Gut Microbiome Health and the Gut-Immune System Connection: Part 2 Lower GI 

The diverse community of microbes in your digestive system is truly impressive. Not only does it aid digestion, but its actions go much deeper. 

The gut microbiome is an integral part of our health and wellbeing. It impacts all aspects of wellness, including mood, brain function, inflammation, and protection from disease.

In Part 1 we looked closely at the upper GI tract, including the mouth, saliva, stomach, liver, and bile. Each of these body systems interacts with the microbiome and influences what happens in the lower GI tract.

For our purposes, the lower GI tract comprises the small intestine and large intestine. Plus, we can’t talk about the lower parts of the digestive system without a discussion of poop. Feces is the final destination of all byproducts from your gut, and it can tell you a lot about how well your gut functions.

In this article, we’ll continue our journey through the lower part of the digestive system. In part 1, we left off at the point where chyme (partially digested food mixture created in the stomach) passes into the upper small intestine. Now, let’s look closer at:

• The anatomy and physiology of the three parts of the small intestine
• The gut-immune connection
• SIBO, leaky gut, and their impact on whole-body health
• The anatomy and physiology of the large intestine
• Bowel-related autoimmune conditions
• The causes and treatments of dysbiosis
• How to improve gut health

Into The Small Intestine

The small intestine is where a lot of digestive magic takes place. Don’t let the name fool you. The small intestine is anything but small!

It’s actually a 20-foot-long hollow organ that does the bulk of nutrient digestion and absorption. Unlike the large intestine, the small intestine does not contain nearly the number and diversity of microorganisms. However, a unique microbiome in the small intestine is critical to its function and good health.

As food exits the stomach, it passes into the first section of the small intestine, known as the duodenum. There the chyme from the stomach is mixed with digestive enzymes from the pancreas as well as bicarbonate and other compounds that neutralize stomach acid. As digestive enzymes mix with chyme, absorption begins in earnest. 

From the duodenum, food passes into the jejunum, where most of the broken down carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids are absorbed through the walls of the intestine. After the jejunum comes the ileum, where any remaining nutrients are absorbed, especially vitamin B12 and leftover bile acids that can be recycled. 

Naturally, this is a gross simplification of a highly complex and truly fascinating process. At its best, the entire digestive system is like a finely tuned orchestra. And the music you make depends on the quality of your microbiome.

Good Vs. Bad Gut Bacteria

Every inch of your digestive tract is home to a variety of microorganisms that collectively make up your microbiome. Not all of these microbes are guaranteed to work in your favor. 

The bacteria (and yeasts, archaea, fungi, etc.) in your gut can be good or bad. Some bacteria exert positive benefits such as digestion, vitamin synthesis, immunology, protection from pathogens, and SCFA production. Examples of good bacteria include:

• Bifidobacterium
• Lactobacillus

Other bacteria are bad news and act as pathogens, disrupting normal body function and producing unpleasant side effects. Two common harmful bacteria are:

• Clostridium difficile – which leads to the dreaded C.diff infection-causing bowel dysfunction and debilitating diarrhea.
• H. Pylori – a common bacteria that populates the stomach and results in digestive issues and acid reflux.

Many other bacteria have the potential to be either beneficial or harmful. Their exact effect depends on the concentration and diversity of your microbiome as a whole. 

For example, some strains of Streptococcus bacteria are benign and even helpful in the presence of a robust, balanced microbiome. However, in a state of dysbiosis, Streptococcus may grow out of control and is often implicated in SIBO. More on that in a moment.

Gut Health and Your Immune System

Among the many essential microbiome functions, enhancing the immune system is high on the list. Without a diverse, happy microbiome, immunity is compromised. 

A complex interaction takes place between the gut and the immune system. The microbiome engages in significant cross-talk with our defense systems, helping it identify and respond to threats. 

We cover this topic in-depth in our Deep Dive Training: The Gut, Microbiome, and Immunity Connection.  But, here’s a brief summary of some of the ways the microbiome interfaces with immunity.

