The intestinal barrier plays a critical role human health and disease. It allows for the absorption of nutrients from the food we eat, while at the same time, it protects against the entry of allergens, as well as bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Essentially, it plays the role of a gatekeeper. When this barrier malfunctions, it can cause allergies and autoimmune disorders. This is a condition we call “leaky gut.” But how do you know if you have it? Read on to find out.
Posts with Category:
Digestion
Still Think Gluten Sensitivity Isn’t Real?
Catchy media headlines often poke fun at gluten sensitivity, and a considerable percentage of the population, including many doctors, still do not believe that non-celiac gluten sensitivity is real. Yet many people without celiac disease feel better with a gluten-free diet. A recent study may have settled the debate once and for all.
The Hologenome: How Our Relationship With Microbes Drives Our Evolution
Is the secret to human intelligence lurking in our guts? Recent studies suggest that it might. Together, your genes and the genes of your microbes make up the “hologenome,” a single entity that is molded and shaped by our environment. Read on to learn how microbes impact our evolutionary fitness and how they may have made our species what it is today.
RHR: Is a Disrupted Gut Microbiome at the Root of Modern Disease?—with Dr. Justin Sonnenburg
Dr. Justin Sonnenburg makes a powerful argument for viewing our microbiota as the control center for human biology—that our microbiota are not just impacting digestion and absorption, but having systemic impacts on our immune system, our metabolism, and our brain chemistry. We discuss the latest research on the microbiome, the strong connection between low microbiome diversity and modern Western diseases, and how people can support their own microbiome health.
Got Allergies? Your Microbes Could Be Responsible
Every mucosal surface on your body is colonized by a distinct group of microbes, including your gut, lungs, and nasal passages. Far from causing harm, these microbes “teach” your immune system to tolerate dietary proteins and other harmless allergens in the environment. Read on to learn how disruption of your resident microbes might be associated with your allergies, and learn what steps you can take to alleviate your worst symptoms.
RHR: Fecal Microbiota Transplants — An Update with Glenn Taylor
In this follow-up interview with Glenn Taylor of the Taymount Clinic in the U.K., we discuss the latest developments in fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). Is FMT a panacea? Does everybody get better and live happily ever after? Or are there some people who respond better than others? Or some conditions that respond better than others?
