Gut Health

Dr t N A Bayat

Anatomy
The gut is made up of the
1)Oral cavity

Age related changes:
Soreness
Ill-fitting dentures
Vitamin deficiency
Reduced salivary secretions
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
Cancer
Candida/thrush
Mouth sores

2) Oesophagus

AGC:

Oesophageal dysphagia
Spasm
Tumors
Strictures
Odynophagia
GERD
Barretts disease
Esophagitis
Malignancy

3) Stomach

AGC:
Gastric atrophy
Decreased gastric acid secretion
Decreased pepsin (required to breakdown protein)
Decreased mucus production and mucosa prostaglandin levels
Reduced gastric emptying
Reduced blood supply due to atherosclerosis
Peptic ulcer disease due to NSAID use
H. Pylori

4) Small Intestine

AGC:

Pancreatic insufficiency
Cholestasis
Parasitic infections
Whipple disease
Coelic disease
Crohns disease
SIBO
Diarrhoea
Mesenteric ischemia

5) Large Intestine

AGC:

Constipation due to
Inactivity
Poor hydration
Depression medication

IBS
Diverticular disease
Colorectal cancer

Diseases

Apart from the diseases that present within each portion of the GIT, other disease such as
Vit B12 deficiency
Vit B12 excess
Anemia
Low immune system
Autoimmune diseases
Metabolic disease
Malnutrition
Can manifest due to the GIT being in an unbalanced, bacterial overgrowth state.

Absorption and breakdown

The stomach is responsible for only 10% of nutrient absorption
It can absorb simple sugars, amino acids and some fat soluble substances. Water is easily absorbed from the gastric mucosa into the blood.

The small intestine, which has a surface area of around 4500 square meters is responsible for 90% of nutrient absorption. The surface is covered by tiny hair like projections called microvilli., which enlarge the surface area by upto 25 x. These microvilli secrete disaccharides and peptidase enzymes, which then form monosacharides and amino acids through a process of hydrolysing of disaccharides and polypeptides.
Most proteins are absorbed as amino acids. Adults absorb 95% of Lipids found in the SI. Vit B12 combines with IF and is absorbed in the ileum.

Gut Health and disease factors
Ensuring clean eating habits will promote a natural immune acceleration. By restoring the gut health which was destroyed to overuse of antibiotics, NSAIDS, depression meds and stimulants, the bodies natural defence and absorption rate is promoted.

Sorting out the Dysbiosis of the gut will reduce infections of the upper Respiratory Tract as well.

Most skins disorders are an end result of poor gut health.

Dysbiosis and Intestinal permeability has been observed as a result of chronic kidney disease.

Virus such as HPV, HBV, HCV have all be known to contribute to certain types of cancer. The role of microbiota in association with these viruses has been an avenue of constant research.

Dysbiosis of the gut has also played a huge role in contributing to Parkinson, Alzheimer’s and the Autism spectrum.

Gut care through intervention

Probiotics

Elevates faecal acetic acid and n-butyric acid levels
Maintains and stabilizes gut microflora
Increases microflora after antibiotic therapy
Modulates systemic immunity and intestinal microbiota
Reduces colonic mucosal inflammation
Promotes normal intestinal flora
Regulates stool transit time
Enhances Immune function

Prebiotics

Promotes normal intestinal flora
Increases production of SCFAs (propionate, acetate)
Modulates the metabolome in the gastrointestinal tract and liver
Supports the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract
Improves intestinal barrier function
Carminative
Nervous system relaxant/ Anxiolytic
Antispasmodic
Antioxidant
Anti-inflammatory
Immunomodulatory
Antimicrobial
Antiviral

Gut cleansing

Antiparasitic
Relieves nausea
Relieves and reduces frequency of diarrhoea
TCM Action
Clears heat
Removes damp
Regulates Qi
Kills parasites

Analgesic & anti-diarrhoeal
Eliminates bacterial overgrowth/dysbiotic flora (non-symbiotic)
Regulates stool transit time
Carminative
Regulates intestinal smooth muscle contraction
May regulate chloride ion flux
Clears upper-respiratory tract congestion
Protective against peptic ulcer formation
Gastroprotective against ethanol and stress-induced gastric lesions
Mild sedative
TCM Action
Regulates Qi, strengthens the spleen, soothes the liver

Antimicrobial
Antifungal
Reduces mold toxins/ mycotoxins
Antiviral
Inhibits biofilm formation

Contributory factors to poor Gut health

Poor diet
Poor eating habits
Habitual use of Alcohol
NSAIDS
Antibiotics
Pain blockers

For a tailor made prescription please contact COHE
083 556 6685

Dr t N A Bayat
Practitioner of Traditional Islamic and Chinese medicine