Many studies have revealed the link between chronic diseases and gut health. A damage on the wall lining of your digestive system could cause an impact to your overall health. As a result of this gut health damage, inflammation occurs in some parts of the body and your immune system overreacts. To avoid this, it is important for everyone to identify the culprits behind gut health damage.
Antibiotics
The frequent intake of antibiotics could decrease the numbers of good bacteria in your gut. If the natural defenses went down, antibiotics would definitely hurt the stomach lining. Without some healthy measures, the unique diversity of beneficial bacteria in your body won’t go back.
Stress
It is a well-known fact that stress contributes nothing but harm to your health. In addition, chronic stress weakens your immune system’s response to infection. As many of the same hormones exist in both brain and intestines, stress may cause a quick impact on your gut. This connection explains the gut-brain axis.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs relieve pain and inflammation by blocking an enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase. However, this enzyme performs several important functions in the body such as shielding the stomach from acidic properties and strengthening the immune defenses. Hence, this could lead to digestive inflammation and intestinal permeability while turning on an autoimmune response. According to research, 65% of those who chronically use NSAIDs will develop intestinal inflammation while 30% will develop ulcers.
Gluten
Gluten’s negative impacts have been well-documented by many researchers. These products contain amylose sugar, which causes inflammation. In addition, gluten-products have anti-nutrients such as lectins and phytates that constricts the intestines and kill off other nutrients in the body. Therefore, unawareness about the existence of gluten in your daily diet woud soon take its toll.
Alcohol
Abuse of alcoholic drinks damages almost every system of the human body. Alcohol irritates the stomach and suppresses the hormones that protects the digestive system from inflammation. Finally, this could lead to a leaky gut condition.