Start Here

Few of us truly understand just how important and influential our immune systems are. Protecting us day and night, they can detect a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. They are our first line of defense against disease and infection. In light of this, we need to keep our immune systems strong so that they can continue to create a vital barrier between our bodies and the toxins we’re exposed to in everyday life. Keeping our immune systems healthy helps to ensure that harmful pathogens are detected and destroyed long before we experience any ill effects. 

A strong and healthy immune system will also help control inflammation in the body, which is the precursor to most diseases. Our goal should be to maintain zero-inflammation levels, but if our immune system is weak, our inflammation levels will rise. The chronic inflammation often associated with IC indicates that the immune system is overworked and under extreme pressure. The gut accounts for eighty percent of the body’s immune system. As such, a healthy gut equals a robust immune system. When the gut becomes compromised, the tight junctions begin to come apart (known as “leaky gut” or intestinal permeability), toxins, undigested food, and unfriendly microbes can breach the barrier and enter the bloodstream, to our detriment. Leaky gut diminishes the small intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients because damage to the villi and microvilli reduces the surface area of the small intestine. This means that even if we’re eating a healthy diet, we may not be reaping the full benefits nutritionally. Once leaky gut is in play, we begin to have a host of other issues to contend with because, as the name suggests, it also causes the walls of the intestines to leak. As toxic invaders that have no business entering our bloodstream find their way in, the immune system fires up. It begins producing inflammatory chemicals in response, creating extra antibodies to fight against these invaders.

One of the important ways to strengthen the immune system is to maintain gut integrity which can be done by focusing on a healthy microbiome. The gut relies on trillions of bacteria that live within the intestines. In fact, we possess ten times more microbial cells than human cells. Comprising 100 trillion organisms in total, the microbiome in the gut provides an incredibly diverse ecosystem. Good bacteria in your gut help to ensure gut health by sealing gaps in the intestinal wall and allowing you to digest your food properly. This ecosystem, however, is affected by factors such as diet, chronic stress, infections, antibiotics, and toxins, including environmental toxins. Focusing on a healthy diet and lifestyle will help maintain healthy, balanced gut microbiota, which is directly linked to the health of our immune system. The microbiome is responsible for several functions, none of which should be minimized since each plays an integral part in our overall health and wellbeing. You may be wondering, “what does this have to do with my bladder?” The bladder also has a microbiome, and if it is disrupted, illness can occur. The microbiome of the bladder, vagina, and gut influence and communicate (organ crosstalk) with one another. To help support the bladder and prevent UTIs, we need to focus on the harmony of the gut-bladder-vagina axis. Therefore, the health of the gut is critical. 

Remember, functional medicine looks at the body as a whole, taking a system-oriented approach. If we hope to regain our health, we cannot simply isolate the bladder or focus on one organ alone. We must view the body in its entirety, as an integrated whole. Having the right doctor makes all the difference! Find a reputable integrative, functional, naturopathic, or holistic doctor, as well as an integrative and functional nutritionist, and pelvic physical therapist. For more information, see Services.