Download Digestive Health

Maintaining with MiracuLoss
Digestive Health
“All diseases begin in the gut”
Dr Natasha Campbell- McBride
Inflammatory Disease, Immune Health, Allergies, Digestive Complaints, Mental Health, Mal-absorption
of Nutrients, Hormone Imbalance, Cardiovascular Disease and Learning & Behaviour Problems are some
examples of illnesses that begin with compromised gut health.
• 70% of your immune system is controlled by cells in your gut (intestines) so if gut health is compromised
so is your immune system.
• Many essential vitamins and enzymes and are manufactured in a healthy digestive system.
• Absorption of essential micro and macro nutrients occurs within the digestive tract
• Compromised digestion leads to a host of escalating health problems
• Gut health problems often begin at birth and are made worse by diet and life style
The human body is like a planet inhabited by various micro-creatures which we can’t live without. Micro
organisms are prolific on our skin, eyes, lungs, excretory organs and in our digestive system. A healthy adult
has approx 1.5 – 2kg of gut bacteria. This is a highly organised micro-world. Certain species predominate
and control others.
Micro organisms
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Neutralise nitrates and other toxic substances by producing microbes
Inactivate histamine
Chelate heavy metals and other poisons
Absorb and inactivate many cancer causing substances and supress hyperplastic processes in the gut
(basis of all cancer formation)
If beneficial bacteria in the gut are damaged or not functioning well the “walls of the city” are not protected!
Without protection the gut wall is open to invasion.
“Beneficial gut flora provide 60%–70% of the
nourishment for cells lining the digestive tract”
An inflamed and damaged gut is unable to produce
enzymes that digest carbohydrates and fats.
Leaky Gut Syndrome
• When the intestinal lining has become too permeable and undigested foods metabolic wastes,
micro-organisms (especially yeasts and bacteria) enter the blood stream.
© MiracuLoss 2011
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Healthy Digestion (of milk and wheat products)
Stage 1
Milk and wheat proteins are split into peptides by digestive juices in the stomach. Some peptides have
morphine – like structures called caso-morphines and gluteo-morphines.
Stage 2
Peptides move to the small intestine, bathed in pancreatic juices
by enzymes on microvilli (peptidases)
 reach intestinal wall  broken down
When Gut Flora is Abnormal
• Stage 2 of digestion is missing
• Caso-morphines and gluteomorphines are absorbed directly into the blood stream unchanged and cause
problems with the brain function and immune system.
NB. Considerable research has been done on patients with autism, ADHD, psychosis, depression and auto immunity.
Healthy Gut Flora also assist digestion and absorption of all food and nutrients eg. Fibre, carbs, protein,
lactose, fats etc...
Abnormal Gut Flora = Multiple Nutritional Deficiencies.
The most common are:
Magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, calcium, manganese, sulphur, phosphorous, iron, potassium, sodium,
Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, A, D, Folic Acid, Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9, fatty acids, glutathione
and others...
Deficiencies affect normal functioning and development of the
brain and immune system as well as the rest of the body.
Health Problems Related to Poor Digestion
Immune problems
• Colds and flu
• Cancer
• Other infections
Inflammatory disease
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Arthritis
Gout/asthma
Cardiovascular
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue
Mental Health
• Depression, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, schizophrenia, dyspraxia, anxiety, epilepsy, etc...
Allergies / Intolerances / Food cravings
Digestive complaints
Abnormal weight gain
© MiracuLoss 2011
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What can damage gut flora ?
Antibiotics
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Damage/eliminate beneficial bacteria
Promote growth of bad bacteria
Allow bacteria normally found in the bowel to migrate to small intestine = IBS and other digestive problems
Weakens the gut wall
Alters protein structures in mucosa
Signals the immune system to attack the changed proteins = auto immune reaction
Stimulates growth of candida, staphylocci and clostridia by eliminating competitive micro organisms
Other medications including oral contraceptives
• Stimulate growth of harmful bacteria
• Suppress immune function
• Promote growth of unfriendly organisms
Diet
• Sugar and starchy foods especially grains, will increase candida and other fungi
• High fibre foods pre-dispose you to IBS, bowel cancer, nutritional deficiencies etc...
