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| G-I-Flora-Important-Digestion |
The gastrointestinal tract depends heavily upon the
bacterial flora for a number of important functions. The two primary bacteria,
at least from a metabolic standpoint, residing in the GI tract are the
lactobacilli, also known as acidophilus, and the bifidobacilli. The processes
these bacteria are involved in are digestion, detoxification, and
deconjugation. When a disruption occurs in the numbers of bacteria present or
in their function, this is referred to as "dysbiosis."
Digestion is the process whereby food products are broken
down into their smaller molecular weight components. The purpose of digestion
is to present to the intestine food products which are sufficiently small as to
be more easily absorbed. Since the GI flora plays a role in digestion, they
have an impact on absorption; meaning that, if digestion does not properly
occur, neither will absorption do. The result can mean that the food products
that are delivered to the intestine for absorption are larger than they should
be, so that the molecules being absorbed are larger, leading to the intestines
and the body recognizing the food molecules as foreign. This is one of the
scenarios of altered intestinal permeability, also known as the so-called
"leaky gut syndrome."
Detoxification is the process whereby the intestines break
down substances that are not needed by the body, and which, in some cases, can
be harmful, as in the case of pesticides and other chemicals. The end result of
detoxification would be elimination. As such, for proper detoxification and
elimination to occur, the presence of normal amounts of properly functioning
bacteria is essential.
Deconjugation is the process whereby certain substances are
metabolized and chemically modified in the GI tract, which are later
re-absorbed. A number of substances are handled by the GI tract in this manner,
including medications and estrogen. In the case of estrogen, a specialized
process, known as the enterohepatic circulation, occurs, which allows estrogen
to be recycled, in a sense.
The GI flora participates in this process in the
very important step of deconjugation. If this step does not occur, the
absorption of medication, estrogen, and other important substances cannot
properly occur.
Another important function of the GI flora is the production
of butyric acid. Butyric acid is the substance used by the colon as its primary
energy source. This would make butyric acid essential for proper function of
the colon. As it happens, the GI flora produce butyric acid from undigested, or
insoluble, fiber that reaches the colon.
As such, a source of fiber is important
in order for the bacterial flora to participate in this step so very important
to the colon. It is important that this fiber be insoluble fiber, and is better
obtained from the diet from vegetables and legumes than from grains.
The mere presence of these bacteria in the GI tract is not
enough. They must also be provided the nutrients and other substances they
require for their own sustenance and function. The preferred fuel for the GI
flora is a class of chemicals known as the fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which
must be provided if the GI flora is to thrive. Supplements of FOS can be taken,
and they are also found in the following foods:
Onion, asparagus, rye, bananas, and other less well-known
foods to include burdock root, Jerusalem artichoke, and Chinese chive.
The term "dysbiosis" is used to refer to an
alteration in the numbers or function of the gastrointestinal flora. Such an
alteration can lead to changes in digestion, absorption, detoxification, and
elimination, the results of which can lead to changes in our health. Not only
can illness result from improper digestion and absorption, but the imbalance of
bacteria itself can result in the overproduction of chemicals by the altered
bacterial flora, giving rise to toxic and metabolic disturbances from these
chemicals.
The direct cause of an imbalance if GI flora is not always known,
but it is felt to occur is a variety of circumstances, including antibiotic
use, stress, improper diet, improper GI motility, and a number of medical and
surgical conditions.
It is for this reason that, if an alteration in GI flora has
occurred, it must be corrected, and, once it is corrected, it must be
maintained.
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