The Link Between Gut Inflammation and Chronic Disease

Gut Inflammation

The gut microbiome is one of the most important groups of beneficial bacteria in your body. It allows the gut to break down food into essential nutrients and distribute them throughout the body via the gut-organ axis. That being a communication pathway system that connects the gut to every major organ, including the brain, nervous system, muscles, and even bones. 

Though despite its importance, the stability of the gut microbiome can be easily compromised by poor diet, stress, or food sensitivities. And since the gut-organ axis connects the intestines to the rest of the body, damage in the gut can have a direct impact on other major organs and cause health complications. An unhealthy gut may contribute to heart problems, kidney diseases, or obesity. Damage that spreads to the muscles and bones could be one of the causes of chronic joint and back pain in many individuals.

Inflammation in the gut is an immune response to an influx of harmful pathogens or an imbalance in the gut microbiome, which can last anywhere from a few days to potentially years, depending on the severity of the infection. Many health problems may originate from gut inflammation, as the side effects of this immune response can spread to other organs. This can cause long-lasting symptoms such as brain fog, eczema, general fatigue, and/or joint pain.  Other primary causes of gut inflammation are chronic stress and ingested toxins that can damage the intestinal barrier.

To offset the odds of disrupting the microbiome, you should incorporate more foods rich in fiber, probiotics, or prebiotics into your diet. You can learn more about common foods that contain these compounds here. 

If you already suffer from gut inflammation, many foods and supplements that can help you reduce the intensity of certain symptoms or stave off the problem entirely. Specifically, ones that contain omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and magnesium.

Foods for Relief and Prevention

Omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for the production and regulation of your immune cells and cell membranes, strengthening the body’s immune response, and, of course, reducing inflammation. They do this by regulating the pathways through which inflammation spreads throughout the body, reducing the symptoms of chronic inflammation or preventing it altogether. Through this modulation, omega-3’s can relieve back and muscle pain caused by inflammation especially well. As powerful as these acids are, they actually aren’t naturally produced by the body; they must be acquired through your diet or supplements. They are common in many fish, oils, and nuts such as salmon, walnuts, canola oil, and flaxseed oil.

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin that gives the spice its yellow color and, most importantly, acts as an effective anti-inflammatory. Consuming turmeric can help prevent many diseases and health complications caused by long-lasting inflammation, such as obesity, diabetes, and joint pain. The curcumin inside turmeric does this by both regulating inflammation pathways and reducing the production of chemicals that trigger the inflammatory response. Curcumin is also not made within the body, but you can get it straight from the turmeric root in the form of spices, teas, juices, or supplements.

Unlike the last two compounds, magnesium is a very abundant mineral in the human body, being especially present in the skeletal system. Magnesium has an important role in calcium homeostasis, energy production, and muscle contraction, being an essential component of hundreds of enzymes. Regarding inflammation, consuming more magnesium can reduce the amount of inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, making your body less prone to an inflammatory response. Foods like green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes are usually high in magnesium.

Learn more about Dr. O’s answer to gut health and other metabolic treatments here.