• Bottle feeding = poor development of healthy gut flora
Disease
• Infections – both bacterial and viral
Stress
• Can do permanent damage to beneficial flora
Other
• Excess physical exertion, pollution, alcoholism, toxic substances, old age, extreme climates
Digesting Carbohydrates
• All carbohydrates are made of tiny molecules called mono saccharides. The most common are glucose,
fructose and galactose.
• Mono saccharides easily penetrate the gut lining – they do not need digesting.
• Fruit and vegetables are abundant in glucose and fructose
• Honey is made up of fructose and glucose
• Soured milk i.e. yoghurt contains Galactose
• Mono sugars from fruit and vegetables are the easiest to digest.
• Some carbohydrates are made from double bonded sugars or disaccharides
• Sucrose = common table sugar
• Lactose = milk sugar
• Maltose = from digestion of starch
• Double sugars are hard for the enterocytes (cells on the villi) to breakdown.
• Sick enterocytes are unable to produce the enzymes needed to break disaccharides into mono saccharides,
and therefore they cannot be absorbed.
• They become a major food source for bad bacteria, viruses, candida and other fungi.
• They are converted to a river of toxic substances which further damage the gut wall and poison the whole body
© MiracuLoss 2011
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Digesting Starch – i.e. Grains, cereals and some root vegetables
• Starch us made from huge molecules with hundreds of mono sugars connected into long strands
with many branches.
• Starch is very hard to digest. Undigested starch becomes food for bad micro organisms
• A lengthy period without double or multi sugars allows the gut to heal
• Ripe fruit is the best option as it contains minimal starch
Digesting Proteins
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Stomach and pancreatic enzymes break proteins down into peptides (small chains of proteins – amino acids)
Peptidases break peptides down into single amino acids. (peptidases are enzymes on enterocytes brush border)
Sick enterocytes are unable to produce the wide range of peptidases needed.
Partially digested proteins leak through the damaged gut wall and cause problems e.g. Casein from milk
and gluten from grains.
• Proteins are very necessary for growth, development and repair
Digesting Fats
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Fats require bile to be absorbed
The gut lining is a mucous membrane
Much mucous is produced when gut flora is out of balance
Mucous prevents bile and other enzymes frim contacting food particles
Much fat goes undigested when gut flora is out of balance (inflammation of the gut)
Impaired absorption of fat leads to deficiencies in fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K
When starch and double bonded sugars are out of the diet for a long period, production of mucous normalises
and absorption of fats improves.
Do you suspect gut health problems?
Analyse your situation
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Immune problems
Inflammatory disease
Mental health issues
Fungal infections
Allergies/Food intolerances
Digestive complaints
Food cravings
Eliminate Problem Foods
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All processed foods
All starches especially grains, cereals and root veges
All sugars except small amounts of honey and ripe fruits
All beans, legumes, pulses
All dairy products except ghee for the first few weeks
Dairy products may be introduced in a very gradual way (1 tsp yoghurt with meal then wait 5 days).
Reactions to foods can take up to 5 days or more to develop.
Include plenty of...
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Bone broths and soups
Non starchy vegetables and some ripe fruit
Lacto fermented foods – sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, apple cider vinegar, natural yoghurt when allowed
Cooked meats, fish, chicken, eggs (boiled, stewed, poached are easiest to digest)
© MiracuLoss 2011
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Supplement as needed
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A good quality pro-biotic is essential
Cold pressed omega 3, 6, 9 oils
Minerals as required to correct deficiencies
L Glutamine and glutathione to heal the gut
Detoxification and Lifestyle changes
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Herbal teas to flush out toxins
Remove environment toxins where possible
Organic foods
Reduce stress
Minimise medication
Plenty of rest
It takes 1 – 2 years to heal and seal your gut, but it’s worth it!
Noticeable benefits
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Improves mental and physical health
More energy
Longevity
Easier weight maintenance
Wider range of food choices
Recommended Reading
Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride
Meals That Heal Inflammation by Julie Daniluk R.H.N
© MiracuLoss 2011
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