We are pleased to present a guest article.which was written by Sandrine Chaloua naturopathic doctor. For her entry in Health Nutrition Mag, she talks about the gut and the dilemma it represents.

Perhaps you still think that the intestine is just a simple piping system that transports our food? This would be a bad way to look at this organ.

The latest research has shown that this organ is sensitive and intelligent.

He is able to secretly influence :

• Our sleep
• Our memory
• Our moods
• And even our personality!

Except that our beautiful organ is faced with a real dilemma.

It plays two roles a priori antagonistic:

• an assimilation role
• a protective barrier role

To better understand

Digestion begins in our mouths with chewing, which breaks down the food and starts the digestion process with enzymes like salivary amylase.

Once swallowed, the food goes down the esophagus, which opens into the stomach through the esophageal sphincter. The sphincter loosening will allow the passage of food into the stomach.

When the chewed food arrives in the stomach, a real kneading will be implemented thanks to the smooth muscles. The gastric glands secrete hydrochloric acid (it is important to know that the PH of the stomach = 2) and enzymes, which are very specialized scissors, that allow the degradation of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.

The stomach is therefore responsible for kneading the food and cutting up our food bowl even more. The contents of the stomach then pass through the pylorus at the lower end of the stomach and into our small intestine in the duodenum.

In fact, it is indeed the intestine that is the main organ of digestion: it is in the small intestine that nutrients are absorbed and pass into the bloodstream, to be distributed to the body. Everything that will be interesting for the organism will be assimilated at this level.

 The parts that are not assimilated in the intestine, such as the cellulose in vegetables for example, will constitute waste and progress slowly in the large intestine to form stools. It is in the large intestine that water, sodium and potassium are assimilated.

Finally, the waste will reach the rectum to be eliminated.

A marvel of technology

Do you know about club sandwiches? Well, consider that the intestinal mucosa is like a club sandwich, composed of different layers.

In its upper part, we will find the villi: these are small vibratory cilia that constitute a set of folds and folds. A bit like the movement of algae in the sea. Thus, we have a set of hollows and bumps covered with cells that are called enterocytes.

Our enterocytes on the fashion side are stuck in the 80's: they're bristly!

And even better: each hair in the brush has more than 2000 microvilli per hair at its top, which considerably multiplies the absorption surface.

We have a tube that measures 6 to 8 meters but whose surface is organized in such a way that its surface, if unfolded, would be equivalent to the surface of a tennis court!

The cells of the intestine like to be stuck together: this is the tight junction complex. They thus constitute a protective barrier, a boundary between the outside world and the inside of the body. Thus, only "authorized" elements (vitamins, minerals, small amino acids, etc.) are allowed to pass through according to very precise biochemical protocols.

Some of these cells are endocrine cells: that is, they will secrete chemical messengers. These are hormones that will also circulate in the lower layers of our club sandwich.

As an example, serotonin, the happiness hormone, is 90% produced in the gut. We can already see the links between intestine and mood.

At the intermediate level, we will find the connective tissue of the submucosa consisting of immune cells. Consider that 80% of our immunity is at this level. This shows the close link between the intestine and immunity!

Finally, we find at the bottom, blood and lymphatic vessels. The elements that have been allowed to pass will use these absorption pathways and thus pass into the internal environment. But also found at this level neurons. It is important to know that 200 million neurons line our gut, equivalent to the cortex of a cat! At this point, you should already be seeing your gut in a different light.

The elements "authorized" to pass the intestinal barrier will thus

• through the enterocytes,
• act on the immune cells
• activate endocrine cells and release hormones.
• And pass chemical messages in the blood but also at the level of the neurons of the enteric system and go up to the brain thanks to a nerve, better known under vagus nerve.

You will have understood, the intestine has an action on the brain, the immune system as well as on all tissues and organs.

It is easy to understand what is at stake, which is a real dilemma for the intestine:

• it must allow assimilation by letting the right nutrients pass through
• but it must also play a protective role, preventing undesirable elements from entering the body.

It is therefore essential to reconsider and take care of this often unloved organ because it is now central to the onset of diseases, particularly so-called diseases of civilization.