The great Greek physician Hippocrates, considered to be one of the most influential, well known physicians in the history of medicine said, “All disease begins in the gut. And, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Over 2000 years later – science, medicine, and the field of nutrition have discovered just how right he was.
Gut Health and Your Thyroid
Did you know our gut can cover the surface of two tennis courts if laid out flat? How dang amazing is that? The gut is home to 70 percent of the immune tissue in our body. That immune tissue, as a whole, is called GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue). Isn’t that lovely? Was thinking of using it as a nickname.
This incredible system carries out attacks and creates antibodies to fight against antigens, which the immune system takes stock of and considers a possible threat. Think of it as the Secret Service of the immune system.
The gut is essentially outside your body. It looks like a hollow tube and passes all the way from your mouth to the anus. Anything your body doesn’t digest comes out at the other end – also known as pooping (yes I said that).
One of the most essential functions of the gut is to prevent foreign and toxic substances such as bacteria from passing into the body.
Problems arise when the defensive components of the gut is compromised. This can happen when the intestinal wall becomes porous and accessible; large protein molecules slip into the bloodstream and your thyroid can become ineffective and powerless.
Studies show these invasions into the gut play a huge role in the development of thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s, the most common thyroid disease in the United States.
Why It’s Important to Have a Healthy Gut
It’s been said “our gut is our second brain”. A healthy gut can make a verifiable difference in how you feel as well as in how you look.
Why? How? A healthy gut (or unhealthy for that matter) affects all systems in your body – from digestion, to skin, mood, brain health, immunity, and energy. I’m not even kidding, this is serious stuff folks.
If you want to have a healthy thyroid which in turn affects the way everything else in your body operates, then you want to make sure you have a healthy gut. The combination of a healthy gut and a healthy thyroid will make you feel as if you have superpowers. And you will!
Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut
Symptoms of an unhealthy gut can vary from the noticeable to the not so noticeable. The noticeable or obvious can look like abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, frequent infections and/or colds.
The not so noticeable (you know, where you can’t quite put your finger on it or connect it to a bigger issue), which you may not think could be related to an unhealthy gut, can look like depression, mood swings, irritability (who isn’t irritable when their stomach is upset or when they’re constipated? My family tends to look for an exorcist).
Skin problems like acne, rosacea, eczema, diabetes, poor memory and concentration are also symptoms which you may not directly relate to an unhealthy gut. To determine if you have a gut issue take this test.
Bottom Line
If you want to feel and look your best then you need to make sure you have a healthy thyroid, and afterwards you need to check the health of your gut. The human body is an ecosystem and we want to make sure that system is functioning at it’s best, so we can live, thrive, and age well.
Till’ next time, be well!