• The microbiome in the gut populates the mucosal lining, the largest portion of the immune system.
• Signals from the microbiome govern all aspects of the immune response. 
• The microbiome produces signaling compounds that tell the cell layer below the mucosa, which immune cells to activate to handle a threat. 
• The microbiome also functions to train and mature the immune system organs throughout the body, such as the thymus and bone marrow.
• The microbiome is essential to signal the move from the inflammatory stage of the initial immune response (innate immunity) to the anti-inflammatory repair during the late immune response (adaptive immunity).

Without the proper signals from the microbiome, the immune system cannot effectively address pathogens. The ability to recognize and halt inappropriate growth or actions of body cells, such as cancerous cells, is also impaired. In addition, without a balanced microbiome, the immune system may become stuck in an inflammatory state, causing systemic inflammation. This is a significant contributor to chronic disease.

When the microbiome is out of balance, it is called dysbiosis. In the small intestine, dysbiosis can be devastating. 

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

SIBO occurs when bacteria not usually present in the small intestine take up residency and decide to stay.  Normally, your microbiome prevents harmful bacteria from populating the gut. However, in a state of dysbiosis, the safeguards are compromised, and harmful bacteria can gain a foothold.

SIBO symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Constipation
• Food sensitivities
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• In severe cases, liver disease

SIBO research is complex, and there are several potential root causes, including issues with peristalsis, low stomach acid, translocation of bacteria from the large intestine or oral microbiome, stress, medication use, and more. All of these factors influence the integrity of the microbiome, potentially paving the way for the growth of harmful bacteria. 

Treating SIBO can look different for each person depending on the root cause, type of bacteria present, and severity. It usually involves a combination of supplements to support gut motility and healing, dietary strategies to help symptoms with gradual reintroduction, alongside lifestyle habits like sleep stress and movement. We cover more information on effective treatments in this post.

We highly recommend our Deep Dive Training: SIBO – Symptoms, Root Causes, and Effective Strategies webinar to understand this complex condition better. A high-quality probiotic, as well as prebiotics, has the potential to assist in repopulating the small intestine with good bacteria. We’ll talk more about the best probiotics and prebiotics in a moment. 

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Intestinal permeability, leaky gut, occurs when the intestinal lining is weakened, allowing toxins or larger food molecules to pass through. As mentioned earlier, the microbiome resides in the gut’s mucosal lining. One of its jobs is to maintain tight junctions between the cells of the intestinal walls. 

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome compromises the integrity of the intestinal walls, which may lead to a leaky gut. We explain this more in-depth here.

A leaky gut leads to chronic inflammation because of the upregulation of the immune system and the translocation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS are endotoxins from gut microbiota that stimulate the inflammatory response.  

What happens? Inflammatory signals turn on, alerting the immune system. Over time, chronic inflammation from a leaky gut can cause many different reactions—from food sensitivities to skin problems to brain fog and migraines. Since the source of inflammation is not isolated in the gut, inflammation can cause problems throughout the body.

A leaky gut is also closely linked to autoimmunity. Autoimmunity occurs when the body mistakenly attacks its own tissue. This once again ties back to the importance of the gut for a well-responsive immune system.

Treatment for leaky gut focuses on gut healing supplements and diet, along with reductions in inflammation and support for the gut epithelium. We’ll cover all of these tips in a few moments.

Down To The Large Intestine

After the small intestine has digested and absorbed nutrients from your food, the leftovers move into the large intestine, also known as the colon. At this point in the process, the remains of your meal have been liquefied, and most of the good stuff has been gobbled up. 

The large intestine is responsible for taking the liquid goop and turning it into stool for excretion. It absorbs excess water and electrolytes to form the soft but solid mass we know as poop.

Part of what makes the microbiome in the large intestine unique is its diversity of microbes. Compared to the small intestine, which hosts a select group of bacteria, the large intestine may contain thousands of different microbes. This diversity and density are critical to optimal gut health.

