have not been able to cure.
I recently heard Dr. Oz say, “People want their doctors to do their thinking for them.” Perhaps that’s true because people are too busy. Or perhaps we just want a quick fix. But many times it means pills to alleviate symptoms, which does nothing about the cause or healing. And too often they don’t alleviate symptoms, it’s just an exchange of symptoms because today’s doctors are taught more about pharmaceuticals than nutrition.
There is no quick fix, and there is no magic pill.
The Remedy:
This is why eating organic is so important to remedy or prevent the onset of these ailments. Some say it’s too expensive, but as something I recently saw said, “If you think wellness is expensive, try illness!”
Please see my next blog (above), 12 Tips to Afford Organic Foods, for helpful tips on beginning an organic diet.
In addition to organic foods, it is important to look into obtaining a good probiotic to help balance your gut flora (ask which ones are best at your local vitamin store or health market).
You may also try an elimination diet where you eliminate certain foods for a period of time and then reintroduce them one at a time to test which ones may be causing adverse reactions. You can learn more here https://draxe.com/elimination-diet/
Keeping a food diary is also helpful – keep track of what you eat daily and how you feel/symptoms you may have.
Another important remedy/preventative is to be informed about what we’re putting into our amazingly created bodies. That’s why I’ve provided links at the end of each of these blogs for more information. God provided wonderful medicines right in nature (for example, turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory).
My hope and prayer is that these blogs have been helpful and inspired you to do moreresearch and motivate you to switch to an organic, possibly gluten-free and/or dairy-free diet, especially if you or your loved ones are having any health issues.
I am a fellow struggler on this road with you, holding your hand and cheering you on every step of the way!
LINKS for further information:
Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Perlmutter About Gut Microbiome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFmlATSAkQw
Even if you don’t read this interesting article, there’s a cute cartoon video that will simplify and explain the gut microbiome on this link:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/06/modern-life-depletes-gut-microbes.aspx
Dr. Perlmutter on the Belly-Brain Connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClcENEEqn3A
Dr. Rostenberg Leaky Gut Leaky Brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Mg8WjsVoQ
Dr. Axe, 7 Foods for Healing Leaky Gut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVFA96t9G2I
Natural Cancer Cures and Why We Don’t Know About Them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g4FlTsbze0
Healed MS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc
Healing Herbs: http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/natural-remedies/25-healing-herbs-you-can-use-every-day/slide/3
Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist at MIT on ASD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3HyfoNa2Sw&nohtml5=False
Food Inc. Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRp71BwRW8c
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ve been blessed by doing so. If you would like to receive a notification when I post, just add your email where it says follow on the right. And as always, I’d love to hear your comments here and/or on social media.
Blessings and health to you, Penny