Digestion is a vital part of life. The digestive system includes the sophisticated process in which the food that you eat is broken down into substances that can be used in the body. That is, if it’s functioning the way it’s supposed to. Today, environmental and lifestyle changes over the past century have brought on a host of digestive issues that seem to increase as we age. The good news is,  most digestive symptoms can be improved or even resolved with the right knowledge and tools as outlined in Nature’s pHarmacy™. your guide to a happy belly – a place where your  microbiome and your metabolome area get along. The synergy between the right digestive dietary aides brings clarity and ultimate benefits.Meet the powerful trio of prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics and learn how they can have a positive effect on your digestive health. 

Microorganisms and Their Effect on Digestion

Healthy microorganisms live in the digestive tract and play a major role in supporting our bodies. There is a balance in the digestive tract between good and bad microorganisms that interact with each other to form a supportive environment that is vital for our general wellness.

A study conducted in 1908 by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Elie Metchnikoff of the Pasteur Institute in Paris provided the first evidence that microorganisms were linked to the health-promoting effects of fermented milks.

Metchnikoff studied Bulgarian farmers that lived to very old age and found that their long and healthy lives most likely were linked to microbes in the milk that they so frequently drank. In his book The Prolongation of Life, he proposed that bad bacteria that is causing illness could be destroyed by consuming large amounts of Bulgarian sour milk, which contained the beneficial bacteria later to be known as Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

Probiotics – For Life

The bacterial group that produces lactic acid are known as Lactobacillus. The study and therapeutic use of good bacteria to improve health is referred to as “probiotics” which translates to “for life.”

Probiotics are live bacteria that benefit your digestive system by regulating the gut microbiota and fighting harmful microorganisms. When there are sufficient good probiotic organisms in the gut, there is a much lower risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and there is reversal in those who are already suffering from IBD, ulcerative colitis or regional enteritis.¹ 

Several studies have shown that adequate amounts of healthy probiotics bind to and increase the metabolism of certain lipid or lipophilic substances, reduce certain toxicants that are secreted through the bile into the GI tract, and reduce the reuptake of cholesterol and fatty acid products. This can be linked to a significant reduction in serum cholesterol after just one month of daily consumption of adequate probiotic organisms.²

The Importance of Digestive Enzymes 

Probiotics also produce many important digestive enzymes that have an important role in breaking down food and making nutrients available. The enzyme lactase breaks down the sugar in dairy products and improves the absorption of lactose. The probiotic bacteria also facilitate the action of lactase in the gut, which helps improve overall digestion and decrease diarrhea.

It recommended that a healthy person take 40-100 billion probiotic organisms that are a blend of Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium, and Strep thermophilus each day. If you are traveling, stressed, or recovering from sickness, or if you have recently consumed antibiotics, the dose taken should be increased to twice your daily intake for several weeks or months. 

Side Effects of Antibiotics 

Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria and can have a significant impact on the bacteria in your gut. The digestive system depends on the good bacteria to break down nutrients for digestion and to decompose waste, so when they are depleted, diarrhea, gas, bloating and other digestive issues can occur. .The frequent use of antibiotics can also cause the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and yeast overgrowth. Yeast (Candida albicans) is often treated with probiotics. Overgrowth of pathogens and parasites are the result of medicines that impair digestion in many ways.

Fiber is Vital 

Fiber is a key component to having a healthy digestive system and has a positive impact on blood cholesterol levels. It helps to keep bowel movements regular and optimizes transit time (the time it takes for content in your gut to move all the way from consumption to elimination). The desired digestive transit time is 12-18 hours and is achieved by having a diet that is high in fiber – ideally 40-100 grams daily (80% soluble and 20% insoluble). In addition, Fiber absorbs nutrients, detoxifies toxins, and improves mental clarity. By incorporating a good amount of fiber into your diet you can also help the body lower the Hemoglobin A1c (Hgb A1c), glycemic index as well as your BMI.

Glutamine for Gut Health

Glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in the body, has a significant impact on digestion and the normal metabolic function of the intestines, and deficiency is often linked to conditions such as leaky gut syndrome and damaged mucosa. Glutamine has also been shown to maintain the integrity of the gut barrier structure and decrease intestinal cell wall damage,³and helps the kidneys to eliminate acids and control pH balance.⁴  

By taking a supplement that contains L-glutamine and Pyridoxal Alpha Ketoglutarate (PAK) you can both optimize your digestion, protect the lining of your stomach, recycle the glutamine so glutamate never builds up, and optimize pH balance.

Dr J wants you to use Nature’s pHarmacy to promote healthy digestion and protect yourself from digestive disorders.

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¹Campieri M , Gionchetti P. Probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease: New insight to pathogenesis or a possible therapeutic alternative? Gastroenterology 1999;116:1246-1249.

²Jackson KG, Taylor GR, Clohessy AM, Williams CM. The effect of the daily intake of inulin on fasting lipid, insulin and glucose concentrations in middle-aged men and women. Br J Nutr. 1999 Jul;82(1):23-30.

³Wu XQ, Shu LH, Sun M, Wang H, Gao H. [Effect of glutamine on apoptosis of the small intestine in young rats with endotoxemia and its mechanism][Article in Chinese]Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2006 Dec;8(6):496-498.

⁴Judy Shabert, MD, RD and Nancy Ehrlich. The Ultimate Nutrient Glutamine, The Essential Nonessential Amino Acid.

Further reading

• Jaffe R. Recognizing Gluten-Related Disorders: Comment in Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: The Evolving Spectrum by O’Bryan T, Ford R, Kupper C in Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients, 2^nd Ingrid Kohlstadt (Ed), CRC Press, 2012
• Jaffe, R. Diabetes as an Immune Dysfunction Syndrome in Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes. Edited by Ronald Ross Watson and Victor Preedy, Academic Press. San Diego, 2013:  41-52.
• Jaffe R. Functional Assessment in Gastrointestinal Health in Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions in Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease. Ronald Ross Watson & Victor Preedy (Eds), Academic Press, San Diego, 2013: 22-35.
• Jaffe R. The Alkaline Way in Digestive Health in Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions in Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease, Ronald Ross Watson & Victor Preedy (Eds), Academic Press, San Diego: 1-21.