While most digestion and absorption happen in the small intestine, a few unique digestive processes take place in the colon. The colon contains by far the highest density of microbes of any part of the body. These microbes pick up where the small intestine left off. 

The microbiome of the colon:

• Ferments dietary fibers 
• Produces Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), which provide support for the cells that line the intestine, among many other functions
• Synthesizes and delivers essential vitamins such as Vitamin K and B vitamins
• Neutralizes drugs and toxins

Dysbiosis Of The Colon

The microbiome gets its start at birth. The first three years of life are critical for developing a robust microbiome. Factors such as birth method, early diet, genetics, antibiotic use, and geographical location influence the exact makeup of microbes.

In adulthood, the microbiome is sensitive to lifestyle and environmental influences. Factors such as:

• The foods you eat. The standard American Diet (SAD) is  high in sugar, processed food, and unhealthy fats, and low in fiber, fruits, vegetables, phytonutrients and micronutrients. It’s a disaster for the microbiome.
• How much and how well you sleep.  
• Level of physical activity.
• How well you manage stress.
• Exposure to environmental toxins.

Long-term dysbiosis contributes to a huge range of health concerns. These include:

• IBD (Chron’s, colitis)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Type 1 diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Candida/yeast overgrowth
• Autoimmune skin conditions such as psoriasis
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity

Protecting and nourishing your microbiome is likely the number one thing you can do to improve your health. If you cultivate a robust, diverse community of microbes, they will return the favor. Let’s take a closer look at how you can improve gut health. But first, we can’t leave our journey through the digestive tract without talking about poop.

Poop: The End Of The Line

It may not be the most popular topic of conversation, but your poop can tell you a lot about your digestive health. The shape, size, color, and consistency of your poop indicate the quality of your diet, your hydration status, and the state of your microbiome. 

The Bristol stool scale is commonly used as a guide for assessing the health of your poop. (see below) Type 1 & 2 indicate constipation. Type 3 & 4 are considered normal. Type 5-7 are varying stages of diarrhea. 

When your microbiome is healthy, you should be pooping regularly, at least every day.. Your poop should be a medium brown color (unless you’ve eaten beets or another food that may cause a temporary change), normal smelling (for you), and regular. Any changes may signal there is something out of the ordinary going on.

Chokhavatia, Sita & John, Elizabeth & Bridgeman, Mary & Dixit, Deepali. (2016). Constipation in Elderly Patients with Noncancer Pain: Focus on Opioid-Induced Constipation. Drugs & Aging. 33. 10.1007/s40266-016-0381-2. 

How to Improve Gut Health

The best way to improve gut health is to improve your microbiome. The bacteria in your gut are the foundation of healthy digestion and every other aspect of well-being. 

Whole Foods, Fiber, and Gut health

Diet is the number one way to make long-term positive changes to your gut microbiome, both what you add and remove. Avoiding ultra-processed foods full of refined carbohydrates and vegetable oils is a good start. Research suggests high-sugar, high-fat diets can increase or even cause gut inflammation. Vegetable oils are also associated with alterations in the gut microbiota.

Effects of a Plant-Based Diet on Gut Health

The best dietary predictor of microbial health and diversity is fiber. Dietary fiber provides fuel as prebiotics for the bacteria in the gut. Remember that undigested fiber moves down your GI tract to be fermented by bacteria in the colon. In this way, fiber provides fuel to keep bacteria happy and healthy and increases the production of SCFA.

As mentioned previously, SCFAs are essential food for the cells of the intestinal lining. While there are several SCFAs, butyrate is one of the most beneficial. In addition to providing fuel to enhance the health of intestinal cells, butyrate is absorbed into the bloodstream and acts to reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, promote metabolic balance, and protect against disease. 

Fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, roots, and tubers are all rich sources of fiber. Many also contain polyphenols that can inhibit or increase specific bacterial species’ growth. 

