Species loss does not only happen in the rainforest: our modern lifestyle, with heavily processed food and excessive use of antibiotics, is causing a real die-off of the microorganisms in our gut. Scientists assume that exactly this change has led to the rise of lifestyle diseases and, in particular, disorders of the immune system! In this article we explain how our immune system and our gut are connected.
Partners in Crime: Immune System and Gut
Our immune system is our daily guardian angel against harmful influences from inside and outside. Everyone links the skin, as a barrier against pathogens, with our immune system. But the connection to the gut is still relatively unknown. Think about how much food you eat every day, and how, in theory, you could take in harmful substances without noticing.
Innate vs. Acquired Defence System of the Body
The immune system consists of an innate, so-called non-specific defence and an acquired, so-called specific defence. Both systems are closely linked. The innate system reacts fastest to potential dangers, but always in the same way. It protects your skin and mucous membranes using defence cells and proteins. (You can find out what else proteins are important for HERE.) However, it can only limit the spread of germs to a degree.
If the innate immune system is not strong enough, your acquired immune system attacks the pathogen. But first it has to recognise it! So it is slower than the innate one, but much stronger, and it can also remember harmful pathogens. There are some pathogens that the body becomes immune to after the first infection! These include measles, chickenpox and rubella. Important components of the acquired immune system are the antibodies and lymphocytes in the blood, which are formed in your lymph nodes, among other places, and count as white blood cells.
Your Immune System in the Gut
Your gut wall is divided into three layers that are meant to protect you from intruders. The inner layer is your gut flora with its microorganisms, the middle one is made up of the mucous membrane, and the outer layer is what we call the “gut-associated immune system”. 70 - 80 % of all cells that produce antibodies are located in the mucous membrane of the gut. We call this the so-called “gut-associated lymphoid tissue”, as it is an essential element of the lymphatic system found in the gut. The main job of the gut-associated immune system is to fend off harmful pathogens while at the same time tolerating the body's own cells, food components and useful microorganisms in our gut.
Why Is Your Gut Flora So Important for Your Immune System?
Think of it like this: the microorganisms in our gut are training partners for the immune system that lives there. Through them, we learn which substances have to be fought and which are fine. The most important players in your gut flora are E. coli, bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, as well as yeasts. If E. coli and yeast fungi end up in places they are not meant to be, they can cause illness. The other organisms listed, on the other hand, are actually very useful!
Your gut flora not only processes food components and produces vitamins, it also breaks down harmful substances and competes with germs for spots on the gut lining. So if your useful bacteria are well fed and plentiful, harmful germs have a much smaller chance of grabbing a spot and causing trouble.
Conclusion
So you see: if your gut and its microbiome (if you don't know what that is, read this article HERE) are healthy and in good shape, you are much more resilient against pathogens. Strengthen your gut, and in turn your immune system, with a balanced, plant-based diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals. On top of that, regular fasting can give your gut a break and stimulate autophagy. After all, cell renewal takes place there too! Besides the “spring clean” with a juice cleanse for your digestive tract, we also recommend a cleanse in summer, autumn and winter.
