Did you know that there are more cells in your body that are not you, then cells that are you? What I mean is that there are trillions of bacterial, viral, yeast and other microbial cells that live in your body and they reside primarily in your gut. This amounts to more cells that are not you, compared to cells that make up the rest of your body. You have to take good care of your gut flora or it may become your worst enemy.

Good gut flora is essential to good health

1 – Beneficial bacteria provide enzymes which aid in digestion. As we age, the number of enzymes decrease, contributing to poor absorption of nutrients.

2 – Beneficial bacteria provide a protective barrier along the entire length of the digestive tract much like a thick layer of turf protecting top soil.

3 – Beneficial bacteria provide antibiotic and antiviral substances for protection. Lactic acid bacteria enhance GI and systemic immunity in humans by:

• Increasing B cells which recognize foreign substance.
• Increasing phagocytic activity which works to destroy foreign matter.
• Increasing IgA, IgG, IgM and Secretory IgA which boast antibody activity.
• Increasing gamma interferon which supports white blood cells to fight infections and disease.

4 – Lactic acid bacteria produce SCFA (short chain fatty acids) such as butyric acid and proprionic acid. Importantly, these organic acids lower the ph in the GI tract, making it more acidic which reduces the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

5 – Beneficial bacteria nourish the enterocytes (cells of the lining the digestive tract) and are the primary source of energy for these cells. It is estimated that the gut cells receive 60-70% of their energy from bacterial activity.

6 – Beneficial bacteria manufacture vitamins for us.

9- An imbalance in the microbiome in the gut may result in lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, allergies, asthma, or any number of other seemingly unrelated conditions.

Good gut flora is hard to come by

In this day and age, with all the toxins in our food, water and air, and the gut breaking lifestyles we have, many people suffer from an imbalance in their gut flora. Its no surprise so many people are sick with chronic conditions.

All diseases begin in the gut

A famous quote by Hippocrates so many years ago says it all.

A person with an unhealthy digestive tract (dysbiosis) will have trouble digesting certain foods. Of the three macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats), carbohydrates are actually the hardest to digest.

Carbohydrates are also the main food for the intestinal flora. When they are not digested properly, they stay in the intestines and become food for the pathogenic bacteria and yeast. These pathogens can then proliferate and overpower the numbers of beneficial bacteria and yeast in the gut.

Gut flora can become your worst enemy

When this happens, a vicious cycle begins.

Undigested carbohydrates  become food for pathogens, and these pathogens multiply and take a strong residence in the gut. These pathogens give off toxic acidic byproducts which can damage the delicate lining of the intestinal tract and cause symptoms such as, excess mucous (in an attempt by the goblet cells to protect the epithelium against toxins), excess gas, diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stools, etc.

Any damage to the lining of the digestive tract also causes a loss of the digestive enzymes that are embedded in the lining. Therefore, digestion is further compromised.

This can eventually develop into a disease process. If the carbohydrates are continuously eaten, it drives the cycle, and the symptoms as well as the intestinal damage gets worse and worse.

The 3 R’s: Remove, Repair, Restore

In my practice, I have used the concept of the 3 R’s with patients who have broken guts.

Remove

The first concept is to remove the offending foods. I have found that removing all grains is a great first step in this rehabilitative process. This takes away any interference to healing because it removes foods that are not being digested properly and that are left in the gut as food for the pathogens.

Remove the food the pathogens feed upon and you are one step closer to healing.

Repair

There are many steps on the road to repairing damage to the intestinal lining and the gut flora. Healing foods like bone broths and good fats from animals on pasture help in this process. I have written a lot about the good fats that have been much maligned by health officials, the USDA, American Heart Association and many other conventional associations.

Check my other posts for more information about butter, tallow, CLA, coconut oil and other good fats.

Restore

It is essential to restore the good microflora in the gut with supplemental probiotics as well as gradually introducing traditionally cultured foods such as yogurt, kefir and fermented vegetables.

The solution

A grain-free diet is an essential part of restoring the balance of the gut flora on your healing journey. The SCD or GAPS healing diets as well as the Paleo or Primal ancestral diets are examples of grain-free diets.

Get Started Today

Check out my new online class called go grain-free

In this 12-week class I share with you everything you need to know to get going. From the basics — learning how to make basic condiments and staples such as coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt, homemade mayonnaise, coconut butter and soaked nuts — to making fermented foods and bone broth — to breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

There will be an awesome snack class and dessert class where you will learn how to make healthy grain-free cookies and amazing dairy-free treats — I know it is very hard to find healthy substitutes for snacks and desserts — especially for children. In this class, I will share snacks and desserts that are healthy enough to eat as part of the meal!

What You Get in This Class

You’ll get lifetime access to 12 weeks of classes including:

• Over 80 video tutorials
• Over 150 recipes!
• You will automatically receive two bonus video/recipes when you register during this promotion!

Click here to see the full class schedule

Sign Up Now

You will have lifetime access! Once you are enrolled, you can go back again and again to the video lessons and recipes and learn at your own pace.

You can view these videos anytime and anywhere — in the comfort of your own home and in your pj’s if you care to! If you are not completely satisfied you may return the class for a full refund within 30 days — no questions asked. Click here for the refund policy.

Click here to register

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