You don’t have to be entirely plant-based for the benefits, although research does show that the more plant-rich your diet is, the more robust and resilient your gut health tends to be.  Aim for at least twenty-five grams of fiber a day to see the benefits. You can also include fermented foods like kimchi, miso, or sauerkraut, as these foods are linked to healthy bacteria diversity.  

In some cases, if you are already dealing with dysbiosis or one of the other conditions listed above, jumping into a high-fiber diet is not a good idea. For example, if you have SIBO, the bacteria in the small intestine will ferment the fiber and cause an increase in symptoms. Our Deep Dive Training: SIBO – Symptoms, Root Causes, and Effective Strategies is a useful resource in that situation. 

Benefits of Probiotic Supplements

Probiotics, especially spore-based probiotics, have many potential benefits. They act to target inflammation, support leaky gut, and promote overall gut healing. Spore-based probiotics aim to promote the diversity of bacteria within the microbiome and increase the production of SCFA.

Using probiotics is a preferred approach to address dysbiosis. Instead of “carpet-bombing” the entire microbiome with anti-microbials that kill indiscriminately, probiotics (and prebiotics!) aim to invigorate good bacteria and help them overcome the bad. 

Here are our favorite probiotic supplements:

• MegaSporeBiotic – a good all-around probiotic for balancing the microbiome.
• RestoreFlora – may be beneficial for addressing yeast overgrowth or imbalance.

“The bacteria in your gut are the foundation of healthy digestion and every other aspect of well-being.”

Benefits of prebiotic supplements

Prebiotics are the non-digestible fibers that feed bacteria. Prebiotics are essential for long-term changes in the microbiome because they promote the populations of good bacteria. You can take prebiotic fiber supplements along with fiber from your diet to further boost the health of your microbiome.

There are many types of prebiotic fibers, so it’s important to choose a supplement that will promote the healthy bacteria you need. We love MegaPre as it contains a blend of prebiotic fibers that are ideal for supporting only the good bacteria.

Stress management

Psychological stress negatively impacts your microbiome and allows the overgrowth of pathogenic microbes. It’s also associated with leaky gut and inflammation, compounding the effects on your gut and overall health.

Stress can also make you anxious and impact your sleep, which is needed for a healthy gut. The diversity and function can be disrupted by regular sleep disruptions, but at the same time, a healthy gut is associated with better sleep.

Finding stress management techniques look different for each person, so you’ll need to experiment with what works for you. Check out our article on Sleep and Stress for practical ideas on improving stress levels.

Consider a therapeutic diet for healing

Sometimes you can’t just jump right into adding more fiber or fermented foods because your microbiome is already altered. If this is the case, you may consider an elimination diet or therapeutic diet to work on healing first.

You can start by simply removing some of the most common gut irritants like sugar, fast food, or alcohol. But if you need to take it a bit farther, some gut-healing diet options include:

• Gluten or dairy-free diet
• GAPS diet
• Low FODMAP diet
• Specific Carbohydrate Diet
• Low Histamine Diet

Sometimes working with a practitioner to guide you can increase your success. Each of these diets is supposed to be a temporary adjustment to allow the gut time to heal. Many of the foods (primarily fiber) removed in these diets are necessary for long-term gut health, so ideally should not be removed forever.

How Long Does it Take for the Gut Microbiome to Change?

The microbiome responds rapidly to positive changes in diet and lifestyle habits. However, the reverse is also true. Long-term repair and balance take time and consistency, especially if the microbiome is compromised. 

A comprehensive regime that addresses all the factors that affect the microbiome is the only way to see lasting change. And the results will speak for themselves. A healthy microbiome will help you look and feel better and have the energy to live the kind of life you’ve always wanted.

If you want to dive even deeper into the microbiome, check out our Microbiome Master Class. Taught by sixteen of the world’s leading experts in gut health, you’ll learn the details on exactly how to optimize your microbiome to radically improve your health and well-being.