{"id":796,"date":"2020-06-18T19:34:28","date_gmt":"2020-06-18T19:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erinkirwin.com\/?p=796"},"modified":"2020-06-18T19:44:39","modified_gmt":"2020-06-18T19:44:39","slug":"candida-sibo-and-leaky-gut-how-our-gut-health-intersects-with-our-physical-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erinkirwin.com\/?p=796","title":{"rendered":"Candida, SIBO, and Leaky Gut: How our gut health intersects with our physical & mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our intestinal microbiome, which is a living collection of bacteria and fungi, is intricately connected with all the other systems in our body. Gut flora is especially critical in the functioning of our digestion, immune system, and mental health. Even before we are born our microbiome starts forming, and research continues to demonstrate how our microbiome at birth impacts us well into adulthood. However, we have the power to influence our microbiome at any point in our lives.
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Wholism and the Microbiome<\/em>
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Wholism<\/em> is the idea that everything is interconnected, and to find a cure we need to look at the issue from a holistic perspective. Naturopathic Medicine explores the ways in which our health is impacted by internal and external environments. We consider how our microflora is affecting the functioning of the rest of our body. To stay healthy we need to be in\u00a0 harmony with nature on a daily basis, including the trillions of bacteria and yeast circulating in our gut. It\u2019s not hard to imagine how \u201capproximately 100 trillion microbes from over 1000 species and more than 7000 strains\u201d residing in the gut have an important role to play in our health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Those microbes directly affect every aspect of our health and wellbeing. As we will discuss below, if we don\u2019t have enough beneficial bacteria to support us, our immune system, digestion, and mental state become compromised. An imbalanced gut can lead to allergies, autoimmune disorders, and mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
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All disease begins in the gut <\/em>
<\/p>Hippocrates<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

How does our Gut affect our health?<\/strong>
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Impacts our Immunity<\/em>
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The gut and the immune system work together to protect us from foreign invaders like harmful bacteria and viruses. They work hand in hand as healthy microbes promote a functioning immune response and the immune system promotes the growth of healthy bacteria. The bacteria in our gut plays a critical role in balancing immunity.
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According to this study<\/a>, 70-80% of our immune system is in the gut. Healthy microbes promote antibody and T-cell production, critical in activating our immune response. A change in our microbiome can lead to a weakened immune response and inflammation. 
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The microbiome also promotes the functioning of our T-helper cells, which are anti-inflammatory and help regulate our immune system, according to this study<\/a>.
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Gut-brain connection<\/em>
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The saying \u201cgo with your gut feeling\u201d doesn\u2019t come from nowhere. The gut is often called the \u201csecond brain\u201d because of the strong connection between the gut and our mental state. This \u201csecond brain\u201d is composed of the ENS (enteric nervous system), which is composed of 100 million nerve cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. The ENS controls digestion and releases signals between our gut and brain. 
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Research<\/a> has also shown the intertwined relationship between the gut and our emotions. Studies<\/a> reveal that 80-95% serotonin (the \u201chappy chemical\u201d) is produced in the gut. Norepinephrine, which aids in producing GABA (the \u201ccalm\u201d neurotransmitter) is produced in the gut as well. Normal production of these chemicals depends on short chain fatty acid production by healthy microbiota.
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Perhaps even more impactful on mental health is neuroinflammation, much of which is triggered imbalances in our gut flora. The blood-brain barrier is compromised by dysbiosis, or\u00a0 dysfunctional flora, as well. In turn, this excess permeability in the BBB allows the inflammatory messengers access to neurons and glial cells. Probiotic supplementation reverses this microglial activation and can have a positive effect on most neurodegenerative and mood disorders.
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How do you know if you have an imbalance in your gut?<\/strong>
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Since the gut is so intertwined with both our immune system and our brain, there are many signs our gut is out of balance. 
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Here are some common symptoms of a microbial imbalance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n