3 John 2  Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health(physically), just as (I know) your soul prospers (spiritually).

There has been much talk about the condition many are calling “leaky gut” or increase “intestinal permeability”.  The gut is a very complex body system. The gut acts as our first defense from many infections as well as absorbs nutrients we need to survive. Bacteria in the gut work perfectly with other cells lining the gut to provide a perfect balance. The gut acts as a physical barrier from the rest of the body as well as a chemical barrier that consist of digestive enzymes, antimicrobial peptides,  cytokines and inflammatory components. The gut bacteria also contribute to this barrier along with other immune functions that take place in our gut. Another important component of the gut barrier, is the enteric nervous system that in response to danger initiates a defense by regulating the intestinal mucosa. In response to a perceived threat, IgA is secreted protecting the gut from viruses and harmful bacteria. IgA is an antibody that plays an important role in the immune function of mucous membranes.  IgA plays a part in regulating the gut bacteria and preventing gut mucosal inflammation.

It is becoming more apparent through medical studies, that environmental factors influence the function of the intestinal barrier and overall gut health. Antibiotics, pathogens and diet can disrupt the intestinal mucosa contributing to increase gut permeability. Medical science has known for sometime that antibiotic affect the perfect balance of the gut flora or bacteria. Antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria and in some cases can lead to an over growth of an intestinal organism called C-. difficile.  C- difficile infection can lead to toxic megacolon a serious health condition.  In a research article called  Wake Up Doctor We May Be Causing Cancer: “Antibiotic Overusage Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction“ written by Elliott, Jiang and Baucum, found evidence that antibiotic overuse causes mitochondrial dysfunction that may lead to cancer and bacterial resistance. Mitochondrial dysfunction they reported is known to be associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig Disease and Parkinson’s. In this article, they stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy gut in preventing disease. A high fat diet alters the gut flora as well resulting in inflammation in the liver, fat tissue, brain, and other organs contributing to diseases like insulin resistance. This process is also associated with Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver. Other diseases associated with gut flora changes include Inflammatory Bowel disease, Obesity, Cancer, and neurological diseases. Fat is not the only culprit in increasing gut permeability. Fructose is associated with intestinal overgrowth and increase permeability. In summary, the overall health of our gut is very important in our health. What we put in our bodies really does matter. Vitamin A found in vegetables like carrots, sweet potato, spinach, kale, broccoli and eggs regulates the growth and differentiation of intestinal cells as well as helping fight infections. Vitamin D is also very important in the intestinal barrier helping protect the mucosal lining.

You maybe asking, “How does this tie into brain health?” Glad you asked! Serotonin is also a neurotransmitter found in the brain and in the gut. In the gut, serotonin increases gut motility and in the brain regulates that since of wellbeing. When serotonin is low, people experience depression, anxiety, headaches, difficulty sleeping and fatigue. People with anxiety often have diarrhea or increased gut motility. What we are focusing on does affect our body. Toxic thoughts usually fear based or self-condemning release chemical that cause our heart rate to go up, hands to sweat, to feel light-headed, to have diarrhea and a host of other ailments. I believe that the stress of these toxic thoughts also leads to increase gut permeability leading to a suppressed immune system that eventually leads to disease. As I have mention in earlier blogs, 87% or more of our diseases are stress related. Furthermore, gut permeability plays a role in disease because the gut is often times our first line of defense. Serotonin can be increased by meditation, diet, and exercise. Let’s take a deeper look at 3 John 2:

3 John 2  Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health(physically), just as (I know) your soul prospers (spiritually).

This scripture shows us that prospering in our soul brings physical heath. Proverb 3:1-2 and 4:20-23 clearly state that remembering the Lord and meditating on His Word brings healing to all our flesh. Not surprisingly,  studies have shown that meditation increases serotonin producing a calming effect to our mind, body , and soul. I truly believe that the internal storm of our minds and souls contribute to poor health. The storm within leads many to try to calm their minds and spirit with things like food, sugar, alcohol, drugs( prescribed and illegal), sex, money, and unhealthy relationships. These things are temporary fixes to a deeper problem that can only be healed by the one who made us. True peace or internal rest comes when you know you are loved and deeply cherished. You were created for a purpose, tenderly woven in your mother’s womb, destined to do great things. God showed His great love for us through Jesus the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Through His blood,  we have access to the Father and can come boldly to His throne, unashamed. Isaiah 26:3 states that a mind steadfast on the Lord will remain at perfect peace. Jesus is our peace. He is the one who stops the storm in our souls and our minds. You may remember the story of when Jesus and the disciples were in a boat when a great storm arose. Jesus was asleep but the disciples where very afraid. They of course woke up Jesus and He calmed the storm. The Lord ask me once, “Why was Jesus asleep in the boat in the storm?” I said, “I do not know.” He said Jesus was asleep because He knew that he was perfectly safe in His Father’s arm. This is true for you and I. We are perfectly safe in His arms. We just have to be willing to rest in His arms and believe His Word over the lies the enemy.  It is His perfect love that heals and transforms us. All we have to do is come to Him and believe He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do. He is a good, good Father and the only one who can bring lasting peace and joy to our souls. 1 John 4:18 says that there is no fear in love but perfect love cast our all fear. Fear brings torment but His perfect love given to us through the death of Jesus and through the giving of the Holy Spirit bring peace to our minds and souls leading to prosperity in all areas of our life. I urge you to seek Him and to begin to learn to turn your hearts and minds to Him. Meditation is the practice of not only thinking on the Word of God but also speaking it out. Hopefully in the weeks to come, I will have a video in how to meditate. May God rest His hand upon you and give you peace. Al

References

Wake Up Doctor We May Be Causing Cancer: “Antibiotic Overusage Causes Mitochondrila Dysfunction” Robert L. Elliott, Xian P. Jiang and Catherine Baucom

Alterations in Intestinal Permeabilty: MC Arrieta, L. Bistritz, and JB Meddings; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih/pmc/articles/PMC1856434/