Page 29 - Summer2010

After many short courses of antibiotics In a human body, the absence of good bacte-
Stephanie took a long course for acne at the age of ria always results in pathogenic bacteria getting
sixteen. That is when she got pronounced diges- out of control, which makes the whole situation
tive problems: constipation, bloating, abdominal much worse. While under attack from pathogenic
pain and lactose intolerance, indicating that her flora, and without the care of beneficial bacteria,
gut flora was seriously compromised. the gut epithelium degenerates and becomes un-
From the age of fourteen Stephanie had been able to digest and absorb food properly, leading
taking the contraceptive pill. Contraceptives to malabsorption, nutritional deficiencies and
have a serious damaging effect on the composi- food intolerances. 19.21,25
tion of gut flora, leading to allergies and other Apart from keeping the gut wall in good
problems related to gut dysbiosis. 22,23 shape, the healthy gut flora populating this wall
are programmed to take an active part in the
MALNUTRITION very process of digestion and absorption, 19,21 so
Stephanie suffered from malnutrition all much so that the normal digestion and absorp-
her life despite the fact that her family always tion of food is probably impossible without
cooked fresh wholesome meals and Stephanie ate well-balanced gut flora. It has an ability to
well. She was always pale, very thin and small, disassemble proteins, ferment carbohydrates,
and could never put any weight on. This is not break down lipids and digest fiber. By-products
surprising considering the state of her gut right of bacterial activity in the gut are very important
from birth. The microbial layer on the absorptive in transporting minerals, vitamins, water, gases
surface of the GI tract not only protects it from in- and many other nutrients through the gut wall
vaders and toxins, but maintains its integrity. 20,21 into the bloodstream. Stephanie
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The epithelial cells, called enterocytes, which If the gut flora is damaged, the best foods also found
coat the villi, are the very cells that complete the and supplements in the world may not have a
digestive process and absorb the nutrients from good chance of being broken down and absorbed. that she
food. These cells only live a few days as the A good example is dietary fiber, which is one of became
24
cell turnover in the gut wall is very active. These the natural habitats for beneficial bacteria in the lactose
enterocytes are constantly born in the depth of gut. They feed on it, producing a whole host
25
the crypts. Then they slowly travel to the top of of good nutrition for the gut wall and the whole intolerant
the villi, doing their job of digestion and absorp- body; they engage it in absorbing toxins; they after the long
tion and getting more and more mature on the activate it to take part in water and electrolyte course of
way. As they reach the top of the villi, they get metabolism; and they help recycle bile acids and
shed off. This way the intestinal epithelium gets cholesterol, among many other functions. It is the antibiotics
constantly renewed to insure its ability to do its bacterial action on dietary fiber that allows it to prescribed for
work well. 24 fulfil all those good functions in the body. 20,21 her acne. And
Animal experiments involving sterilization And when these good bacteria are damaged and
of the gut found that when the beneficial bacteria are not able to “work” the fiber, dietary fiber itself indeed
living on the intestinal epithelium are removed, can become dangerous for the digestive system, lactose is one
this process of cell renewal gets completely out providing a good habitat for bad pathogenic of those
of order. The time of cell travel from crypts to bacteria and aggravating inflammation in the
10
the top of the villi becomes a few times longer, gut wall. This is when gastroenterologists have substances
which upsets the maturation process of these to recommend a low-fiber diet. Consequently, which most
19
absorptive cells and often turns them cancerous. dietary fiber alone without the beneficial bacteria of us would
The mitotic activity in the crypts gets signifi- present in the gut can end up not being all that
cantly suppressed, which means that far fewer good for us. not be able to
cells will be born there and decreased numbers Stephanie also found that she became lactose digest without
of them will be born healthy and able to do their intolerant after the long course of antibiotics well
job properly. The state of the cells themselves prescribed for her acne. And indeed lactose is
becomes abnormal. 9,25 That is what happens in one of those substances which most of us would functioning
a laboratory animal with a sterilized gut. not be able to digest without well functioning gut gut flora.

SUMMER 2010 Wise Traditions 29