If you’re no stranger here, then you already know that the gut is the epicenter of our wellbeing. From mood & metabolism to emotions & sleep, the gut never fails to give us something to gossip about.
You might already know that your gut is so much more than just a food processing unit, but we’re here to talk about yet another underrated relationship – gut health and immunity.
The Gut’s Role in Immunity
The gut is home to about 100 trillion bacteria, fungi, and viruses. We know, seems kind of unsettling, right?
But don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. In fact, many of these guys are vital for your overall health and well-being by aiding digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity.
So when we say, “I feel it in my gut,” maybe it’s not all about instinct. Our gut really does control how we feel. Studies show that 70-80% of our immune cells live in your gut, making it the first line of defense against illness and infections.
And that balance of good bacteria vs. bad bacteria plays a big role in the likelihood of you catching a virus from a friend, or how quickly you can bounce back from a common cold.
The 3 Lines of Defense
To protect you from illness and infections, your gut has 3 main defense lines in place…
1. The Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota act as a frontline defense. They compete with harmful pathogens to leave more space and resources for those healthy bacteria. Through a process known as colonization resistance, these beneficial microorganisms prevent the overgrowth of pathogens to maintain a healthy balance within the gut.
2. The Epithelial Barrier
Complementing the gut microbiota is a protective barrier formed by mucus-producing cells and tight junctions. This barrier prevents pathogens from invading the intestinal lining and entering the bloodstream.
3. Mucosal Immune System
The mucosal immune system is made up of specialized immune cells like macrophages and dendritic cells. These tiny warriors are strategically positioned throughout the gut lining, ready to fight off any invasion germs that get through the gut barrier.
A Closer Look at Microbiota and the Immune System
Now, we’re taking a deeper look at the connection between your gut microbiota (those little microorganisms in your gut) and your immune system. Your gut microbiota plays a big role in regulating your immune system, helping it figure out what’s harmful and what’s not.
This teamwork is a big part of a process called immune modulation. The microbiota influence the development and function of immune cells in the gut. These cells are necessary for effective immune response and help distinguish the ‘good guys’ (healthy microbes) from the ‘bad guys’ (harmful pathogens).
And it’s not just immune cells that the microbiota influence. That gut bacteria also produces metabolites and signaling molecules that directly impact immune function.
One example is short-chain fatty acids – like butyrate – which are made when the gut microbiota effectively break down fiber from the foods you eat. These fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and promote immunity.
This microscopic collab has some big shoes to fill. By regulating the local immune responses in your gut, they indirectly influence whole-body immunity. So, your gut microbiota is like your personal, miniature army that defends your entire body!
Dysbiosis and Immune Response
Maintaining a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria is critical to maintaining a healthy gut and immune system. But shifts in diet, environment, stress, and many other lifestyle factors can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to a condition called dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis can throw off multiple body systems – including immune response. This imbalance can cause the immune system to underperform, making you more vulnerable to infections. Or, it can overreact, which can lead to more severe autoimmune disorders.
Boosting Your Gut Health to Boost Immunity
Understanding the relationship between our gut health and immune system emphasizes the need for a holistic approach, and nurturing your gut goes hand in hand with a boosted immune system.
Show your gut some love by integrating some simple habits into your daily routine, like:
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Eating a fiber-rich diet
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Managing stress levels through mindfulness practices or Yoga
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Stick to a regular sleep schedule
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Include prebiotics, probiotcs, AND postbiotics in your diet
The Debloat & Detox Duo
And if you want to show your gut some much-deserved love, try Arrae’s Debloat & Detox Duo!
This new set bundles two fan-favorites – Bloat and Constipation – for fast-acting AND long-term relief. Both Bloat and Constipation’s natural, antioxidant formulas support a happy, healthy gut.
With regular use, Bloat helps to rebalance your microbiome overtime 5 potent herbs and a digestive enzyme. Our capsules optimize digestion of common food-triggers and put your digestive discomforts to rest, so you can feel the difference within weeks.
Constipation contains 5 natural ingredients, including a clinically-studied prebiotic & probiotic fiber, that all work together to promote regularity. Our capsules are designed to get rid of those harmful toxins and help that good bacteria thrive for a groovy gut flora.
*Disclaimer*: This article is purely informational and does not imply any evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases, nor should it substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.
References
Iacob, Simona, et al. “Intestinal Microbiota as a Host Defense Mechanism to Infectious Threats.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 21 Dec. 2018, www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.03328/full.
Kittakoop, Prasat. “Contribution of Gut Microbiome to Human Health and the Metabolism or Toxicity of Drugs and Natural Products.”IntechOpen, IntechOpen, 19 June 2020, www.intechopen.com/chapters/72563.
Toor, Devinder, et al. “Dysbiosis Disrupts Gut Immune Homeostasis and Promotes Gastric Diseases.”International Journal of Molecular Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 May 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567003/.
Wiertsema, Selma P, et al. “The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies.”Nutrients, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 Mar. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8001875/.
Zheng, Danping, et al. “Interaction between Microbiota and Immunity in Health and Disease.”Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 20 May 2020, www.nature.com/articles/s41422-020-0332-7.
