The intestinal tract is the body's energy supply station and toxin discharge factory, about 70 tons of food are metabolized into nutrients through the intestinal metabolism in a person's life, and about 80% of the toxins are excreted from the intestines.
Although the intestine belongs to the digestive system, its functions involve the whole body.
70% of the body's immunity comes from the intestines, and more than 95% of infectious diseases are directly or indirectly related to intestinal dysfunction. Clause.
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How important is the gut to the human body?
The food eaten by a person is initially digested into chyme by the stomach, which is further transported to the small intestine.
Once in the small intestine, the pancreas and small intestine wall secrete various enzymes to further break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Trypsin in pancreatic juice breaks down proteins, pancreatic amylase breaks down starch, and pancreatic lipase breaks down fats.
The intestinal lumen enzymes secreted by the small intestinal wall promote the final digestion and absorption, breaking down nutrients into small molecules that can be absorbed by the body and absorbed into the blood and lymph.
Unabsorbed material enters the large intestine. In the large intestine, water and electrolytes are further absorbed, resulting in a more solid stool.
In addition to basic digestion and absorption, the gut acts as an alarm in our immune system.
As one of the most visceral organs and tissues in the body, the intestinal tract has a strong mucosal immune barrier and intestinal flora.
Source: soogif
About 70-80% of immune cells are located in the intestine and can recognize bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., helping the immune system respond quickly and destroy pathogens.
A healthy gut helps maintain the balance of the immune system and prevents overactive or underactive states, thus helping the body fight infections and diseases.
In addition, there is a complex interaction between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis.
The health of your gut can affect mood, stress levels, and cognitive function.
Some studies have even found an association between gut problems and mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Clause.
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Pull a "intestine" to move the whole body?
Although the gut has the ability to defend and heal itself, this does not mean that it can be destroyed and destroyed indefinitely.
Greasy food, smoking, alcoholism, sedentary lifestyle, indiscriminate consumption of health supplements, excessive use of antibiotics, dieting**...It can overdraft the intestines, causing them to malfunction, and may eventually allow a series of diseases to "take advantage of the void".
Disease one. Diarrhoea.
Diarrhea usually manifests as frequent stools.
The most common cause of watery or semi-liquid stools is allergies or bacterial or viral infections caused by eating the wrong things.
Of course, it can also be caused by diseases or emotional anxiety, such as irritable bowel syndrome, pancreas, biliary tract and other diseases.
Diarrhea is also classified as acute and chronic.
Acute diarrhea: frequent stools, severe symptoms;The course of the disease is generally not more than 3 weeks;It is usually caused by food poisoning, intestinal infections and the effects of drugs
Chronic diarrhea: less frequent stools, milder symptoms;Duration: ** diarrhea within 2 months or 2 to 4 weeks apart;It can be seen in acute diarrhea without time** or dysentery, tuberculosis, cancer, etc.
Disease II. Constipation.
Source: soogif
All year round, big fish and meat, drink less water, do not eat vegetables, ......It is easy to lead to insufficient intestinal transport, so that the feces "press", causing blockage, and causing constipation.
Some colon and ** diseases may also lead to organic constipation.
Generally, there are fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, and it is necessary to pay attention when it is hard.
Disease three. Cancer.
Obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking, high-fat and low-fiber diets and other unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits are the main culprits that harm the intestines.
80% of colorectal cancers have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so many people are found at an advanced stage.
Once you notice the following 4 symptoms, don't take it seriously:
Frequent blood in the stool: dark red or tarry stool.
Abdominal pain mass: paroxysmal abdominal cramps, a hard mass on the right mid-abdomen that can be felt.
Change in bowel habits: There is a significant change in bowel movements from the past, and the bowel movements are always not clean.
Systemic properties: varying degrees of anemia, unexplained fatigue, fatigue, and emaciation. Clause.
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How to care for our gut.
It is difficult to repair and repair the damaged intestines, so you must take good care of this exemplary employee.
Eat a reasonable diet. Adequate intake of dietary fiber is essential for gut health. Dietary fiber helps promote normal bowel movements, prevents constipation, and provides nutrients to the good bacteria in the gut.
Consuming a variety of foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, etc., provides a variety of different nutrients that help promote the diversity of microbes in the gut.
Foods high in sugar and fat can lead to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut, so these foods should be consumed in moderation.
Refined foods often contain a lot of additives and sugars, which can have a negative impact on gut health. Prefer to choose natural, unprocessed foods.
The ingredients in the mouth must be cleaned to reduce the chance of "getting sick from the mouth".
Establish bowel habits.
Try to defecate at the same time every day, and it is recommended to go to the toilet in the morning after waking up or 2 hours after eating.
This helps to cultivate the intestinal circadian clock and improve the efficiency of bowel movements.
When you feel the need to defecate, you should find a suitable place to defecate as soon as possible to avoid holding your stool. Holding stool can lead to excessive drying of stool in the intestines, increasing the risk of constipation.
Exercise properly and avoid sitting for long periods of time.
Source: soogif
Sitting for long periods of time can lead to blood retention in the body, including in the intestines.
Moderate exercise improves blood circulation and promotes better delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the intestinal tissues.
You can do 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise a day, such as running, yoga, cycling, etc.
Stay in a good mood.
Long-term stress can have a negative impact on gut function, so learning to manage stress effectively is essential to maintain gut health.
Supplement with good bacteria.
Source: soogif
Probiotics can produce unique enzymes that aid digestion and absorption and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
Consuming foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, cheese, and fermented vegetables, can help maintain the balance of intestinal flora.
In addition, you can also take probiotic products to supplement lactobacillus.
Physical examination and screening. Have regular check-ups of your intestines.
After the age of 45, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years.
For high-risk groups with a family history of bowel cancer, it is recommended to start screening early and increase the frequency of screening, which can be done every 3 years
If you have a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you can check it every 3 to 5 years
A history of intestinal polyps, particularly large or multiple polyps, may also be screened more frequently every 1 to 3 years.
Improve the awareness of self-protection, develop the habit of early screening, and include bowel cancer detection in the physical examination items.
Only by taking a variety of measures can the incidence of intestinal diseases be fundamentally reduced.
May we all have a healthy gut!