The immune system is on everyone’s mind these days. All of us are hoping that ours and the immune systems of those we love are strong. But where does immunity really come from? Why the gut, of course.
Eighty percent of our immunity lives in and around the gastrointestinal tract, which means immune health is intimately connected to gut health. Several aspects of digestive function affect our immune system:
First, can we properly break down and absorb the food we eat? If we can’t, it doesn’t matter how high the quality of our food is. If we can’t digest and absorb it, we won’t get the full benefit no matter how nutrient-dense it is. Period.
Three digestive secretions – gastric juices in the stomach, pancreatic enzymes and bile in the small intestine – are essential to overall gastrointestinal wellness and when there is an issue with one, two, or all three of these secretions, we can’t properly digest, break down, and absorb the nutrients from our diet.
Lack of digestive secretions leads to food particles that are not properly broken down into microscopically-sized particles, which are abrasive to the gut lining. This leads to leaky gut, otherwise known as intestinal permeability, where these inappropriately-sized large molecules of food make their way through the tight junctions of the small intestine lining. This challenges our immune system, as it must determine whether these big molecules are friend or foe. If the food is determined to be an invader, an inflammatory cascade occurs as our immune system goes to battle against what would otherwise have been an innocuous bit of lunch.
Adding to this digestive chaos are pro-inflammatory foods like sugar and gluten, along with preservatives and chemicals in processed foods that further confuse and imbalance the gut.
Once this cycle of inflammation and immune up-regulation gets going, inflammatory cytokines are released into general circulation and can activate inflammatory immune cells in the brain, joints, blood vessels, heart and other tissues. This downward spiral can lead to, at best, a depressed immune system, and, at worst, autoimmunity.
It is for this reason that we always say that digestion is the body’s highest healing priority. The biggest problem of all is that there is no way to determine exactly what’s going on without objective testing.
That’s where the tools we teach in Mastering the Art and Science of Gastrointestinal Healing can give you answers. This course is designed to help you determine exactly where the dysfunction is occurring, which foods are creating an inflammatory cascade, and teach you how to create digestive homeostasis and boost overall immunity.
Our clients need your help more now than ever before. The deadline for signing up for this 12-week certification course is Friday, April 10th at 9pm PT / Midnight ET. Register now!
To your health and success,
~ Anne
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FAQ
The following frequently asked questions expand on the key clinical concepts discussed in this article and provide additional context for practitioners seeking to better understand the relationship between gut function and immune health.
What is the relationship between gut health and the immune system?
The gut and immune system are closely connected because approximately 80% of immune function resides in and around the gastrointestinal tract. Healthy digestion supports proper nutrient absorption and helps maintain balanced immune responses. When digestive function is impaired, immune regulation may also be affected.
Why is digestion considered the body’s highest healing priority?
Digestion is considered the body’s highest healing priority because every body system depends on nutrients being properly broken down and absorbed. Even a nutrient-dense diet cannot fully support health if digestion is compromised. Supporting digestive function provides the foundation for overall wellness.
How does poor digestion affect immune function?
Poor digestion can contribute to immune dysfunction by limiting nutrient absorption and increasing stress on the intestinal lining. When food is not adequately broken down, larger food particles can challenge normal immune regulation and contribute to inflammation.
Which digestive secretions are essential for proper digestion?
Three major digestive secretions are essential for breaking down food effectively:
- Gastric juices produced in the stomach
- Pancreatic enzymes released into the small intestine
- Bile released into the small intestine
When one or more of these secretions are insufficient, digestion and nutrient absorption may be impaired.
How can inadequate digestive secretions contribute to intestinal permeability?
Inadequate digestive secretions may leave food insufficiently broken down before it reaches the small intestine. According to the article, these larger food particles can irritate the intestinal lining and contribute to intestinal permeability, also referred to as leaky gut.
What is leaky gut, or intestinal permeability?
Leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability, describes a situation in which larger molecules pass through the tight junctions of the small intestine. This exposes the immune system to substances it would not normally encounter and may trigger inflammatory immune responses.
Why do improperly digested food particles trigger an immune response?
Improperly digested food particles may challenge the immune system because they are larger than expected when they cross the intestinal barrier. The immune system must determine whether these particles are harmless or potentially harmful, which can initiate an inflammatory response.
Which foods may contribute to digestive inflammation according to this article?
According to the article, several dietary factors may contribute to digestive inflammation, including:
- Sugar
- Gluten
- Preservatives
- Chemicals commonly found in processed foods
The article explains that these foods may further disrupt gut balance and contribute to ongoing inflammation.
How can gut inflammation affect other areas of the body?
The article explains that inflammatory cytokines released during ongoing gut inflammation may circulate throughout the body. These immune signals can activate inflammatory cells in tissues such as the brain, joints, blood vessels, heart, and other organs.
How can chronic gut inflammation influence immune health?
According to the article, persistent inflammation originating in the gut may contribute to ongoing immune activation. Over time, this inflammatory cycle may depress normal immune function and, in more advanced situations, contribute to autoimmunity.
Why is objective testing important when evaluating digestive dysfunction?
Objective testing is important because symptoms alone cannot determine where digestive dysfunction is occurring. The article emphasizes that testing helps identify the specific areas of dysfunction and the foods that may be contributing to inflammatory responses.
How can practitioners identify the source of digestive dysfunction?
The article states that identifying digestive dysfunction requires objective testing rather than guesswork. It describes using clinical tools to determine where dysfunction is occurring, identify foods contributing to inflammatory cascades, and support restoration of digestive homeostasis.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Fischer Silva’s journey in the field of functional nutrition over the last 23 years began in a functional medicine practice, where she learned the power of objective testing. From there she opened her own business, A New Leaf Nutrition, where she built a wait-list distance practice. Anne has taught nutrition courses in Washington, Hawaii, and California, and hosted a radio show, “Health-Wise”, for 3 years. She helped develop the original curriculum for the Nutritional Therapy Association, was a lead instructor with NTA for 8 years, and she continues to lecture nationally on a variety of health topics. Anne founded the Institute of Restorative Health in 2013 with the sole purpose of training other nutrition professionals how to address complex issues with their clients and achieve the same stellar results she gets in her practice.
The core principles Anne built the Institute of Restorative Health upon are the importance of nutrient-dense foods and balancing biochemistry. From there, she looks for the deeper underlying issues by utilizing a variety of testing techniques and customized healing methods to restore optimal function and health.
Anne received her certification in functional nutrition from Advanced Integrated Medical Institute in Washington, DC in 2000 and she is a Master Restorative Health Practitioner and Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.
*In 2022, Anne decided to pursue new and different aspects of holistic wellness and left the Institute of Restorative Health in the hands of her dear friend and business partner, Margaret Floyd Barry.
