Our bodies are full of other examples of this: our opposable thumbs allow us to grasp items large and small, our lengths of blood vessels in the cardiovascular system permit the distribution of oxygen and nutrients throughout our tissues, and the distinct structure of our neurons (brain cells) with their axons and dendrites begets an efficiency of intercellular communication that is the basis of memory, thought, and emotion.
When it comes to the gut, the beauty of its structure and function is often under-appreciated.
The gut is a dynamic and adaptable interface with the outside world. No other organ must take the foreign, alien environment outside the body and delicately separate out our basic life nourishment from that which may kill us. It is no wonder why there is so much potential for mishaps and mistakes as our immune system tries to determine what is friend or foe and the cells of the gut (enterocytes) seek out the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that every part of our body needs to stay alive.
The population of trillions of microbes living inside our gut needs to be regularly sampled by dendritic cells (immune system surveillance cells) by way of the latter’s tentacle-like protrusions that squeeze their way through tight junctions (spaces between enterocytes). When a dendritic cell encounters even one pathogenic organism, a cascade of phosphorylations (the transfer of phosphates in cell signaling) act as alarm bells and can set off an immune response. White blood cells called macrophages and neutrophils then rush to the scene to protect against that pathogenic organism and can leave a wake of tissue damage in the intestinal barrier, damage which permits the leakage of bacterial organisms and food particles across that barrier and which necessitates further immune response.
This complex emergence of function from the shape and structure of the gut system is nothing short of beautiful. When we consider serious conditions involving the inner-workings of the gut such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, we can look to the very structure of the gut system and accordingly match our interventions to restore function. A single medication, probiotic, or diet alone is generally no match for the vast complexity of biology, but a nuanced, comprehensive, and community-based approach that leverages all the available science may stand a chance.
Recent Posts from the IBDCoach Blog
Biomarkers used for monitoring Inflammatory Bowel Disease
“CRP, ESR, FCP, oh my!” There’s nothing like a bowl of three-letter alphabet soup to make it feel like we’re not in Kansas anymore. If you’ve been diagnosed with IBD, then you are no stranger to the range of lab work and tests physicians use to monitor IBD and its...
Fiber & Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Fiber: Influential prebiotic for gut health We’ve heard countless stories from our clients about how their doctors tell them diet doesn’t make a difference for their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But with recent scientific advances in our understanding of both IBD...
Gluten & IBD
Gluten in our food is a topic that has grown in popularity for both individuals with IBD and the general population. We are living in the age of gluten-free products. Are these always better for IBDers? Considering many gluten-free products are still processed foods...
COVID-19 Considerations for Individuals with IBD
COVID-19 susceptibility for individuals with IBD With the rise of COVID-19 cases in the US, we wanted to shed some light on what this means for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease. Considering that IBD is a condition in which your immune system is...
Flavonoids – A Powerful Prebiotic for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Flavonoids aren’t a widely discussed topic in the IBD community nor in the doctor's office yet emerging research has discovered these substances to be powerful in regulating inflammation observed in IBD. One exciting area in nutrition research today is the study of...
The Gut-Brain Connection in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
In the IBDCoach program, our philosophy emphasizes how the environment and the interconnection of differently bodily organs influences the disease course in IBD. One such connection deeply affected by the enviroment is the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. In fact, the...