It is estimated that about 80% of all of the body’s immune defenses—the white blood cells—are located in the intestinal tract. These white blood cells are like the bouncers at a club. Their job is to allow all of the good guys into the body—the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids, for example—and [...]
Leaky gut syndrome, also known as increased intestinal permeability syndrome, is associated with a variety of health problems including Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In this article, we look at what can cause your gut to be leaky. Generally, there are three basic categories of factors which can lead to a leaky gut. First are foods. I [...]
The gut microbiome represents the total population of microbes which reside in the intestine. The microbial makeup for each individual is as unique as an individual’s fingerprint. The Human Microbiome Project sponsored by the National Institute of Health was established to identify and characterize the microorganisms which are found in association with both healthy [...]
The 4 R’s protocol has been used successfully for years in functional medicine. It involves removing anything that is making you sick, replacing anything you are deficient in, re-inoculating the gut with probiotics and repairing any damage to the intestinal lining. The first of the 4 R’s involves removing any allergenic foods, chemical irritants, [...]