But how exactly do gut health and inflammation relate? First of all, many people don’t fully understand what inflammation is and the role it plays in your body. “Inflammation equals detoxification. Whenever the body's environment is taken over by pathogens, solvents or toxins, it reacts in an "angry way,” i.e., inflammation,” says Caitlin Policastro, NP at the New York Center for Innovative Medicine, “Although many may think inflammation is a bad thing, it is quite the opposite. Inflammation is the body's way of letting you know there is something going on that should not be, and the body is trying very hard to normalize what is happening.” Inflammation becomes a problem, however, when the body cannot rid itself from infection, and inflammation remains in the body for a long period of time.
One of the main ways poor gut health and inflammation connect is that they can be caused by the same things. Both are often a product of a diet that is heavy in processed, greasy, and sugary foods--the body doesn’t recognize and process these as easily, and not only puts more pressure on the digestive tract, but also may recognize them as foreign substances that need to be fought.
“Unfortunately, in today's society, the quality of food has gone down immensely. This can be for many reasons, including chemical fertilizers (together with new “cheaper” varieties of crops), longer storage times, long-distance transport, food additives, and heavy metals that are added to speed up the production of food and beverages,” Policastro says, “This can change the composition of food that may be branded as healthy, but in actuality, it is not healthy at all.” Additionally, studies have shown that gut health can control the balance of inflammatory markers in your body. This means that poor gut health and chronic inflammation may feed off of each other, and that healing requires getting to the root causes of both.
“One of the best things to do to enhance gut function and eliminate toxins and infections properly is to take a good quality pro and prebiotic. This will enhance the "good" bacteria in your gut that allows your GI system to defend itself properly,” Policastro says, “And, then you can add on digestive enzymes, proper homeopathics to assist with GI drainage and detoxification like Frangula from Marco Pharma.” Policastro also suggests introducing herbs such as peppermint, fennel, ginger and rosemary as easy at-home ways to help with gut function.
It’s important to note that supplementation alone cannot heal your symptoms. Following a nutrient dense diet is at the foundation of healing your body. “Include nutrient-rich foods at every meal, every opportunity.” Policastro suggests regularly eating protein sources like organic chicken and fresh caught fish, leafy greens like kale and collard greens, and whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and steel-cut oats. Variety is key in supporting the gut and reducing inflammation.
Nurturing your mental health is another important factor in your wellbeing that often goes unnoticed, and may impact your digestive health as well. “Eat with positivity and gratitude with every single bite. If you are eating and are angry, worried, depressed, or fearful, it can manifest in certain digestive organs and inhibit the body’s ability to properly break down, absorb, and utilize food,” Policastro says. Reducing stress and slowing down is crucial for nourishing your body and allowing your body to work at its best.