Leaky Gut Syndrome & Dysbiosis

The healthy gut contains approximately 400 varieties of micro-organisms which contribute to digestion, immunity, and other functions. There are about 3 pounds of these organisms in the healthy gut and they outnumber all the cells of the body. Some of these organisms are beneficial and others are harmful. It is crucial to have a proper balance between these species. An imbalance is called dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis can be caused by antibiotics, candida yeast and parasites, steroid medication, cancer therapies, chronic stress (abnormal cortisol), toxic overload and environmental contaminants, and poor food choice s such as a diet low in fiber, high in processed foods, and high in sugar.

Alterations in the bowel flora and its activities are now believed to be contributing factors in many chronic and degenerative diseases. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and AS, have all been linked to alterations in the microflora. The intestinal dysbiosis hypothesis suggests a number of factors associated with modern western living have a detrimental impact on the GI tract. Factors such as antibiotics, physical and psychological stress, and dietary components have been found to contribute to intestinal dysbiosis. If these factors can be eliminated or at least attenuated then treatment aimed at manipulating the microflora may be successful.

We are finding many microbes that don’t belong in the digestive tract. These microbes often form chemicals that are poisonous to the cells around them and to the person they live in. A wide variety of substances are produced by harmful bacteria, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and others. These substances produced by the bacteria may hurt the intestinal lining directly by damaging the borders and become absorbed into the blood stream causing system wide effects. They cause chronic problems which go undiagnosed and becoming deep seated in a great majority of cases. Chronic dysbiosis can lead to an irritation of the lining of the gut. This is called Leaky Gut Syndrome and can include diarrhea and constipation, joint pain and swelling, chronic or frequent periods of fatigue, food allergies or sensitivities, sinus or nasal congestion, chronic or frequent inflammations throughout the body, eczema, skin rashes, hives, asthma, mental confusion, poor memory, mood swings, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease. Published research has listed dysbiosis as contributing cause in the following disorders: rheumatoid arthritis & all autoimmune illnesses, B12 deficiency, chronic fatigue, cystic acne, early stages of colon and breast cancer, eczema, food allergies, food sensitivities, IBD (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), IBS, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and fatty stools.

With a simple Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis we can ascertain exactly what is going on in your digestive tract. This will determine the levels of your bowel flora and whether leaky gut is causing any of your health problems. From there a personalized diet and nutrition program can be implemented to get you back on the road to vibrant health.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.
Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Manage Your Stress, Increase Your Longevity

Two issues back I wrote about the root cause of most illness and disease being the effects of chronic stress and the dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. Last issue focused on the effects of an excess of cortisol, which is a hormone produced in response to stress. Continuing in that vein the latest research to be reported is the scientific finding of how stress decreases our lifespan. In this study scientists determined that chronic stress, and the perception of life stress had a significant impact on three biological factors; the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase, and levels of oxidative stress in immune system cells in healthy premenopausal women.

Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes in our DNA and promote genetic stability. Each time a cell divides, a portion of telomeric DNA dwindles away, and after many rounds of cell division, so much telomeric DNA has diminished that the aged cell stops dividing. Thus, telomeres play a critical role in determining the number of times a cell divides, its health, and its life span. These factors, in turn, affect the health of the tissues that cells form. Telomerase is an enzyme that replenishes a portion of telomeres with each round of cell division, and protects telomeres. Oxidative stress, which causes DNA damage, has been shown to hasten the shortening of telomeres in cell culture. The telomeres of subjects with the highest perceived psychological stress had undergone the equivalent of approximately 10 years of additional aging, compared with those who had the lowest perception of being stressed. The highest-stress group also had significantly decreased telomerase activity and higher oxidative stress than the lowest-stress group.

This is a landmark study in that it clearly demonstrates scientifically what has always been perceived; stress can affect your health and shorten your life. Even positive events such as marriage, the birth of a child, or the purchase of a new home can cause stress. Some stress is good and even necessary to maintain good health. Unfortunately as a society we have way too much stress from various sources and it is literally burning out our DNA and shortening our lifespan. We have very important choices to make. We can continue to eat too much, sleep too little, get no exercise and continually “burn the candle at both ends”. Or we can make a decision to sit down with someone and discuss methods that will help to modify stressful habits. More importantly we can learn to manage stress that is unavoidable. Give your body and brain a chance to experience vibrant health. It can be done with a firm commitment to some simple changes.

My office offers lab tests that can determine your levels of stress hormones, your degree of oxidative stress and damage, and even a profile to determine your genetic predisposition to oxidative stress. These tests are simple and relatively inexpensive. In addition to a consult and exam, they provide a clear window into your function. Effective treatment is dependant upon the proper diagnosis.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.
Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.