Healthy Gut Post #1
Our gut is a portal of the outside world that exists within our body. It starts in the mouth travels to the esophagus then into the intestines and finally exits at the rectum.
We take in food and liquids from outside our body and then by a mixture of mechanical and chemical actions break this down and absorb all the nutrients a person needs and then remove the remainder as waste.
Amazingly, primarily, the absorption takes place in the small intestine which is only one cell layer deep. A healthy gut has a sophisticated two-way communication with the brain occurring via hormones and nerves. It has a robust immune system, healthy bacteria (flora) and prevents infections by inactivating viruses, fungi, and bacteria, also it is able to neutralize some toxins.
An unhealthy gut happens when the intestinal layer is damaged allowing things that do not belong to enter our blood stream. This is aptly named Leaky Gut. In the ensuing posts we will talk about the signs and causes of leaky gut and how to repair the gut.
