Digestion and Inflammation

  

The digestive tract is the heart of the innate immune system.  The innate immune system is a barrier defence against microbes.  This barrier system also plays a key role in regulating inflammation.  Digestion and inflammation go hand in hand, and both are essential components of successful biomedical treatment
 
 
Many parents ask “where do we start”?  The answer is almost always with the DIGESTIVE TRACT.
 

Research shows that children with Tourette’s Syndrom have a higher rate of immune abnormalities.  The interplay between the immune system and environmental factors is resulting in a tremendous amount of research as investigators attempts to identify why children with Tourette’s have different immune markers than neurotypical children.  The immune system and regulation of inflammation disrupts typical brain chemical balance.

 
Causes and symptoms of digestive dysfunction include:

  • Food allergies and sensitivities
  • Enzyme deficiency or dysfunction
  • Chronic constipation and/or diarrhea
  • Mucous, blood or undigested food in stool
  • Pain, cramping or discomfort
  • Bloating
  • Leaky gut
  • Issues with absorption

  

Addressing digestive issues is the key to successful biomedical treament

 

 

What is healthy digestion?

Your child should be having 2-3 bowel movements daily.  The bowel movements should be formed, easy to pass and uniform in colour.  There should be no undigested food (except corn!), mucous or blood in the stool.  Although bowel movements usually have an unpleasant odour, sometimes the odour is unhealthy.  The smell of the stool can be very helpful in identifying the root cause of digestive symptoms.


Example
:  yeasty, foul, sweet, like a harbour, and bready smells can all indicate yeast overgrowth
 

How are digestion, immune function and inflammation related to development?

“Long-term breast-feeding was found to be associated with fewer attention and hyperactivity symptoms and an improvement in related behavioural areas (cognition, social interaction and behaviour)”.

~ Julvez et al, Acta Pediatrica Promoting Child Health

 

Research shows that immune system dysregulation is a common feature in Tourette’s Syndrome.  The digestive system regulates immune system and inflammatory response.  Healing the digestive tract is the first step in enhancing immune function and lowering inflammation levels that impair development.
  


Signs of inflammation outside the digestive tract include:

  • Inability to focus and/or concentrate
  • Cognitive and language delay
  • Eczema
  • Cradle cap
  • Behavioral issues
  • Chronic illness
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Headaches
  • Itching or itchy bum

 

What causes digestive impairment that leads to inflammation and immune problems? 
  • Food allergies and sensitivities and early introduction of allergens
  • C-Section and IV antibiotics – don’t allow natural colonization of good bacteria in the intestine
  • Vaccinations, metals and environmental toxins – have the ability to shut down enzymes that breakdown food (casein, gluten, soy, corn etc)
  • GMO – Genetically modified foods disrupt innate immune function in the digestive tract by introducing genetic material from other organisms.
  • Antibiotics – kill good bacteria which protects the body from other microbes, helps to absorb nutrients and regulates inflammation