Your Gut is the Key to Boosting Your Immune System

Written by Charlie Smith 

With Covid-19 still threatening the health of many and the looming flu season, you’d want to do everything to give your immune system a maximum boost. But did you know that it all starts in the gut?

It is in the gut where food is broken down into macromolecules. Therefore, it’s vital to keep the gut healthy for optimal nutrient absorption. Furthermore, studies reveal that 70% of our immune function is in the stomach. There is also increasing evidence regarding brain and gut connection.

So, how do you support gut health? 

CONSUME PROBIOTICS
Millions of bacteria live in our gut (gut microbiome). The population of good and bad bacteria are balanced because they both serve different roles in your digestion. However, the bad bacteria dominate the population sometimes, e.g., during illness. You can restore balance by eating probiotics found in yogurt, miso, kombucha, and tempeh.

BUT FIRST, EAT PREBIOTICS!
Karina Wolfin, the kitchen rentals supervisor at Direct Appliance Rentals, notes, “For probiotics to function, your diet should also comprise of prebiotics—which is the fibre that serves as food for probiotics. Some common sources of prebiotics are apples, asparagus, bananas, chickpeas, oatmeal, and sweetcorn.”

GUZZLE A LOT OF BROTH
Remember getting sick as a kid and feeling a lot better after drinking soup? Just imagine what an organic bone broth can do for you!

Bone broth is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—including glutamine. In gut physiology, this specific amino acid helps fortify the stomach’s protection against harsh chemicals.

And because the broth is already liquid, it allows quick absorption of nutrients.

LIMIT YOUR INTAKE OF REFINED SUGARS AND PROCESSED FOOD
A diet high in refined sugars, preservatives and artificial food additives can disrupt the balance of the biome in your gut. As a result, you may experience bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea.

Refined sugars, especially high-fructose corn syrup, has been shown to trigger chronic inflammation. By eating food with natural sugars (such as fruits), you can get a healthy source of fuel and benefit from their antioxidative content as well.
 

GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Sleep is essential for your entire well-being. During sleep, your body produces cytokines—which are proteins that fight infection and relieve inflammation.

LEARN TO MANAGE STRESS
Whether it builds up slowly or pops out of nowhere, it’s important to watch your stress threshold as it can affect your immune system. During stressful situations, the body releases a hormone called “corticosteroid”, which ensures there’s enough glucose for stress response. However, this hormone also suppresses the effectiveness of immune cells. This is why it’s easy to catch a cold when you’re overworked.

Stress also reduces the production of lipids, called “prostaglandins”, that protect the stomach lining. As a result, you feel more discomfort--which consequently adds to your stress. The prostaglandin depletion is also the reason why you may experience acid reflux during stress.

Take care of your gut health by including Broth of Life in your diet. We offer dehydrated organic beef and chicken bone that paleo and GAPS-friendly. Check out our flavourful and powerful broth and stock now!